Frequently Asked Questions
Welcome to our school's Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page.
Knowledge empowers. LCS is committed to empowering parents and community members with information they need to make informed decisions about their children's education.
Popular Questions
Does LCS charge tuition?
No. Liberty Common School does not charge tuition.
Parents are responsible for a small activity fee charged at the beginning of each school year to help cover the cost of materials as well as the cost of optional co-curricular activities.
Liberty Common High School – $50 per student
Liberty Common Elementary School – $35 per student
What grades does LCS offer?
K-12. Liberty Common School is comprised of three academic campuses in Fort Collins, Colorado. Two elementary school campuses serve grades k-6 and one combined junior-high and high-school campus serve grades 7-12.
Is there a dress code?
Yes. How students dress sets the stage for performance and a positive attitude with a focus on learning. A dress code establishes the school as a place of academic dignity. It is important to minimize distractions and perceived student hierarchy. Liberty Common School does have "Liberty T-shirt Day" once per month and "Free-Dress Day" once per quarter. With a firm yet balanced dress code in place since the school’s inception, the overall student attitudes toward respect, punctuality, and focus are more resolute.
All Questions
Does LCS charge tuition?
No. Liberty Common School does not charge tuition.
Parents are responsible for a small activity fee charged at the beginning of each school year to help cover the cost of materials as well as the cost of optional co-curricular activities.
Liberty Common High School – $50 per student
Liberty Common Elementary School – $35 per student
What grades does LCS offer?
K-12. Liberty Common School is comprised of three academic campuses in Fort Collins, Colorado. Two elementary school campuses serve grades k-6 and one combined junior-high and high-school campus serve grades 7-12.
Is there a dress code?
Yes. How students dress sets the stage for performance and a positive attitude with a focus on learning. A dress code establishes the school as a place of academic dignity. It is important to minimize distractions and perceived student hierarchy. Liberty Common School does have "Liberty T-shirt Day" once per month and "Free-Dress Day" once per quarter. With a firm yet balanced dress code in place since the school’s inception, the overall student attitudes toward respect, punctuality, and focus are more resolute.
How long is the school day?
Liberty Common High School runs from 7:45 AM–3:15 PM Monday through Friday.
Liberty Common Elementary campuses run from 8:00 AM–3:00 PM Monday through Friday.
Half-time kindergarten students attend full days (8:00 AM–3:00 PM) on either Mondays/Wednesdays or Tuesdays/Thursdays and half days on Fridays.
Does Liberty Common School follow the Poudre School District schedule?
In-service days and intermissions vary slightly from Poudre School District, however, Liberty Common School works to align our academic calendar with the district as much as possible for the benefit of our families.
How old does my child have to be in order to start kindergarten?
Children must be five years old on or before October 1 to be registered for kindergarten the following school year.
How do I enroll?
Please view our enrollment page and lottery page for details on enrolling your student at Liberty Common School.
Does LCS provide transportation?
Liberty Common School does not provide bus transportation for students. The school offers limited morning and afternoon shuttle service between campuses for parents meeting specific criteria.
What curriculum is followed?
Liberty Common School follows the Core Knowledge© curriculum in grades k–8. This curriculum encompasses language arts, mathematics, science, history, geography, fine arts, and physical education. The curriculum is characterized by knowledge that is content-rich, cumulative, content-specific, and coherent.
Liberty Common High School is a classically oriented, liberal arts, college-preparatory institution accentuating the humanities and emphasizing math, science, and engineering.
Is there a volunteer requirement for parents?
It is the right and responsibility of parents to educate their children. You have chosen to send your children to a parent-led school. Without parent volunteers, we do not have a school at all. Parents must be involved in every aspect of our school from working in the lunchroom, and coordinating events, to our parent-run Board of Directors.
While there are no specific requirements for volunteer hours, being involved in big and little ways ensures not only the success of your students but also the vitality of the school. As a charter school, we receive 80% of what a typical public school in Fort Collins would receive. We are put in the position of doing more with less and bridging the gaps with creative ideas and greater efficiencies. Parents are resourceful, innovative, and vital to our collective success.
Does LCS offer special education services?
As a public school, Liberty Common School serves students with individualized education programs (IEPs), Section 504 accommodation plans, Colorado READ Act, and English language development plans.
The Liberty Common School Academic Support Team (k-12), in collaboration with parents and teachers, provides targeted academic support and intervention to ensure all Liberty Common students have access to the contextual body of organized knowledge, the values of a democratic society, and the skills of learning taught at Liberty Common School.
What is the homework policy?
Homework is essential to 1) reinforce and deepen the concepts taught in the classroom, 2) develop study skills and habits, and 3) practice skills and knowledge in ways that are not readily accomplished in the classroom. Assignments will be limited to meaningful exercises that prepare students for classroom success. In elementary school, parents should expect and plan for ten minutes of homework per night per grade as a guideline. This is in addition to the required reading expectations. In high school, the homework load climbs steadily and varies according to the difficulty of one’s elective course choices.
Our students take on a challenging, rigorous curriculum. Students need time to work at home. Remember, the hard way through high school is the easy way through college.
Does LCS offer preschool?
Liberty Common School does not participate in the universal preschool program and does not offer an option for preschool.
What extracurricular activities are offered?
Liberty Common School offers a wide range of co-curricular options for students at all grade levels. Learn more about our clubs and cocurriculars here.
What sports are offered?
Learn more about Liberty Common School Athletics here.
Does Liberty Common provide before and after-school care?
Liberty Common School does not provide care for students before school. The school contracts with After School Kindness (ASK) to provide after-school care at our elementary campuses. Learn more about ASK after-school care here.
Does LCS serve breakfast and lunch?
Liberty Common School does not participate in the federal government's Free & Reduced-Price Meals program. Parents are asked to send students to school with lunches daily. As an alternative option, parents may purchase lunches online through a third-party provider, Wholesome Food Services. The only lunch items available for purchase at school are beverages (juice or milk) for $0.50.
How big are the classroom sizes?
Elementary class sizes run between 25-28 students. Each year, Liberty Common High School graduates roughly 75 students.
How is Liberty Common School governed?
Liberty is governed by a Board of Directors comprised of parents elected by the school’s entire parent population. The Board is responsible for ensuring compliance with our Charter and is accountable to the PSD Board of Education. Read more on our Governance page.
What is a charter school?
A charter school is a public school operating within a public-school district. A contract with the local Board of Education allows a charter school to operate free from specified district policies and state regulations thereby allowing more flexible and purposeful ways of educating children.
How are charter schools funded?
As a district-sponsored, charter-public school, Liberty Common School is funded through state and local tax revenues. Funding gaps are supplemented through grant appeals and fundraising.
Why do we require Latin?
A solid understanding of Latin words and grammar does wonders when it comes to understanding English grammar and vocabulary. The ability to read critically goes hand in hand with the ability to carefully parse and interpret language. Our brains use Latin to learn to read, write, and speak a more intelligent form of English.
Students with two years of Latin training will be prepared to think more clearly, to express themselves more deftly, and to read literature more deeply than their peers who have no Latin grammar and vocabulary. In addition to supporting the advancement of English, our Latin courses provide historical, cultural, and geographical content. It reinforces the subject areas of history, literature, and civics. It also serves to deepen appreciation of our modern western civilization’s roots.