Adams 12 Five Star Schools, Colorado
| Adams 12 Five Star Schools |
|---|
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| Adams County, Colorado |
| District details |
| Superintendent: Christopher E. Gdowski |
| # of school board members: 5 |
| Website: Link |
Adams 12 Five Star Schools is a school district in Colorado.
Click on the links below to learn more about the school district's...
- Superintendent
- School board
- Elections
- Budget
- Teacher salaries
- Academic performance
- Students
- Staff
- Schools
- Contact information
Superintendent
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This information is updated as we become aware of changes. Please contact us with any updates. |
Christopher E. Gdowski is the superintendent of Adams 12 Five Star Schools. Gdowski was appointed superintendent in November 2009. Gdowski's previous career experience includes working as the general counsel to the school district.[1]
School board
Adams 12 Five Star Schools Board of Education consists of five members elected to four-year terms. Board members are elected to specific geographical districts in at-large elections.[2]
| Office | Name | Date assumed office |
|---|---|---|
| Adams 12 Five Star Schools Board of Education District 1 | Lori Goldstein | September 8, 2019 |
| Adams 12 Five Star Schools Board of Education District 2 | Paula Battistelli | December 6, 2023 |
| Adams 12 Five Star Schools Board of Education District 3 | Courtney Potter | December 1, 2021 |
| Adams 12 Five Star Schools Board of Education District 4 | Amira Amal Assad-Lucas | December 1, 2021 |
| Adams 12 Five Star Schools Board of Education District 5 | Alexis Marsh-Holschen | December 6, 2023 |
Elections
Members of the Adams 12 Five Star Schools Board of Education are elected on a staggered basis on the first Tuesday after the first Monday of November in odd-numbered years.
Two seats on the board were up for general election on November 4, 2025. The filing deadline for this election was August 29, 2025.
Ballotpedia covered school board elections in 367 school districts in 29 states in 2024. Those school districts had a total student enrollment of 12,203,404 students. Click here to read an analysis of those elections.
Join the conversation about school board politics
Public participation in board meetings
The Adams 12 Five Star Schools school board maintains the following policy on public testimony during board meetings, according to its bylaws:[3]
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9.5 One period of time shall be scheduled during each regular business meeting for comments and questions from the public. Public comments and input shall be limited to fifteen minutes total, ten minutes per topic, and three minutes per speaker. In the presiding officer’s discretion, public input may be received during the discussion of specific items on the agenda. Neither Board members nor the Superintendent are obligated to respond to these comments or input, nor are they prohibited from doing so. In the presiding officer’s discretion, time for public, Board member or Superintendent comment may be suspended or increased, or the meeting temporarily recessed, depending on the nature of the comments or the length of the remainder of the meeting agenda. 9.6 Individuals wishing to make formal presentations before the Board of Education shall make arrangements with the Superintendent prior to the meeting so that such presentations may be scheduled on the agenda, subject to the discretion of the President. Persons wishing to make such formal presentations to the Board of Education may be asked to fill out a form briefly outlining the subject they wish to discuss. Persons making such presentations may be required to provide background materials in advance to be distributed with the agenda. Presentations are subject to any applicable time limits imposed by the Board. 9.7 Public comments and questions at a regular meeting may deal with any topic related to the Board of Education’s conduct of the schools. Comments and questions at special meetings must be related to the agenda items. Public comments or questions during other agenda items may be taken or limited at the discretion of the presiding officer or the Board. Comments concerning specific District students shall be received only in executive session. 9.8 The Board of Education President or other presiding officer shall be responsible for recognizing all speakers (who shall identify themselves), for maintaining proper order, and for enforcing or allowing variances from any time limits or procedural rules.[4] |
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School board meetings
The following articles were produced by Citizen Portal using artificial intelligence to analyze public meetings. Citizen Portal publishes articles based on the availability of meeting broadcasts, so the number of articles provided may vary by district. Although these articles are not produced or edited by Ballotpedia, they are included here as a supplemental resource for readers.
District map
Budget
The following statistics were published by the National Center for Education Statistics, which is a part of the U.S. Department of Education.[5]
| SOURCE | AMOUNT | AMOUNT PER STUDENT | PERCENT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal: | $58,462,000 | $1,620 | 10% |
| Local: | $269,603,000 | $7,473 | 45% |
| State: | $266,087,000 | $7,375 | 45% |
| Total: | $594,152,000 | $16,469 |
| TYPE | AMOUNT | AMOUNT PER STUDENT | PERCENT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Expenditures: | $538,134,000 | $14,915 | |
| Total Current Expenditures: | $477,034,000 | $13,222 | |
| Instructional Expenditures: | $268,816,000 | $7,450 | 50% |
| Student and Staff Support: | $62,466,000 | $1,731 | 12% |
| Administration: | $76,204,000 | $2,112 | 14% |
| Operations, Food Service, Other: | $69,548,000 | $1,927 | 13% |
| Total Capital Outlay: | $31,419,000 | $870 | |
| Construction: | $24,878,000 | $689 | |
| Total Non El-Sec Education & Other: | $1,745,000 | $48 | |
| Interest on Debt: | $27,636,000 | $766 |
Teacher salaries
The following salary information was pulled from the district's teacher salary schedule. A salary schedule is a list of expected compensations based on variables such as position, years employed, and education level. It may not reflect actual teacher salaries in the district.
| Year | Minimum | Maximum |
|---|---|---|
| 2024[6] | $58,870 | $107,239 |
| 2023[7] | $58,000 | $105,654 |
| 2020[8] | $44,000 | $93,250 |
Academic performance
Each year, state and local education agencies use tests and other standards to assess student proficiency. Although the data below was published by the U.S. Department of Education, proficiency measurements are established by the states. As a result, proficiency levels are not comparable between different states and year-over-year proficiency levels within a district may not be comparable because states may change their proficiency measurements.[9]
The following table shows the percentage of district students who scored at or above the proficiency level each school year:
| School year | All (%) | Asian/Pacific Islander (%) | Black (%) | Hispanic (%) | Native American (%) | Two or More Races (%) | White (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-2021 | 31 | 55 | 20-24 | 13 | <=20 | 41 | 43 |
| 2018-2019 | 35 | 59 | 23 | 17 | 20-24 | 44 | 47 |
| 2017-2018 | 34 | 60 | 21 | 17 | 25-29 | 44 | 46 |
| 2016-2017 | 34 | 57 | 21 | 17 | 25-29 | 41 | 45 |
| 2015-2016 | 33 | 55 | 19 | 16 | 20-24 | 43 | 44 |
| 2014-2015 | 31 | 52 | 19 | 15 | 15-19 | 42 | 40 |
| 2013-2014 | 55 | 72 | 37 | 38 | 40-44 | 69 | 65 |
| 2012-2013 | 55 | 72 | 38 | 39 | 35-39 | 67 | 62 |
| 2011-2012 | 54 | 73 | 41 | 38 | 40-44 | 65-69 | 62 |
| 2010-2011 | 83 | 92 | 74 | 73 | 70-74 | 87 |
The following table shows the percentage of district students who scored at or above the proficiency level each school year:
| School year | All (%) | Asian/Pacific Islander (%) | Black (%) | Hispanic (%) | Native American (%) | Two or More Races (%) | White (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-2021 | 46 | 63 | 30-34 | 26 | 40-59 | 58 | 60 |
| 2018-2019 | 46 | 65 | 37 | 28 | 35-39 | 56 | 58 |
| 2017-2018 | 43 | 63 | 34 | 26 | 30-34 | 56 | 56 |
| 2016-2017 | 41 | 60 | 33 | 24 | 30-34 | 50 | 52 |
| 2015-2016 | 37 | 55 | 29 | 21 | 25-29 | 50 | 47 |
| 2014-2015 | 36 | 52 | 27 | 19 | 20-24 | 50 | 47 |
| 2013-2014 | 65 | 76 | 56 | 48 | 55-59 | 77 | 75 |
| 2012-2013 | 65 | 76 | 54 | 48 | 55-59 | 76 | 73 |
| 2011-2012 | 65 | 77 | 59 | 47 | 60-64 | 70-74 | 73 |
| 2010-2011 | 88 | 93 | 85 | 80 | 80-84 | 92 |
The following table shows the graduation rate of district students each school year:
| School year | All (%) | Asian/Pacific Islander (%) | Black (%) | Hispanic (%) | Native American (%) | Two or More Races (%) | White (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-2020 | 84 | 90-94 | 80-89 | 77 | 60-79 | 80-89 | 90 |
| 2018-2019 | 83 | 85-89 | 70-79 | 76 | 60-79 | 80-89 | 90 |
| 2017-2018 | 84 | >=95 | 75-79 | 81 | >=80 | 80-89 | 86 |
| 2016-2017 | 84 | 90-94 | 70-74 | 80 | 60-79 | 70-79 | 86 |
| 2015-2016 | 81 | 90-94 | 75-79 | 75 | 60-79 | 70-79 | 84 |
| 2014-2015 | 78 | 90-94 | 75-79 | 73 | 40-59 | >=80 | 79 |
| 2013-2014 | 74 | 80-84 | 65-69 | 68 | 40-59 | 60-79 | 77 |
| 2012-2013 | 74 | 90-94 | 65-69 | 70 | 60-79 | 60-79 | 75 |
| 2011-2012 | 70 | 90-94 | 60-64 | 67 | 50-59 | >=50 | 70 |
| 2010-2011 | 65 | 80-84 | 60-64 | 58 | 50-59 | 68 |
Students
| Year | Enrollment | Year-to-year change (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 2023-2024 | 34,998 | -2.1 |
| 2022-2023 | 35,747 | -0.9 |
| 2021-2022 | 36,078 | -1.6 |
| 2020-2021 | 36,654 | -5.6 |
| 2019-2020 | 38,707 | -1.5 |
| 2018-2019 | 39,282 | 1.0 |
| 2017-2018 | 38,870 | 0.1 |
| 2016-2017 | 38,818 | -1.2 |
| 2015-2016 | 39,287 | 1.5 |
| 2014-2015 | 38,701 | -9.1 |
| 2013-2014 | 42,230 | -2.5 |
| 2012-2013 | 43,268 | 0.6 |
| 2011-2012 | 42,990 | 2.4 |
| 2010-2011 | 41,957 | 0.0 |
| 2009-2010 | 41,949 | 2.7 |
| 2008-2009 | 40,818 | 4.9 |
| 2007-2008 | 38,815 | 3.8 |
| 2006-2007 | 37,341 | -0.7 |
| 2005-2006 | 37,591 | 3.3 |
| 2004-2005 | 36,353 | 4.1 |
| 2003-2004 | 34,869 | 3.9 |
| 2002-2003 | 33,522 | 5.9 |
| 2001-2002 | 31,544 | 4.6 |
| 2000-2001 | 30,079 | 3.8 |
| 1999-2000 | 28,947 | 0.0 |
| RACE | Adams 12 Five Star Schools (%) | Colorado K-12 STUDENTS (%) |
|---|---|---|
| American Indian/Alaska Native | 0.4 | 0.6 |
| Asian or Asian/Pacific Islander | 6.9 | 3.3 |
| Black | 1.5 | 4.6 |
| Hispanic | 45.6 | 35.9 |
| Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander | 0.1 | 0.3 |
| Two or More Races | 5.0 | 5.3 |
| White | 40.5 | 49.9 |
Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here.
Staff
As of the 2023-2024 school year, Adams 12 Five Star Schools had 2,028.81 full-time classroom teachers. The student-teacher ratio was 17.25.
| TYPE | NUMBER OF TEACHERS |
|---|---|
| Prekindergarten: | 18.75 |
| Kindergarten: | 153.66 |
| Elementary: | 935.40 |
| Secondary: | 921.00 |
| Total: | 2,028.81 |
Adams 12 Five Star Schools employed 19.00 district administrators and 139.60 school administrators as of the 2023-2024 school year.
| TYPE | NUMBER OF ADMINISTRATORS |
|---|---|
| District Administrators: | 19.00 |
| District Administrative Support: | 194.51 |
| School Administrators: | 139.60 |
| School Administrative Support: | 207.16 |
| TYPE | NUMBER OF OTHER STAFF |
|---|---|
| Instructional Aides: | 675.83 |
| Instruc. Coordinators & Supervisors: | 200.02 |
| Total Guidance Counselors: | 129.23 |
| Elementary Guidance Counselors: | 11.00 |
| Secondary Guidance Counselors: | 113.23 |
| Librarians/Media Specialists: | 7.00 |
| Library/Media Support: | 39.33 |
| Student Support Services: | 482.51 |
| Other Support Services: | 555.57 |
Schools
Noteworthy events
2013: Accusations of financial wrongdoing
On February 4, 2013, Fox 31 Denver published a report indicating that officials in Adams 12 Five Star Schools may have hidden millions of dollars in retirement benefit payments while cutting student services. The article raised allegations that the district budget overstated its expenditures in order to justify spending cuts.[10]
The allegations were first made by former district internal auditor Gina Holub, who claimed that school Chief Financial Officer Shelley Becker was intentionally misleading board members about district finances. Holub was fired by the district on October 19, 2012. The termination letter included claims that she personalized the budget and questioned the CFO's competency and ethics. Adams 12 superintendent Christopher Gdowski wrote a letter to staff and community members addressing the accusations on February 4, 2013—the day the story was published by Fox 31—in which he stated that "the credibility of disgruntled former employee Ms. Holub is questionable."[11] Holub filed a federal lawsuit on February 11, 2013, stating she was terminated in retaliation for raising concerns about the budget.[12]
In 2012, the district hired Vody Herrmann, the former Assistant Commissioner of Public School Finance for the Colorado Department of Education, to review Holub's allegations. In a letter to the district dated February 4, 2013, Herrmann wrote, "While I made a number of recommendations to the district for ways that it could improve its long-standing budgeting practices and suggested the district obtain assistance in conducting an in-depth review of those past budgeting practices, there were no grounds to support the charges of unethical or illegal behavior."[13]
Professor Jim Sorensen, a CPA, Ph.D., and professor at the University of Denver Daniels College of Business, was asked to review the case by Fox 31. In its February 4, 2013, story, the news site reported that Sorensen reviewed the district’s "finances, budget process, and allegations that school officials are hiding tens of millions of dollars." After conducting this review, he stated, “There is no question [the district overstated their expenditures]. When I look at the mechanics of how they put the budget together they injected those numbers.”[10]
The district also received a report published by Justin Silverstein, APA Consulting, and Tracie Rainey on February 8, 2013, regarding the financial activities of the administration. During a meeting after receiving the reports, board members Norm Jennings and Mark Clark commented that the reports showed the administration was clear of any wrongdoing. Sorensen disagreed with the board's assessment after reviewing the report. Fox 31 reported that he said the “president needs to re-read the report because the report says quite the opposite.”[14]
The Colorado Education Association requested a state investigation into the case, but the Department of Education and state auditor's office stated they did not have the authority to look into the allegations.[15]
Contact information
Adams 12 Five Star Schools
1500 E. 128th Ave.
Thornton, CO 80241
Phone: 720-972-4000
About school boards
Education legislation in Colorado
Bills are monitored by BillTrack50 and sorted by action history.
See also
| Colorado | School Board Elections | News and Analysis |
|---|---|---|
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External links
- Search Google News for this topic
- Adams 12 Five Star Schools
- Colorado Association of School Boards
- Colorado Department of Education
Footnotes
- ↑ LinkedIn, "Chris Gdowski," accessed October 26, 2019
- ↑ Adams 12 Five Star Schools, "Board of Education," accessed March 31, 2021
- ↑ Adams 12 Five Star Schools, "Board of Education Bylaws - Meeting Procedures: Agenda," accessed August 29, 2023
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ National Center for Education Statistics, "Elementary/Secondary Information System," accessed October 6, 2025
- ↑ Adams 12 Five Star Schools, "Certified/licensed Salary Schedule Effective August 1, 2024," accessed April 14, 2024
- ↑ Adams 12 Five Star Schools, "Certified/licensed Salary Schedule Effective August 1, 2023," accessed August 29, 2023
- ↑ Adams 12 Five Star Schools, "Certified/licensed Salary Schedule Effective August 1, 2020," accessed March 31, 2021
- ↑ U.S. Department of Education, Washington, DC: EDFacts, "State Assessments in Reading/Language Arts and Mathematics- School Year 2018-19 EDFacts Data Documentation," accessed February 25, 2021
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Fox 31 Denver, “State’s 5th largest school district hid millions while cutting services to students?” February 13, 2013
- ↑ Fox 31 Denver, “A letter to the community” February 4, 2013
- ↑ Fox 31 Denver, "Case 1:13-cv-00363-RPM: Gina Holub vs. Chris Gdowski, Shelley Becker, Mark Hinson, and Adams 12 Five Star Schools," accessed March 31, 2021
- ↑ Fox 31 Denver, "Vody Herrmann letter," February 4, 2013
- ↑ Fox 31 Denver, “Caught on tape: School officials laughing as they talked about hiding millions of dollars” March 27, 2013
- ↑ The Denver Post, "Millions spent on retirement stipends for Adams 12 district teachers," April 23, 2013
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