Established as a school district in 1902. Denver continues to be a leader in education. Denver Public Schools serve one of the most heterogeneous populations in the state of Colorado. The nearly 60,000 students represent an international spectrum of 74 countries and 85 languages.
The Denver Public Schools celebrates this rich diversity knowing that it adds to the wealth of knowledge and promotes human understanding.
DPS students are prepared to succeed in the world. A continuous striving for excellence and dedication to student achievement set the high standards for which the district is nationally recognized.
Each year, Denver Public Schools graduate approximately 3,000 students.
Sixty-three percent of these graduates pursue higher education, receiving nearly 1,500 scholarships to colleges in Colorado and throughout the world. Additionally, an average of 25 students achieves semifinalist and finalist status in the National Merit Scholarship competition. Nearly this entire group receives major scholarships and corporate awards.
Much of the strength of the DPS is rooted in parental, community, and business volunteer involvement. In addition to servingon Parent Teacher Student Associations (PTSA); Parent Teacher Organizations (PTO); School Improvement and Accountability Councils (Special Education Advisory Council) and the American Indian, Asian, Black, and Hispanic Education Advisory Councils, more than 17.000 volunteers share time and talents in schools as program mentors,coaches, tutors, and classroom assistants.
These volunteers contribute some 323.000hours of service annually - a contribution worth over $2.5 million to the school district.
Facts About the Denver Public Schools
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The curriculum provides the basic skills to develop lifelong learning abilities and the full development of each child's potential. An enormous variety of options and electives are available.
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Denver schools have the lowest student to teacher ratio in the metropolitan area.
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Of the major metropolitan school districts, Denver has the lowest property tax and is tied for first place in per student expenditure.
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Denver students consistently take twenty-fne percent of the state's AP (college level) tests.
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Computer and instrumental music education are available in all grades.
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DPS students won the Ranatra Fusca Award and second and fifth place in the International Odyssey of the Mind World Championship Competition in 1989.
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The DPS All-city Marching Band won eight first-place honors and one second-place honor at the 1988 Hula Bowl Marching Band competition.
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Homeworkis expected in all grades. Homework Hotline 4 offers assistance with homework from 5 to 9:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday. For assistance phone 303-758-PASS.
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Most of Denver's schools are neighborhood, walk-in schools. However, because of magnet programs, special and vocational education opportunities, 13,800 students are transported by bus. Nine-thousand students are transported for integration.
FOR MORE INFORMATION--
Visit any school or the Administration Building or call 303-837-1000.
For information about
private or parochial schools. call the Colorado Department of Education at
303-866-6837.
