The Thompson School District is the 16th largest school district in Colorado, encompassing 362 square miles, and is the largest employer in Loveland and Berthoud. We are a pre-K through 12th grade district with 12 early childhood centers, 20 elementary schools, five middle schools, five high schools and two charter schools. District enrollment for the 2012-2013 school year is 16,054 students. Our district includes the cities of Loveland, Berthoud and the southern part of Fort Collins as well as parts of Larimer, Weld and Boulder counties. Our schools offer a number of educational options including: International Baccalaureate (IB) and pre-IB programs; a Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM) focus at one high school and two elementary schools; Core Knowledge programs; the Loveland area Integrated School of the Arts (LISA), K-12; and Advanced Placement programs. We are also home to the Loveland/Berthoud Enrichment Access Program (LEAP), which supports parents who choose to school their children at home or outside a public setting. The district's TCAP scores are consistently above state averages. The districtwide graduating class of 2012 earned over $13.9 million in scholarships.
The Loveland/Berthoud area is located on the Front Range of the Rockies at about 5,000 feet. Less than an hour from both Rocky Mountain National Park and Roosevelt National Forest, the area offers recreational opportunities including: miles of hiking and biking trails; parks; lakes and rivers for fishing, boating and camping; numerous golf courses and athletic fields; as well as indoor and outdoor swimming and recreation facilities. Abundant higher education campuses and cultural opportunities are within a short distance. Home to a thriving arts community, Sculpture In The Park and the International Sculpture Show and Sale attract over 300 sculptors. Loveland alone boasts an art collection valued at over $6 million with over 275 permanent art placements. Loveland city arts facilities include a museum and the historic Rialto Theater, where live performances and films are regularly scheduled.
