Summary
Organization name
5280 High School: Where Recovery Meets Education
2017
Tax id (EIN)
82-1582926
Category
Education
Organization Size
Large Organization
Address
1200 W Mississippi AveDenver, CO 80223
Denver County, CO, US
5280 High School: Where Recovery Meets Education
A nonprofit organization
$98,994 raised by 75 donors
49% complete
$200,000 Goal
Colorado faces a critical challenge in adolescent substance use and mental health. Our state's youth overdose death rate is 60% above the national average, with fentanyl involved in 75% of these tragic losses. In the Denver Metro region, these rates soar to three times higher than rural areas. Yet, fewer than 10% of youth who need it are able to access treatment for substance use.
As the largest recovery high school in the nation and Colorado's only campus of its kind, 5280 High School serves students aged 14-20 who are navigating substance use, mental health challenges, and co-occurring disorders. We're creating groundbreaking solutions daily, with no existing blueprint for success at this scale.
Our Urgent Need
We're seeking to raise $200,000 this giving season to retain three essential positions that are critical to our students' success. With state funding covering only 40% of our operational needs, we rely on community support to maintain our comprehensive care model. Our staff are vital to ensuring uninterrupted support services for students in various stages of recovery—many of whom are experiencing their first sustained period of sobriety.
Students in early recovery face significant obstacles:
- Substantial gaps in their education
- Overlooked potential for gifted/talented programs
- Ongoing mental health challenges
- Limited access to healthcare and educational resources, particularly in communities of color
At 5280 High School, we're committed to breaking these barriers. Our students come to us carrying experiences with self-harm, disordered eating, and the complex journey of early recovery. We believe in health and educational equity for all students whose recovery needs aren't met by traditional schools.
The Impact of Your Support
The 60% funding gap between state funding and our actual needs means every donation directly impacts our ability to:
- Maintain smaller class sizes by hiring high-quality teachers
- Provide comprehensive mental health support through professional counseling and wellness staff
- Create innovative projects that empower our students in service of the local community
- Build a stronger, more inclusive recovery community
This Giving Season, your 100% tax-deductible contribution helps us close this critical funding gap. Without these three positions, we risk interrupting the vital support services that keep our students on their path to recovery and academic success. Your gift to 5280 High School isn't just a donation—it's an investment in proven solutions for youth recovery and education. Together, we can continue building this vital bridge to success for Colorado's youth.
Giving Activity
Mission
Through authentic academic experiences and a culture of holistic wellness embedded in a strong diverse community, 5280 High School prepares students living in recovery for success in college, their future career, and anything life throws at them.
Background Statement
5280 High School (5280), founded in 2018, serves students in recovery from substance use, self-harm, disordered eating, and other self-destructive behaviors. We address the needs of Colorado's underserved adolescent population grappling with substance use disorder (SUD) and behavioral health challenges. Located in Southwest Denver, 5280 is the largest recovery high school in the country and the only recovery campus in Colorado. We serve students from Denver, Adams, Douglas, Jefferson and Arapahoe Counties, with increasing interest from students and families from Broomfield and Boulder Counties.
5280 is an Alternative Education Campus that utilizes project-based learning to serve students that are identified as High-Risk due to substance use and other destructive behaviors. 65% of our students have a diagnosed social-emotional or learning disability and receive special education services under an IEP or 504 Plan. With approximately 100 students from grades 9 through 12, 5280 reflects the diversity of Denver's population, including a gender-diverse student body with 48% male, 43% female, and 9% identifying as gender-fluid or transgender, and 25% identifying as LGBTQ+. The racial and ethnic composition of 5280’s student body—60% white, 28% Hispanic/Latino, 8% Black, and 4% biracial—mirrors the diversity of American society. In addition, 42% of 5280’s students are from economically marginalized families, with that number increasing through diverse outreach efforts each year.
As a recovery high school, 5280 seeks health and educational equity for students who find their recovery needs unmet by traditional educational environments. We help our students build a strong foundation by providing holistic programs and services that are essential for our students to develop a strong foundation for a life in recovery.
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Organization Data
Denver, CO 80223