One of the most common questions new home buyers ask about any community is simple: where will my kids go to school? At Overland Ranch, the immediate answer is a good one. Residents are served by the Cherry Creek School District — one of the most consistently well-regarded districts in Colorado, serving more than 55,000 students across 69 schools. Here’s a closer look at the public schools your kids are likely to attend when you move into the new home community of Overland Ranch, plus two private and charter options for families who want to explore beyond the district.
Woodland Elementary School | Grades PK–5
Opened in 2022 in the Blackstone neighborhood of Southeast Aurora, Woodland Elementary is one of the newest schools in the district — purpose-built to accommodate growth in this corner of Aurora and designed around flexible, progressive learning environments. With 577 students and a 16:1 student-teacher ratio, Woodland is a welcoming, community-centered school right in the neighborhood.
Fox Ridge Middle School | Grades 6–8
The bridge between elementary and high school, Fox Ridge serves nearly 1,000 students in grades 6 through 8 and ranks in the top 30% of Colorado middle schools. The school offers a Gifted and Talented program, six sports, and strong performance above state averages in both math and reading. Students who attend Fox Ridge typically go on to Cherokee Trail High School — creating a natural pipeline through the Cherry Creek system that many families find reassuring.
Cherokee Trail High School | Grades 9–12
Cherokee Trail is a comprehensive high school with an enrollment of more than 3,000 students and one of the most robust academic program menus in the district. AP courses, an International Baccalaureate program, Concurrent Enrollment, and access to the Colorado Community College Innovation Campus give students multiple pathways to college readiness — and the 66% AP participation rate signals a school where academic ambition is the norm, not the exception. The performing arts program recently took first place in the 2026 regional music evaluations, and the athletics program — the Cougars — competes across football, basketball, soccer, volleyball, track and field, swimming, and wrestling. The school’s mission says it plainly: “Our actions will ignite the genius and nurture the goodness within us all.”
Beyond Public Schools: Two Options Worth Knowing
For families who want to explore alternatives to the public school pathway, two schools close to Overland Ranch offer distinct approaches.
Our Lady of Loreto Catholic School is a private Catholic school established in 2013, offering preschool through 8th grade with a faith-formation curriculum, before and after care, and a close-knit community rooted in the Archdiocese of Denver. It’s a strong choice for families looking for values-based education alongside rigorous academics.
Heritage Heights Academy is a tuition-free Classical Core Knowledge charter school nearby in Centennial serving grades K–8 within the Cherry Creek School District. The classical model emphasizes a structured, content-rich curriculum — history, literature, science, and the arts taught in sequence and depth — and the school’s track record has produced enthusiastic families who credit it with building strong academic foundations and genuine love of learning.
The Last Frontier: Overland Ranch
Community schools are some of the best in the district, but getting in at the ground level at Overland Ranch is sure to set your entirely family up for success. New homes at Overland Ranch are coming from four exceptional builders — Century Communities, Pulte Homes, Richmond American, and Toll Brothers — with first looks in September and a Grand Opening of eight models in October and move-ins targeted for 2027. Join the interest list and get first access to everything as it unfolds.
