Cherry Creek's nightmare year worsens
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Cherry Creek Schools has had a rough year. Photo: John Leyba/Getty Images
It's been a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad year so far for one of Colorado's most prestigious school districts.
The big picture: The hits just keep on coming.
Driving the news: The Trump administration opened a federal investigation into Cherry Creek Schools this week, with the U.S. Department of Education alleging race-based practices are embedded across the district.
- Its Office for Civil Rights says Cherry Creek "allows or sponsors a wide range of racially-discriminatory programming" and may have violated federal civil rights laws.
Why it matters: The investigation puts new political and legal pressure on a district that has spent much of 2026 putting out fires.
Catch up quick: Superintendent Chris Smith abruptly resigned in January after allegations of a toxic workplace culture.
- Denver7 reported in March that 14 district employment contracts were improperly signed, raising questions about oversight.
- In April, board member Terry Bates resigned after the district said he had made "racialized" remarks.
- The district fired Brenda Smith — its human resources head and the former superintendent's wife — in May after an investigation found "significant policy violations."
The latest: Federal officials are turning Cherry Creek's inclusion efforts into the district's latest flashpoint.
The most explosive allegations include:
- Cherry Creek Schools considered race when putting students into classes.
- Race influenced which students received academic support.
- Some student clubs exclude students based on race.
The Department of Education also alleges district training materials taught that the U.S. was founded on white supremacy.
- The federal investigation emerged from complaints filed in 2025.
The intrigue: Federal officials say they're scrutinizing Cherry Creek's Voices of Color Committee, arguing the group restricts access based on race.
- Keith Frazier, the district's newest board appointee, served on the group's steering committee. He was appointed after Bates resigned in April.
What they're saying: "We strongly disagree with the characterization of district programming," Cherry Creek Schools said in a statement to Axios.
- As of last Wednesday, the district still hadn't received a copy of the complaint.
The bottom line: Cherry Creek is now juggling a leadership scandal, contract questions, a board shake-up, and a federal civil rights probe — a wild run for a district long seen as one of Colorado's educational crown jewels.