The mission of Brighten Academy is to provide a productive learning environment with a highly qualified staff committed to using an innovative, research-based instructional model that produces measured growth in every student every year. Brighten Academy, the charter school in the Douglas County School System, serves students in kindergarten through 8th grade. Students must apply for admission and are selected via lottery if applications exceed the number of seats available. Brighten Academy offers a rigorous curriculum that exceeds the standards set by the state. In 2018, Brighten Academy earned the EL Education Credential. The hallmark of EL Education’s approach to reinventing school is an expanded definition of student achievement that combines student character and high-quality work with mastery of knowledge and skills. Brighten Academy also offers a variety of extracurricular activities in areas ranging from athletics to fine arts.