D11 Bond Appears to Pass — First School Construction Win in 20 Years

Colorado Springs families woke up Wednesday morning to encouraging news: early unofficial results from Tuesday's election show D11's $775 million bond measure, Issue 4A, passing with approximately 51% of the vote. If those results hold through the certification process, it would be the first successful D11 capital bond in more than 20 years.

What the Numbers Show

As of late Tuesday evening, unofficial results from The Gazette and other local outlets showed Issue 4A receiving approximately 51.4% yes votes, with 48.6% voting no. That's a narrow margin — just over two percentage points — and the results are not yet certified. El Paso County election officials will conduct the official canvass in the coming weeks before any numbers become final.

Colorado Springs residents have good reason to watch the certification closely. In 2021, D11 put a $350 million bond on the ballot that appeared to be passing on election night, only to fail by just 11 votes after a recount. The 2026 margin is wider, but the community has been through a close call before.

Issue 4A is significantly larger than the 2021 measure, at $775 million. It is funded through property taxes — the district estimates an average homeowner will pay approximately $22 per month, or $260 per year, depending on property value.

What the Bond Would Build

The bond covers capital improvements across all D11 schools. The largest single project is a new Holmes Middle School, which would replace an aging building. Other major investments include air conditioning systems at every school that currently lacks them — a significant issue in a district where older buildings can reach uncomfortable temperatures in late summer and early fall.

Palmer High School and Coronado High School are both slated for major renovations. Library upgrades and comprehensive safety and security system improvements would apply district-wide. These are repairs and improvements that the district has deferred for years, in some cases decades.

The last time D11 successfully passed a capital bond was in 2004. Since then, the district has relied on operating funds for maintenance while capital needs mounted.

What Happens Next

D11's board of directors held its regular monthly meeting on Tuesday evening and was expected to address the election results. The official canvass by El Paso County will take several weeks. Once results are certified, the district can begin the planning process for bonded projects.

If the bond is certified as passing, construction on initial projects could begin as early as 2027. District officials have outlined a phased timeline, with higher-priority and more urgent repairs starting first.

For families, the most immediate next step is simply waiting for the certification. D11 families can track updates at d11.org/bond.

What's Next

El Paso County will canvass the election results over the coming weeks. D11 will post official updates at d11.org as the canvass progresses. If results are certified as a yes, the district is expected to announce a construction timeline in early 2027. COS Parenting will continue to track this story as the official numbers come in.