Extraordinary by nature.
An Innovative K-8 School Coming to Colorado Springs in 2026
At Spruce, we nurture both directions of growth. Safe environments, caring relationships, and joyful engagement are the soil, water, and sun of education.
Our Promise to Families
This is education reimagined
All Spruce classes are capped at 18 students to ensure that students are in a small community where they are known, understood, and seen by their peers and teachers. Core to our educational belief is that small class sizes with exceptional teachers will enable excellent educational outcomes for students and families. Our small class sizes allow every student to receive daily 5:1 small group reading instruction so your student receives incredible personalized attention.
We believe that education should not be a choice between structured learning and creative endeavors. At Spruce, we embrace a holistic approach where rigorous academic fundamentals and student-driven exploration are not competing priorities, but complementary pathways to deeper understanding. Spruce students engage in rich, project-based learning that cultivates both disciplinary skills and intellectual curiosity—developing mathematical precision, literary depth, and writing clarity alongside the creative problem-solving and collaborative spirit that prepare them for an ever-evolving world.
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In grades K-4, students focus on foundational academics and social-emotional skills, with supplementary projects preparing them for interdisciplinary project-based learning (PBL) in grades 5-8. By honoring student voices and providing robust academic foundations, we create learning experiences that are simultaneously anchored and adventurous. This model will address employers’ need for creative and interdisciplinary thinkers and families’ hope for joyful and challenging classrooms all while ensuring students meet and exceed grade-level content expectations.
At Spruce, we recognize that academic success is intrinsically linked to social and emotional well-being. Our educational model acknowledges that learning is fundamentally social and emotional—not confined to isolated lessons, but woven into every aspect of education. Through project-based learning, students engage in collaborative work that develops critical interpersonal skills: interpreting social signals, navigating interactions, resolving conflicts, cultivating empathy, and building consensus.
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These experiences not only bolster students’ abilities to work in teams; they also enhance learning depth and retention as students verbalize ideas, make personal connections, and engage meaningfully with subject matter. By integrating social-emotional learning into our academic approach, we create an environment where cognitive growth and emotional intelligence develop in tandem, preparing students not just academically, but as whole, compassionate individuals.
Our Values
Spruce started with an idea – all students and staff should love going to school and school should prepare students for their ambitious and brilliant dreams. Our values define every decision we make and action we take. Our success lies in our students’ stories and actions as life-long learners. Are they kind citizens? Are they critical thinkers, curious learners, and creative problem-solvers? Can they advocate for what is right and remain courageous in the face of adversity? The answers to these questions will define our impact.
Curious
We explore each day as if it’s our first, honoring childhood with a sense of awe and wonder.
Kind
We believe our attitudes and actions are contagious when we see the best in each person.
Courageous
We listen to our hearts and do what we believe is right, even in the face of fear.
At Spruce, learning comes alive through projects that matter.
They design and build a playground that brings the community together.
They study play across disciplines: exploring inclusion and kindness in literature, the science of human connection, the technological impact of play across history, and the geometry tied to playground designs.
They partner with a local nonprofit to build their ideal playground and write safety manuals and social contracts.
I am designing the school I want my children to go to.
Meet our Founder, Loren Koszowski
Loren grew up in Denver, CO, where she attended a small K-8 school that fostered her love for learning through curiosity, meaningful conversations, and caring relationships. Rather than relying on textbooks and lectures, her education emphasized hands-on, relevant projects supported by strong connections with teachers and peers, an experience that profoundly shaped her approach to education. The contrast between this nurturing environment and her college experience, which often emphasized compliance and rote memorization, sparked her lifelong passion for understanding and replicating transformative learning environments. Since then, she has dedicated her career as a teacher, researcher, and educational leader to creating rigorous yet joyful educational experiences.
She began her teaching career in Harrison District 2 and developed Creativity Matters, a design thinking class empowering students to solve community challenges. After she worked across Denver Public Schools to implement mindfulness practices, where she was recruited to restore a third-grade class following a traumatic incident, which deepened her love for elementary education and literacy. She pursued two advanced degrees, she earned a Master’s in Human Development and Psychology at Harvard and a second Master’s in Education Leadership at High Tech High, where she served as a teacher, instructional coach, and Leadership Resident, contributing to the school’s California Distinguished School Award.
Founding a school fulfills her lifelong dream of creating a space where all children can experience the type of education that instills a love of learning, the type of learning she was fortunate enough to receive. She believes that every child deserves access to an education where they are known, loved, and seen by a community so they feel comfortable enough to learn with curiosity, lead with kindness, and grow with courage.
Spruce By the Numbers
FAQs
All this hands on learning is great, but how will my child master the basics?
Project-based learning might seem like “all fun and no fundamentals,” but it’s quite the opposite. Core skills like reading, writing, and mathematics are deeply woven into every project. When your child calculates the budget for their community garden project or writes a proposal for their renewable energy design, they’re practicing these essential skills in real-world contexts. Our assessment data shows that students often retain these skills better because they’ve learned them through meaningful application rather than rote memorization.
Won't my child fall behind comprared to students at traditional schools?
It’s natural to worry about keeping pace with conventional schools, especially if you’re considering transitioning back to traditional education later. Our students actually tend to outperform their peers in standardized tests and college admissions, particularly in areas like critical thinking and problem-solving. The key difference is that they develop these skills through engaging projects rather than textbook exercises. Plus, they gain valuable skills in collaboration, time management, and independent research that many traditional schools don’t explicitly teach.
This sounds a bit less structured - how do you maintain order and discipline?
While our classrooms might look different from what you remember from school (and yes, they’re often buzzing with activity!), there’s actually a robust framework behind everything we do. Each project has clear milestones, deadlines, and learning objectives. Students learn to manage their time, set goals, and take responsibility for their work – skills that are invaluable in the real world. Think of it less as chaos and more as controlled creativity.
What happens if my child needs extra support or isn't naturally self-directed?
Not every child walks in ready to manage complex projects independently, and that’s completely OK! We have a structured system to help students develop these skills gradually. Our teachers provide varying levels of support based on individual needs, and we use a mentoring system where students can work with peers who have different strengths. We’ve found that even students who initially struggle with self-direction often become more confident and independent over time.
This all sounds expensive - how much does it cost to attend Spruce?
As a public charter school, Spruce is 100% tuition-free and open to all students. There are no hidden fees or costs – that’s our commitment as a public school. Our project-based approach proves that innovative education doesn’t have to come with a price tag. Our mission is to make high-quality, engaging education accessible to every child in our community, regardless of their family’s financial situation.
What does "Community School" mean at Spruce?
The term “community school” can be confusing. At Spruce, it simply means we:
- Focus on local partnerships (like parks, museums, small businesses).
- Design hands-on projects that solve real problems in our area.
- Help kids connect classroom learning to real life—with a strong foundation in core subjects.
Our city has so much to offer—and students should explore it.
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