When my clients start asking about Cherry Hills Village or Greenwood Village, the conversation almost always turns to schools within the first few minutes. That’s not a surprise. Families moving into these neighborhoods are investing at the $1.5 million to $5 million level and above, and they want to know the education picture is as strong as the real estate one.
After two decades in Denver luxury real estate, I’ve seen what draws families back to the same zip codes again and again. Schools — both the public options and the private alternatives nearby — are near the top of that list. Here’s an honest breakdown of what you’ll find when you buy in South Denver’s top neighborhoods.
Cherry Creek School District: The Anchor for South Denver Families
Most of Cherry Hills Village and Greenwood Village falls within the Cherry Creek School District (CCSD), which consistently ranks as one of Colorado’s top performing public school systems. The district has roughly 55,000 students across more than 60 schools, and its high schools regularly appear on national rankings for academic achievement and college placement.
For families moving into Cherry Hills Village specifically, Cherry Creek High School is the destination public school. It’s a large campus — about 4,000 students — with a strong IB (International Baccalaureate) program, competitive athletics, and a college acceptance rate that rivals many private school feeders. The size can feel like an adjustment for families coming from smaller suburban systems, but most students find the breadth of AP courses, arts programs, and extracurriculars well worth it.
Greenwood Village residents are typically zoned for Cherry Creek High School as well, though attendance boundaries shift occasionally. Always verify your specific address with CCSD before making a purchase if school zoning is a deciding factor.
Standout Elementary and Middle Schools in the Area
The elementary school experience in Cherry Hills Village and Greenwood Village is where CCSD really shines at a community level. Schools like High Plains Elementary, Holly Hills Elementary, and Cottonwood Creek Elementary draw strong parent involvement and consistently post high ratings on state assessments.
West Middle School and Campus Middle School serve much of this corridor at the 6th–8th grade level. Both are known for strong STEM programming and academic rigor — Campus Middle School in particular has a reputation for challenging coursework that prepares students well for Cherry Creek High’s honors and IB tracks.
Cherry Creek North and Denver Proper: Different District, Strong Options
Buyers purchasing in Cherry Creek North proper — within Denver city limits — fall into Denver Public Schools (DPS) rather than CCSD. This is worth knowing because the experience and enrollment process differs meaningfully.
Within DPS, East High School is the neighborhood public school for much of Cherry Creek North. It’s a historic campus with a strong academic program and an increasingly competitive IB track. The school has gone through significant investment in recent years and has a devoted alumni community. That said, DPS uses a choice enrollment system, which means families in the area often explore magnet and charter options alongside their neighborhood school assignment.
DSST: Cole Middle School and DSST: Stapleton (now DSST: Green Valley Ranch) are among the DPS charter options with strong track records, though they require application and are not guaranteed by address. For elementary, families in Cherry Creek North frequently look at Bradley Elementary and Bromwell Elementary, both well regarded within the neighborhood.
Private School Options Near South Denver’s Luxury Neighborhoods
A significant share of families in Cherry Hills Village and Greenwood Village choose private school, and the options within a reasonable drive are genuinely strong.
Kent Denver School (Englewood) is the name that comes up most often among my clients in Cherry Hills Village. It’s a college preparatory school for grades 6–12 with small class sizes, a rigorous academic program, and a beautiful campus on the eastern edge of Cherry Hills Village itself. The school has produced National Merit Scholars consistently and sends graduates to top universities. It’s not inexpensive — tuition runs into the mid-$30,000s annually — but families committed to a private track often call it the best option in the South Denver area.
Colorado Academy (southwest Denver) serves students from preschool through grade 12 and is another name that comes up regularly. It draws from across the metro area and has a strong arts and athletics culture alongside its academic program. The campus is expansive and the community is closely connected.
Denver Academy (southeast Denver) serves students who learn differently, including those with dyslexia, ADHD, and other learning differences. For families who need a strong alternative learning environment at the K–12 level, it’s one of the most respected options in Colorado.
Mullen High School, a Catholic school in southwest Denver, has strong college placement numbers and is a popular choice for families in the Greenwood Village and Cherry Hills corridors looking for a college prep option grounded in Catholic values.
What to Look for Beyond Rankings
I always tell families not to stop at state test scores and U.S. News rankings. Those metrics are useful but incomplete. What I’ve seen matter more in practice for luxury buyers is this: Does the school culture match how your family operates? Is the teaching philosophy aligned with how your child learns best? Is there room to go deep in the subjects your kids are passionate about — whether that’s STEM, fine arts, athletics, or languages?
Cherry Creek School District has a strong gifted and talented program called ALP (Advanced Learning Plan) that follows students who test at high achievement levels from elementary through high school. If your child has tested into gifted services in another state, this is worth a specific conversation with CCSD’s student services team before you close on a home.
For private school families, I’d recommend touring Kent Denver and Colorado Academy in the same week if your timeline allows. They have different feels and different strengths, and most families find one clicks faster than the other.
School Enrollment and Real Estate Timing
One thing I’ve seen trip up buyers who are new to Colorado: public school enrollment deadlines do not always align with real estate closing timelines. Cherry Creek School District’s choice enrollment window for the following school year typically opens in January and closes in February. If you’re purchasing in spring or summer for a fall school start, you may be enrolling as a late transfer — which is fine and handled routinely, but worth knowing before you close.
Private schools in the area have their own application cycles, most running October through February for the following fall. If you’re relocating from out of state and targeting a private school start, getting applications in before the December holiday break is generally the right move.
If school timing is a genuine constraint in your purchase decision — and for some families it absolutely is — tell me early. I’ve helped clients structure closing timelines around school calendars before, and it’s something I can factor into the offer and contract terms.
A Note on Boundaries and Verification
School attendance boundaries in the Denver metro shift periodically, sometimes due to redistricting and sometimes due to individual school capacity. The information in this guide reflects general patterns, but boundaries for a specific address should always be confirmed directly with Cherry Creek School District or Denver Public Schools before making a purchase decision based on a particular school assignment.
The most reliable tool for this is the district’s official address lookup, and I can walk any client through that process as part of my buyer consultation. It takes five minutes and removes any uncertainty.
What school district is Cherry Hills Village in?
Cherry Hills Village is primarily served by Cherry Creek School District (CCSD), which is consistently ranked among Colorado’s top public school systems. Most Cherry Hills Village students attend Cherry Creek High School for grades 9–12. Some addresses near the Englewood border may fall in Englewood School District — always verify your specific address with the district before purchasing.
What is the best private school near Cherry Hills Village?
Kent Denver School is widely considered the top private school option near Cherry Hills Village. It’s a college preparatory school for grades 6–12 located directly adjacent to Cherry Hills Village, with strong academic outcomes and a closely connected campus community. Colorado Academy is another highly regarded alternative for families seeking a private school that runs from preschool through 12th grade with a broad program.
Is Cherry Creek School District good for gifted students?
Yes. Cherry Creek School District has a formal Advanced Learning Plan (ALP) program that identifies and serves gifted students from elementary school through high school. CCSD also offers extensive AP and IB coursework at the high school level, and Cherry Creek High School’s IB program is among the stronger ones in the state.
What school district is Greenwood Village in?
The majority of Greenwood Village is served by Cherry Creek School District. A smaller portion near the southern boundary may fall within Douglas County School District depending on the specific address. Confirming your address with the district directly before purchasing is the safest approach if school zoning influences your decision.
How do I enroll my child in Cherry Creek School District after buying a home?
After closing on a home in Cherry Creek School District boundaries, you can enroll your child using proof of residency (closing documents or a lease), the child’s birth certificate, immunization records, and prior school records. CCSD has an enrollment center in Greenwood Village and the process typically takes one to two school days to complete. Transfers later in the year are handled routinely — contact the district’s enrollment office directly for current procedures.
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- Relocating to South Denver: A Guide for Families Moving from Out of State
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Sara Garza is a licensed luxury real estate agent specializing in South Denver and Cherry Hills Village. With expertise in the Denver Metro luxury market, Sara helps buyers and sellers navigate high-end real estate transactions with confidence. Whether you are buying a home over $1 million or selling a luxury estate, Sara provides personalized guidance and market expertise.