Eagle Ridge Academy

Eagle Ridge Academy was established after the closure of Brighton Collegiate High School (formerly Brighton Charter School) which was plagued by a series of sexual scandals involving teachers and students. Read about that HERE. 

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HIGH-FLYING EAGLE RIDGE GROUNDS SOME STUDENTS; STUDENT, PARENT ALLEGE ENROLLMENT NUMBERS, RACE PLAYS FACTOR; Brighton Standard Blade (CO) 29 Dec 2010

BRIGHTON — When Eagle Ridge Academy opened last fall, in place of the defunct Brighton Collegiate High School, the school’s new leadership promised a high-flying curriculum designed to give students a jumpstart on their college careers.

But the school’s new focus isn’t for everyone and at least one former student said he believes students of the former Brighton Collegiate are being pushed out to make room for new, smarter students.

“It’s like they are trying to get rid of us and get new kids to replace us,” sophomore Evin Cook said.

Cook, 16, said he was brought into the office of principal Brian Spinnato, shortly before students adjourned for winter break earlier this month and told he was “no longer a good fit for the school.”…

But [Evin’s mother Margaret Cook] said they were first informed, after the October enrollment count, that Evin wasn’t a good fit for the school and they should examine different options for him…

Spinnato said they expected there would be some difficulties in making the transition, especially for former Brighton Collegiate students, to the new curriculum.

While he was reluctant to comment specifically on Evin’s academic performance at the school, he said he understands some of Margaret and Evin’s frustration.

“I did tell her that the kids that were at Brighton Collegiate do have a rough transition,” he said. “It is tough and it is unfair that, halfway through the game, the rules changed. Unfortunately, it is the scenario that it is…

Cook further alleges there were racial undertones to the students who were spoken to about their academic futures before the holiday break. She said the majority of students were minorities, either Hispanic or African American, and based on their academic standards, Eagle Ridge will end up a “predominantly-white school.”

“They’re trying to have an all-white school over there,” she said.

Spinnato disputes that any of it was based on race. He pointed out that 45 percent of the school’s population meets the minority status and that only a small percentage of the school’s more than 200 students were presented with different options for their academic futures…