Our School's Story
Our school’s name was suggested by 4th and 5th grade students who were living in Wolf Ranch and attending Edith Wolford Elementary School in 2006-2007. During the first year, students proposed the Mustang as a fitting logo for Ranch Creek, and staff and parent volunteers voted to adopt black and gold as our school colors.
Since the beginning, Ranch Creek has included a District 20 preschool program, as well as a Communication and Social Delay program for students on the autism spectrum who are academically high-functioning. CSD students are placed by the District 20 special education staff, and District 20 provides additional dedicated special education staff to serve the unique needs of these students.
The hub of our school building is the library, and an active 21st century library program has been an emphasis of our school since the beginning. We are fortunate to have technology integrated in learning throughout the school and throughout the curriculum. Ranch Creek utilizes a 1-to-1 technology program to ensure every student has a district provided device to use.
In the fall of 2008, a group of teachers suggested that the school consider the IB program. After study and consideration, the teaching staff unanimously voted to pursue the IB program, and the parent community was wholeheartedly in agreement. Academy District 20’s Superintendent and the Board of Education, gave their official support to the endeavor in the spring of 2009, and the journey began. The journey to IB authorization involved every staff member, every student, and many parents. An Authorization Visit was held in May of 2012, and the Certificate of Authorization was received in January of 2013. The IB PYP encompasses all that we do at Ranch Creek, including character education, service to others, and academic learning.
As part of the IB program, Ranch Creek started a Spanish language program for all students. To further develop the students’ language acquisition, in the fall of 2010, one immersion classroom was added in each grade, 1st-5th. Each year, there is a lottery to determine the incoming 1st grade students who will be part of that program.