District overview
Harrison School District 2
Funding structure, how it compares to peers, and where major projects stand.
How is Harrison D2 paid for?
Harrison School District 2 serves southeast Colorado Springs in El Paso County. Most operating money comes from the state school finance formula, which pays per student, plus local property taxes. In November 2024 voters approved Ballot Issue 4A, a mill levy override of $9 million a year (adjusted for inflation) through 2034, for teacher pay, free community college (D2 Promise) for graduates, and the district's charter schools. A five-member elected Board of Education adopts the budget and hires the superintendent, and a citizens oversight committee reviews the override.
State funding
The 2026-27 budget projects $12,406 per pupil and about $125.1 million of state funding for 11,705 funded students, 334 fewer than before. Averaging over several years softens the loss.
At-risk students
About 71.6 percent of students are counted as at risk, well above the 46.8 percent statewide figure, which brings extra state funding.
Charter schools
About $49.3 million of the General Fund is passed to charter schools (Atlas, James Irwin and Vanguard).
Property taxes
The 2025 levy certified $34.4 million for the General Fund (28.170 mills, including 12.231 voter-approved override mills) and $14.5 million for bond payments (11.819 mills).
The budget draws about $8 million from savings (beginning fund balance) in 2026-27, but the budget book states that each fund is balanced. Other records on this page do not show a shortfall.
Where the district stands
Major projects
Mill levy override distribution plan
adopted for 2026-27The board adopted a plan giving every school its per-student share of override money, then charging each school for D2 Promise scholarship costs of its own graduates. Last year's scholarship costs for charter schools are still being settled.
- Voters approve Ballot Issue 4A
- Citizens oversight committee recommends the approach
- Board adopts Resolution 2026-6
Funding
2024 voter-approved mill levy override (Ballot Issue 4A), per year
The Vanguard School charter contract
renewal not yet signed as of the latest documentsThe board approved a five-year renewal on June 4, 2026. The school asked for revisions on June 24 and the board discussed them in August.
- Board approves renewal with revisions
- Vanguard submits requested revisions
- Work session considers revisions
- Closed session for legal advice
Funding
Per-pupil funding and override share passed through to the charter
Sugarbowl Point housing tax-increment request
declinedThe board refused to share district property tax revenue with a senior housing project.
- Developer presents request
- Board votes 5-0 to decline
Funding
District mill levy revenue (not committed)
Recent news
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Practical guides to school phone policies, district budgets, and administrator hiring.
Explore resources →Built from board agendas, minutes, meeting packets, the FY 2026-27 budget book and board meeting recordings (auto-generated captions) posted from November 2025 to November 2026 on the district's Diligent Community portal and YouTube channel.
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