Colorado State University Pueblo and GOAL High School have launched a direct admissions partnership that will allow eligible GOAL graduates to be accepted to CSU Pueblo without completing a traditional college application beginning in the 2026-2027 school year.
GOAL students with a cumulative GPA of 2.3 or higher will receive a “You’re Accepted!” letter and support from CSU Pueblo staff with financial aid, scholarships, enrollment and course registration. Students can opt into the program while attending GOAL and will not pay an application fee.
“Direct admission gives them a concrete way to reach for something bigger by removing the barrier and making higher education something they can walk toward,” said Jason Hochevar, GOAL’s chief academic officer.
GOAL, Colorado’s largest high school, serves more than 7,000 students statewide. The partnership expands CSU Pueblo’s direct admissions program to 21 Colorado schools, including Denver Public Schools and Pueblo School District 70.
Students who participate may still apply to other colleges and universities while exploring CSU Pueblo as an option.
New charter school in Falcon
A new K-8 charter school based on Dr. Robert Marzano’s competency-based education model will open in Falcon in August 2027.
Honor Charter School broke ground Sept. 29 at 8250 Bent Grass Meadow Drive in the Bent Grass subdivision. The school will initially open as a K-5 program and expand to K-8 over the next several years.
The school will follow the Marzano Academies model, which uses 16 School Level Indicators and performance scales designed to measure student competency and real-world readiness.
“This has always been my dream and vision to open an entire school around my model of competency based education,” Marzano said.
Marzano Academies currently works with schools nationwide, but Honor Charter School will be the first school built specifically around the model. The school also will serve as a resource for educators interested in implementing competency-based systems.
Interest forms are currently being accepted for students enrolling in the 2027-28 school year. More information is available at honorcharterschool.org and marzanoacademies.org.
