Colorado School of Mines, Jeffco Public Schools announce guaranteed admissions pathway for STEM students

Colorado School of Mines (Mines) and Jeffco Public Schools (Jeffco) are partnering to create a guaranteed admissions pathway to Mines for local
high school students with an aptitude and interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Under the new agreement, Jeffco students who maintain a certain GPA, complete advanced math and science coursework, and graduate with a STEM-endorsed diploma from any high school in the district will be eligible for guaranteed admission into any four-year Bachelor of Science degree program at Mines.

The first cohort of Jeffco students for guaranteed Mines admissions will be the graduating Class of 2026, currently in their junior year of high school. "I’m excited about the incredible opportunities this partnership between Jeffco and Mines will create for our students. Right now, our district is focused on reimagining the high school experience to ensure every student is prepared for a bright and successful future—whatever that may look like for them," said Jeffco Superintendent Tracy Dorland. "The opportunity for our students who are passionate about STEM to build on the current skills and experiences they develop in high school and directly transition to a prestigious institution like Mines is both inspiring and a meaningful investment in their education."

The first-of-its-kind agreement incentivizes Jeffco students to complete a STEM-endorsed high school diploma by offering a direct pathway to Mines. In a recent survey of Jeffco junior and senior STEM students, more than 50 percent said they would be more motivated to complete the STEM-endorsed diploma if it resulted in guaranteed admission to Mines.

“This partnership creates an exciting new entry path to Mines for local students and rewards them for earning a STEM-endorsed diploma while in high school,” said Paul C. Johnson, president of Colorado School of Mines. “By providing a guaranteed admissions pathway, we are ensuring that Jeffco students who demonstrate excellence in STEM have the opportunity to pursue a world-class education and earn a highly-valued degree while staying close to home.”

Jeffco students pursuing the STEM endorsement are required to take four years of college prep math (or advanced math) and three years of lab science and complete a Senior STEM Capstone Project. To be eligible for guaranteed Mines admissions, students must also maintain a cumulative unweighted GPA of 3.8 or higher, apply to Mines by the November 1 priority deadline and comply with all other standard admission requirements. STEM Capstone is a year-long, hands-on course where 11th and 12th-grade students tackle real-world challenges by designing, prototyping and presenting innovative science and engineering solutions. Guided by industry standards and expert feedback, students develop critical thinking, collaboration and problem-solving skills, preparing them for success in college, careers and beyond.

“My STEM Capstone experience helped me prepare for Mines by having me tackle a real-world problem and work with industry experts to develop a solution,” said Luke Pisano, who graduated from Green Mountain High School and is now studying computer science at Mines. “Coming from Jeffco, I felt very prepared for Mines because it gave me a strong understanding of how to apply skills not only in the classroom. I chose to go to Mines because of its tight-knit community with everyone being passionate about engineering and innovation.

Current high school students who will benefit from the partnership shared how the new opportunity excites them ahead of their upcoming college journeys. “I think it's a great opportunity,” says Gaby Romero, a junior student at Green Mountain High School. “I want to apply to Mines after this because I think having the endorsement available today just makes it more appealing.”

“If I was a junior and I knew that I could get accepted into Mines, I would 100 percent take this class for the diploma no matter what, no question. Even with all the work, it would be worth it,” added Tyler Wickham, a senior STEM capstone student at Golden High School.

Jeffco’s science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) programs embrace a student-driven, inquiry-embedded instructional approach, utilizing educational models such as project- or problem-based learning and design thinking. For more information, visit the Jeffco Public Schools website.

Colorado School of Mines shares this commitment to hands-on, experiential learning, preparing students to tackle real-world challenges in STEM fields. The guaranteed admissions pathway keeps top Colorado STEM students in-state, offering them a direct route to the No. 1 university in Colorado (U.S. News & World Report, 2024) and one of the nation’s best (#76).
 

About Jeffco Public Schools
Jeffco Public Schools (Jeffco) is a diverse and high-performing school district located in Jefferson County, Colorado. It is the state’s second-largest school district, serving 75,000 students across 145 schools, and its 14,000 employees make it the largest employer in the county. The district’s strategic plan, Jeffco Thrives 2025, focuses on providing a world-class education that prepares all Jeffco students for bright and successful futures as local and global
citizens. Learn more at www.jeffcopublicschools.org.