Ascent Classical Academy of Northern Colorado

Ascent Classical Academy of Northern Colorado is a K–12 charter school in Fort Collins, CO, serving 621 students and authorized by the State Charter School Institute, a statewide authorizer currently ranked in the middle of the pack among Colorado districts. The school operates alongside several well-regarded classical options in the area, including Liberty Common Charter School and Ridgeview Classical Schools, both authorized by Poudre School District.

Ascent's strongest academic subject is math. All-grades math proficiency is 51.6%, well above the state's 37.3% and the authorizer's 28.6% average, and 3rd-grade math reaches 71.2% versus 41.5% statewide. Reading and writing results are more uneven. All-grades ELA proficiency is 38.6%, below the state's 44.7%, and 4th-grade ELA stands at just 23.3% versus 47.0% statewide—the lowest among nearby reporting schools. However, upper-grade reading is a bright spot: 11th-grade SAT reading/writing proficiency is 83% versus 60% statewide, and PSAT9 reading/writing is 87% versus 66%. SAT math in 11th grade is also strong at 52% versus 32% statewide, though 10th-grade PSAT math lags at 27% versus 39%.

Attendance has improved dramatically at Ascent. Chronic absenteeism fell from 42.8% in 2023–24 to 16.7% in 2024–25, a 26-point swing that now places the school well below district (30.4%) and state (28.4%) averages, and better than nearby Ridgeview Classical Schools (27.3%), Polaris Expeditionary Learning School (29.3%), and University Schools (24.4%). While Ascent still trails Liberty Common Charter School in most ELA and advanced-math measures, its math acceleration, strong high-school reading, and improved attendance are meaningful positives. The 4th-grade reading dip and middle-grade math transitions are worth watching as the school continues to develop.