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…..