The University of Denver will shut down the Ricks Center for Gifted Children at the end of the 2026-2027 academic year, closing the book on more than 40 years of specialized education on campus and leaving many families stunned. Parents and alumni who relied on the school's small classes and customized curriculum say the decision landed with little warning.
School history and what it offered
Founded in 1984, the Ricks Center serves gifted students from preschool through eighth grade on the University of Denver campus. The program is known for small class sizes, specialized content labs and a close connection to DU's Morgridge College of Education. Its informational pages also note that about 30 to 35 percent of families receive financial aid. Those features turned Ricks into a niche choice for families looking for highly differentiated instruction, according to the University of Denver.
University announcement and timeline
In a message to families, the university said Ricks will continue to operate fully through the 2026-2027 academic year and that contracts will still be offered for that final year. Administrators also told families they have brought in an independent educational consultant to help plan student transitions. Henrika McCoy said in an email that "the decision was made after careful consideration of our long-term mission, as well as operational and financial factors," according to 9News. The university also scheduled a parent meeting for early March to walk through what comes next, the outlet reported.
Enrollment decline and family reaction
Behind the scenes, enrollment at Ricks had been slipping. Over two years, it dropped by more than 30 percent, from roughly 203 students in 2023 to about 142 in 2025, according to 9News. Families say the small size was exactly the point. Alumni and parents have described the school as a tight-knit community built around individualized attention. Former student Bailey Scaman told reporters, "Ricks was home for me all the way from preschool, early learning years, all the way through 8th grade." The closure of a long-running gifted program has many caregivers worried about finding comparable options, especially for children who depend on Ricks' tailored services.
Support and how the school differs
DU said it intends to support students, families and staff through the transition period and will collaborate with the outside consultant on placement planning. The Ricks Center's admissions materials highlight financial aid and low student-to-teacher ratios, features that are not easy to replicate when a small specialty school disappears. For more information on how the program is structured and what it offers, see the University of Denver.
Context: enrollment pressures on small schools
Across the country, specialty private programs and niche public options have been feeling enrollment and budget pressures in the wake of the pandemic. Those shifts have helped drive consolidations and closures in some communities. National data show that public school enrollment has not fully returned to pre-pandemic levels and that changing demographics are reshaping demand in K-12 education, according to analysis from The 74. Local advocates argue that losing long-standing programs like Ricks limits pathways for gifted students and may steer some families toward homeschooling or out-of-district placements.
The university plans to hold a parent meeting in early March and has told families that more details are coming. Parents are watching closely for information on student placements and staff support. This story will be updated as additional guidance is released by the university and Ricks' leadership.
