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School District 27J, Colorado, elections

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School District 27J
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District details
School board members: 7
Next election: November 4, 2025
Students: 23,139 (2023-2024)
Schools: 33 (2023-2024)
Website: Link

School District 27J is a school district in Colorado (Adams and Weld counties). During the 2024 school year, 23,139 students attended one of the district's 33 schools.

This page provides information regarding school board members, election rules, finances, academics, policies, and more details about the district.

Elections

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School District 27J Board of Education District 2

General election

The general election will occur on November 4, 2025.

General election for School District 27J Board of Education District 2

Incumbent Starr Trujillo is running in the general election for School District 27J Board of Education District 2 on November 4, 2025.

Candidate
Starr Trujillo (Nonpartisan)

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School District 27J Board of Education District 4

General election

The general election will occur on November 4, 2025.

General election for School District 27J Board of Education District 4

Incumbent Ashley Conn is running in the general election for School District 27J Board of Education District 4 on November 4, 2025.

Candidate
Ashley Conn (Nonpartisan)

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School District 27J Board of Education District 5

General election

The general election will occur on November 4, 2025.

General election for School District 27J Board of Education District 5

Ramon Alvarado is running in the general election for School District 27J Board of Education District 5 on November 4, 2025.

Candidate
Ramon Alvarado (Nonpartisan)

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School District 27J Board of Education District 6

General election

The general election will occur on November 4, 2025.

Special general election for School District 27J Board of Education District 6

Incumbent Tracie Alvarado and Amy Gomez are running in the special general election for School District 27J Board of Education District 6 on November 4, 2025.

Candidate
Tracie Alvarado (Nonpartisan)
Image of Amy Gomez
Amy Gomez (Nonpartisan)

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School District 27J Board of Education District 1

General election

General election for School District 27J Board of Education District 1

Incumbent Thomas Green defeated Derek Easdon in the general election for School District 27J Board of Education District 1 on November 7, 2023.

Candidate
%
Votes
Thomas Green (Nonpartisan)
 
61.9
 
14,740
Image of Derek Easdon
Derek Easdon (Nonpartisan) Candidate Connection
 
38.1
 
9,065

Total votes: 23,805
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School District 27J Board of Education District 3

General election

General election for School District 27J Board of Education District 3

Melinda Carbajal defeated Shawna Hirter in the general election for School District 27J Board of Education District 3 on November 7, 2023.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Melinda Carbajal
Melinda Carbajal (Nonpartisan) Candidate Connection
 
59.2
 
13,979
Image of Shawna Hirter
Shawna Hirter (Nonpartisan) Candidate Connection
 
40.8
 
9,622

Total votes: 23,601
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School District 27J Board of Education District 6

General election

General election for School District 27J Board of Education District 6

Annie Jensen won election in the general election for School District 27J Board of Education District 6 on November 7, 2023.

Candidate
%
Votes
Annie Jensen (Nonpartisan) Candidate Connection
 
100.0
 
18,356

Total votes: 18,356
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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School District 27J Board of Education District 7

General election

General election for School District 27J Board of Education District 7

Rachel Wilhelm won election in the general election for School District 27J Board of Education District 7 on November 7, 2023.

Candidate
%
Votes
Rachel Wilhelm (Nonpartisan)
 
100.0
 
18,964

Total votes: 18,964
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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School District 27J Board of Education District 2

General election

General election for School District 27J Board of Education District 2

Arvin Leon Thornton Jr. defeated Danielle Jayne in the general election for School District 27J Board of Education District 2 on November 2, 2021.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Arvin Leon Thornton Jr.
Arvin Leon Thornton Jr. (Nonpartisan) Candidate Connection
 
51.8
 
11,179
Danielle Jayne (Nonpartisan)
 
48.2
 
10,383

Total votes: 21,562
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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School District 27J Board of Education District 4

General election

General election for School District 27J Board of Education District 4

Ashley Conn defeated incumbent Blaine Nickeson in the general election for School District 27J Board of Education District 4 on November 2, 2021.

Candidate
%
Votes
Ashley Conn (Nonpartisan)
 
54.0
 
11,701
Image of Blaine Nickeson
Blaine Nickeson (Nonpartisan)
 
46.0
 
9,950

Total votes: 21,651
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

School District 27J Board of Education District 5

General election

General election for School District 27J Board of Education District 5

Incumbent Mandy Thomas defeated Rene Beach in the general election for School District 27J Board of Education District 5 on November 2, 2021.

Candidate
%
Votes
Mandy Thomas (Nonpartisan)
 
53.9
 
11,528
Rene Beach (Nonpartisan)
 
46.1
 
9,852

Total votes: 21,380
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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School District 27J Board of Education District 1

General election

The general election was canceled. Thomas Green (Nonpartisan) won without appearing on the ballot.

School District 27J Board of Education District 3

General election

The general election was canceled. Lloyd Worth (Nonpartisan) won without appearing on the ballot.

School District 27J Board of Education District 6

General election

The general election was canceled. Mary Vigil (Nonpartisan) won without appearing on the ballot.

School District 27J Board of Education District 7

General election

The general election was canceled. Gregory Piotraschke (Nonpartisan) won without appearing on the ballot.

School District 27J Board of Education District 2

General election

General election for School District 27J Board of Education District 2

Incumbent Kevin Robert Kerber won election in the general election for School District 27J Board of Education District 2 on November 7, 2017.

Candidate
Image of Kevin Robert Kerber
Kevin Robert Kerber (Nonpartisan)

Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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School District 27J Board of Education District 4

General election

General election for School District 27J Board of Education District 4

Incumbent Blaine Nickeson won election in the general election for School District 27J Board of Education District 4 on November 7, 2017.

Candidate
Image of Blaine Nickeson
Blaine Nickeson (Nonpartisan)

Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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School District 27J Board of Education District 5

General election

General election for School District 27J Board of Education District 5

Incumbent Mandy Thomas won election in the general election for School District 27J Board of Education District 5 on November 7, 2017.

Candidate
Mandy Thomas (Nonpartisan)

Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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School District 27J Board of Education District 6

General election

General election for School District 27J Board of Education District 6

Incumbent Jennifer Venerable won election in the general election for School District 27J Board of Education District 6 on November 7, 2017.

Candidate
Image of Jennifer Venerable
Jennifer Venerable (Nonpartisan)

Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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School District 27J Board of Education District 1

General election

General election for School District 27J Board of Education District 1

Incumbent Roberta Thimmig won election in the general election for School District 27J Board of Education District 1 on November 3, 2015.

Candidate
Roberta Thimmig (Nonpartisan)

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School District 27J Board of Education District 3

General election

General election for School District 27J Board of Education District 3

Incumbent Lloyd Worth won election in the general election for School District 27J Board of Education District 3 on November 3, 2015.

Candidate
Lloyd Worth (Nonpartisan)

Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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School District 27J Board of Education District 7

General election

General election for School District 27J Board of Education District 7

Incumbent Gregory Piotraschke won election in the general election for School District 27J Board of Education District 7 on November 5, 2013.

Candidate
Image of Gregory Piotraschke
Gregory Piotraschke (Nonpartisan)

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Election rules

 

Election dates and frequency

See also: Rules governing school board election dates and timing

School board general elections in Colorado are held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November every two years in odd-numbered years.

DocumentIcon.jpg See law: C.R.S. 22-31-104

Recent or upcoming election dates for all public school districts in the state

Below are the recent/upcoming dates for all public school districts in the state. There may be exceptions to these dates for specific districts because of local charters and district-specific exceptions and carve-outs.

  • Filing deadline date: August 29, 2025
  • General election date: November 4, 2025

Election system

School board members in Colorado are elected through nonpartisan general elections without primaries.

DocumentIcon.jpg See law: C.R.S 22-30-104

Party labels on the ballot

See also: Rules governing party labels in school board elections

School board elections in Colorado are nonpartisan, which means party labels do not appear on the ballot for school board candidates. Colorado Statute Section 1-4-803(4) states, "A candidate for the office of school director shall not run as a candidate of any political party for that school directorship."

DocumentIcon.jpg See law: C.R.S 22-30-104 and 1-4-803

Winning an election

The school board candidate that receives the largest number of votes in the general election is elected to office.

DocumentIcon.jpg See law: C.R.S. 1-4-104

Term length and staggering

School board members have four-year terms unless a school board passes a resolution to extend the terms to six years.

Any school district coterminous with a city and county (Denver Public Schools) have four-year board member terms. As of 2022, Denver Public Schools was the only school district coterminous with a city and county.

DocumentIcon.jpg See law: C.R.S. 22-31-105

Colorado school districts have staggered elections with as close to half of their board members as possible elected every two years to four-year terms. The board of education can extend or reduce for two years the terms of one or more board members as necessary to achieve staggered elections with as close to the same number of seats up for election as possible every two years.

DocumentIcon.jpg See law: C.R.S. 22-31-105

Representation: at large vs. by sub-district

Except for districts coterminous with a city and county (Denver as of 2022), school board members are elected at large by default. They can be elected from residence area restriction sub-districts or through a combination of at-large and residence area restriction sub-districts if the school district passes a resolution to change district representation. Regardless of whether the district elects some or all board members from certain residence areas (sub-districts), all voters vote in each school board race up for election. As of 2022, 73% of the school districts in the state elected their school board members at large, while 21% elected their members from sub-districts, and the remaining 6% elected their members through a combination of both.

School districts coterminous with a city and county must have a seven-member board of education with one member elected from each of five director districts and two members elected from the district at large. As of 2022, Denver Public Schools was the only district coterminous with a city and county.

DocumentIcon.jpg See law: C.R.S. 22-31-109 and C.R.S. 22-31-131

Filing deadlines and swearing-in dates

The school board candidate filing deadline is sixty-seven days before the election date.

DocumentIcon.jpg See law: C.R.S. 22-31-107

School board candidates can circulate their nomination petitions starting when the filling window opens ninety days before the election, which is 23 days before the filing deadline.

DocumentIcon.jpg See law: C.R.S. 22-31-107

Newly elected school board members are sworn into office no later than ten days after election results are certified.

DocumentIcon.jpg See law: C.R.S. 22-31-125

 


About the district

School board

The School District 27J consists of seven members serving four-year terms. To find information about school board meetings, click here.

List of school board members
NameSeatYear assumed officeYear term ends
Melinda CarbajalDistrict 320232027
Rachel WilhelmDistrict 720232027
Thomas GreenDistrict 120192027
Tracie AlvaradoDistrict 620252025
Starr TrujilloDistrict 220232025
Ashley ConnDistrict 420212025
Mandy ThomasDistrict 520172025

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District map

Overlapping state house districts

The table was limited to the lower chamber because it provides the most granularity. State house districts tend to be more numerous and therefore smaller than state senate or U.S. House districts. This provides an impression of the partisan affiliations in the area.

Budget

The following statistics were published by the National Center for Education Statistics, which is a part of the U.S. Department of Education.[1]

Revenue, 2021-2022
SOURCE AMOUNT AMOUNT PER STUDENT PERCENT
Federal: $21,588,000 $1,060 8%
Local: $122,820,000 $6,033 44%
State: $131,597,000 $6,464 48%
Total: $276,005,000 $13,558
Expenditures, 2021-2022
TYPE AMOUNT AMOUNT PER STUDENT PERCENT
Total Expenditures: $273,313,000 $13,425
Total Current Expenditures: $212,969,000 $10,461
Instructional Expenditures: $111,973,000 $5,500 41%
Student and Staff Support: $21,039,000 $1,033 8%
Administration: $42,476,000 $2,086 16%
Operations, Food Service, Other: $37,481,000 $1,841 14%
Total Capital Outlay: $40,917,000 $2,009
Construction: $31,154,000 $1,530
Total Non El-Sec Education & Other: $496,000 $24
Interest on Debt: $17,832,000 $875

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. To protect student privacy, percentages are reported as ranges for groups of 300 students or fewer. If five or fewer students were included in a data set, the data will display as "PS."[2]

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 20 35-39 15-19 12 <50 20-24 28
2018-2019 28 45-49 20-24 18 11-19 32 36
2017-2018 30 45-49 20-24 20 <=20 35-39 38
2016-2017 29 45-49 20-24 19 <=20 35-39 38
2015-2016 26 40-44 15-19 16 11-19 30-34 35
2014-2015 23 35-39 15-19 13 <=10 30-34 30
2013-2014 51 60-64 35-39 41 30-39 60-64 60
2012-2013 51 60-64 35-39 41 35-39 60-64 60
2011-2012 51 60-64 40-44 41 40-44 60-64 59
2010-2011 81 85-89 70-74 75 75-79 86

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 37 50-54 35-39 26 <50 40-44 48
2018-2019 39 55-59 35-39 29 40-49 44 48
2017-2018 35 45-49 40-44 26 21-39 45-49 43
2016-2017 34 45-49 30-34 24 20-29 40-44 42
2015-2016 31 40-44 30-34 22 20-29 35-39 39
2014-2015 31 35-39 30-34 21 20-29 40-44 40
2013-2014 66 75-79 60-64 56 50-59 75-79 75
2012-2013 65 70-74 50-54 56 55-59 75-79 74
2011-2012 65 65-69 55-59 54 60-64 70-74 74
2010-2011 90 90-94 85-89 86 85-89 94

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 86 >=90 >=80 83 >=50 80-89 88
2018-2019 84 >=80 >=80 81 >=50 >=90 86
2017-2018 82 >=80 60-79 79 >=50 >=80 84
2016-2017 77 >=90 60-79 73 PS >=80 81
2015-2016 77 80-89 >=80 71 >=50 >=80 83
2014-2015 77 70-79 >=80 71 >=50 >=80 81
2013-2014 80 >=80 60-79 75 >=50 60-79 84
2012-2013 79 80-89 >=80 73 PS >=50 84
2011-2012 71 >=80 60-79 63 >=50 >=50 81
2010-2011 73 60-79 60-79 67 >=50 78

Students

The following statistics were published by the National Center for Education Statistics, which is a part of the U.S. Department of Education.[3]

Year Enrollment Year-to-year change (%)
2023-2024 23,139 1.8
2022-2023 22,713 10.4
2021-2022 20,357 5.7
2020-2021 19,203 -0.4
2019-2020 19,275 2.8
2018-2019 18,741 4.4
2017-2018 17,909 4.3
2016-2017 17,138 0.4
2015-2016 17,069 -0.4
2014-2015 17,129 2.4
2013-2014 16,717 3.2
2012-2013 16,184 3.2
2011-2012 15,671 3.7
2010-2011 15,089 4.0
2009-2010 14,485 5.1
2008-2009 13,742 8.3
2007-2008 12,608 8.2
2006-2007 11,569 9.7
2005-2006 10,450 11.4
2004-2005 9,256 10.7
2003-2004 8,261 11.9
2002-2003 7,277 9.6
2001-2002 6,575 11.8
2000-2001 5,796 8.4
1999-2000 5,308 0.0
Racial Demographics, 2023-2024
RACE School District 27J (%) Colorado K-12 STUDENTS (%)
American Indian/Alaska Native 0.4 0.6
Asian or Asian/Pacific Islander 3.6 3.3
Black 2.8 4.6
Hispanic 50.7 35.9
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander 0.3 0.3
Two or More Races 3.9 5.3
White 38.3 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

The following statistics were published by the National Center for Education Statistics, which is a part of the U.S. Department of Education.[4]

As of the 2023-2024 school year, School District 27J had 1,222.19 full-time classroom teachers. The student-teacher ratio was 18.93.

Teachers, 2023-2024 school year
TYPE NUMBER OF TEACHERS
Prekindergarten: 34.05
Kindergarten: 87.01
Elementary: 561.34
Secondary: 539.79
Total: 1,222.19

School District 27J employed 27.14 district administrators and 70.91 school administrators as of the 2023-2024 school year.

Administrators, 2023-2024 school year
TYPE NUMBER OF ADMINISTRATORS
District Administrators: 27.14
District Administrative Support: 61.10
School Administrators: 70.91
School Administrative Support: 78.54
Other staff, 2023-2024 school year
TYPE NUMBER OF OTHER STAFF
Instructional Aides: 309.10
Instruc. Coordinators & Supervisors: 47.30
Total Guidance Counselors: 61.10
Elementary Guidance Counselors: 11.00
Secondary Guidance Counselors: 47.07
Librarians/Media Specialists: 1.95
Library/Media Support: 14.80
Student Support Services: 162.16
Other Support Services: 233.74

Schools

The following statistics were published by the National Center for Education Statistics, which is a part of the U.S. Department of Education.[5]

The School District 27J operates 33 schools. They are listed below in alphabetical order.
List of schools
SCHOOL NAMENUMBER OF STUDENTSGRADES
27j Online Academy2716-12
Belle Creek Charter School558KG-8
Brantner Elementary School551PK-5
Bright Beginnings103PK-PK
Brighton High School1,7739-12
Bromley East Charter School1,215PK-8
Colorado Connections @ 27j1,652KG-12
Discovery Magnet School623KG-8
Eagle Ridge Academy5719-12
Elaine S. Padilla Elementary School592PK-5
Foundations Academy767KG-8
Henderson Elementary School351PK-5
Innovations & Options2356-12
John W Thimmig Elementary School495PK-5
Landmark Academy At Reunion798KG-8
Mary E Pennock Elementary School619PK-5
Northeast Elementary School469PK-6
Otho E Stuart Middle School7416-8
Overland Trail Middle School5596-8
Prairie View High School1,8059-12
Prairie View Middle School6826-8
Prairie Vista Youth Service Center314-12
Reunion Elementary School736PK-5
Riverdale Ridge High School1,6369-12
Rodger Quist Middle School8446-8
Second Creek Elementary School643PK-5
Southeast Elementary School512PK-5
South Elementary School344PK-5
Southlawn Elementary School547PK-5
The Stead School3709-11
Turnberry Elementary766PK-5
Vikan Middle School5656-8
West Ridge Elementary715PK-5

About school boards

Education legislation in Colorado

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See also

School Boards Education Policy Local Politics Colorado
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External links

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  • Footnotes