Preschool on Poze, originally Clayton Intermediate School, is home to a thriving early learning setting. Unfortunately, as one of Mapleton’s oldest buildings – constructed in 1960 and designed for 5th and 6th graders – the structure leaves much to be desired for the district’s youngest learners. Using funds from the 2016 bond, the building received a very modest renovation two years ago. Mapleton’s long-term facilities plan includes opening a new early learning center in the district, potentially near the new Explore PreK-8 on 104th Avenue and York Street.  

Since opening, Explore PreK-8 has been at capacity at almost every grade level, and more families are interested in attending Explore every school year. The design and construction teams that helped establish the vision of the Explore PreK-8 site, Hord Coplan Macht and JHL, have put together a design that changes the current Explore building into a 3rd-8th grade school, expanding enrollment opportunities for those grade levels. Next to Explore, Mapleton is considering building a PreK-2 school, offering expanded access to early learning and creating a “campus-like” environment for families.