Stretching across 108 square miles of suburban Denver, the Cherry Creek School District has become one of Colorado’s largest and most forward-looking school districts. Serving 53,000 students across elementary, middle and high schools, the district balances traditional academic rigor with a strong focus on career readiness, exceptional athletics and activities, and a culture that supports every student as they discover their Pathway of Purpose.
At the center of that effort sits the Cherry Creek Innovation Campus (CCIC), a purpose-built high school that opened in 2019 to invest in hands-on experiences and career readiness for students as well as reimagine how business and industry can partner with public schools to fuel the next generation of the workforce. Instead of separating vocational training from college preparation, CCIC blends the two. Students rotate through industry-aligned pathways, from advanced manufacturing and transportation to health and wellness, IT and STEAM, that combine labs, mentors, internships and dual-credit coursework. The campus, which accommodates about 1,800 students grades 10 through 12, was designed to give students credentialing and real workplace experience alongside their diploma.
In the years following COVID, CCIC has turned from an experiment into a proving ground. Rising demand from students and local employers prompted taxpayers to support a major expansion. From the November 2024 bond measure, construction on the CCIC is underway to double the facilities footprint, broaden the pathways offered, and increase enrollment so that more Cherry Creek students can access CTE opportunities without leaving the district. The new pathways that will be offered starting in the 2026 to 2027 school year include Automation, Robotics and Mechatronics, Aerospace Technician, Emergency Medical Technician, Veterinary Assistant, Heating and Air Conditioning, Welding, Baking and Pastry, and Film and Motion Design. This is part of an ongoing investment in workforce development and connecting high school learning to regional labor needs.
The expansion of career pathways also illustrates a broader shift in public education today. In an era when public school funding and community expectations are in flux, Cherry Creek Schools has doubled down on partnerships with local employers and industry partners to help shape pathways and curriculum that align with real jobs and in-demand careers. These partnerships are spotlighted at CCIC and across the district with various partners such as Mikron, United Rotorcraft, Reata, HCA HealthONE and others. A recent example is the partnership between the district and the new Denver National Women’s Soccer League team. Denver NWSL is investing to build soccer fields and a stadium in Centennial. This partnership also includes the City of Centennial and will help advance women’s youth, amateur and professional sports in Colorado and benefit Cherry Creek Schools’ students, families and the community.
“Our partners make the difference when it comes to giving our students firsthand experience in the industry and working alongside experts in the field. Together we can help develop the workforce of the future and support students as they find their Pathway of Purpose and a fulfilling career,” said Christopher Smith, Superintendent of Cherry Creek School District.
Another notable partner is HCA HealthONE. Since 2023, the healthcare system has partnered with the Cherry Creek Innovation Campus to provide job shadowing opportunities to students enrolled in the Health and Wellness pathway. This experience enhances the curriculum taught in the classroom with exposure to the hospital setting. Students shadow clinicians, observe patient care, and gain an understanding of the career opportunities available within the healthcare industry.
As part of the Health and Wellness pathway, 11th grade students enrolled in the Certified Nurse Aide, Physical and Occupational Therapy, or Pharmacy Technician programs are invited to apply for the HCA HealthONE observation program. Once accepted, these students are offered up to 16 hours of on-site shadowing at HCA HealthONE Centennial, a part of Aurora Hospital, or HCA HealthONE Spalding Rehabilitation.
HCA HealthONE Centennial is a full service, 20 bed hospital that has served the community since 1986 with emergency care and surgical services. Students in the CNA and Pharmacy Technician programs who participate in shadowing do so at HCA HealthONE Centennial. Their experiences may include collaborating with nurses and EMTs in the emergency department, joining the medical and surgical team during rounds with post operative patients, or gaining insights from pharmacists in the hospital’s inpatient and retail pharmacy. Since 2023, more than 150 CCIC students have benefitted from this in person learning.
“Because HCA HealthONE Centennial is a boutique hospital, we offer a smaller, more intimate experience to visitors. For our CCIC students, that translates into more one on one time with our clinical teams where they can ask questions and broaden their perspective on the field,” says Emily Trujillo, Chief Operating Officer.
In 2025, HCA HealthONE expanded its partnership with CCIC to include HCA HealthONE Spalding Rehabilitation, Colorado’s first licensed acute rehabilitation hospital. CCIC students enrolled in the Physical and Occupational Therapy program are encouraged to apply for this shadowing experience, where they can observe inpatient stroke, brain injury, trauma, and orthopedic rehabilitation. Students work closely with physical, occupational and speech language therapists to understand the full range of patient care, from assessment and treatment to medical management and discharge planning.
“We’re thrilled to welcome students who are exploring career opportunities in rehabilitation. It is energizing for our team to collaborate with the next generation of therapists, and we hope to see many of these individuals return to us when they are ready to begin their careers,” says Emily Wilkinson, AVP Rehab Operations for HCA HealthONE Spalding Rehabilitation.
HCA HealthONE, a part of HCA Healthcare, strives to engage and serve as an anchor institution through strategic partnerships and community-based relationships. One of the key impact areas driving these collaborations focuses on increasing opportunity and access to healthcare careers. HCA HealthONE partners with local school districts and post-secondary institutions to support education and strengthen the community by creating an inclusive career pipeline into healthcare.
Beyond offering students hands-on experiences in hospital settings, HCA HealthONE supports their journey toward healthcare careers. Through its participation in Cherry Creek School District career fairs, partnerships with the Cherry Creek Innovation Campus, and a five thousand dollar scholarship through the Cherry Creek Schools Foundation, HCA HealthONE helps students pursue advanced education in healthcare. By working alongside educators and community leaders, these partnerships open doors to healthcare opportunities and help build a healthier tomorrow.
For Centennial and surrounding municipalities, these partnerships and the expansion of career readiness opportunities is more than an educational story, it is an economic one. The region’s employers get a pipeline of skilled entry-level workers; students get alternatives to a four year college degree; and Cherry Creek Schools and local industry become partners in workforce development. Cherry Creek Schools and its Innovation Campus will be a model for other districts, a place where the classroom, the shop floor and the airport hangar are all part of the same high school day.
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Career pathways connect classroom learning with real jobs so students can build skills and move
forward with purpose.
Side Bar:
Cherry Creek
Innovation Campus (CCIC)
CCIC is a career focused high school that offers hands-on, industry aligned pathways for students in grades 10 through 12. Programs connect students with real workplace experience, credentials and training that support their Pathway of Purpose.
Address: 8000 S. Chambers Road, Centennial, CO
Phone: 720-554-2600
Website: www.cherrycreekschools.org/ccic