DSST delivers strong results for students across Denver and Aurora
This week, school districts across Colorado received their 2026 School Performance Framework (SPF) results, and DSST has so much to celebrate. Thirteen of our 16 schools earned Green ratings, meaning 84% of DSST students attend a Green‑rated school, one of the strongest network profiles in Denver and Aurora. These results reflect the excellence happening every day in our classrooms and the incredible work of our students, educators, and families.
But the story doesn’t stop at ratings. Across the network, students posted some of the strongest academic growth results in Denver and Aurora, with particularly impressive gains in mathematics. Growth is one of the most powerful indicators of a school’s impact—it shows how much progress students make over time—and this year’s results make one thing clear: DSST students are accelerating.
These outcomes didn’t happen by chance. They happened because students showed up ready to learn, because educators held high expectations and provided exceptional support, and because families partnered with schools every step of the way. They happened because our communities believe deeply in what students can achieve when they are challenged, supported, and inspired.
At DSST, we’ve always believed that a school’s impact extends far beyond any single metric. Every day, our schools work to ensure students are known, challenged, supported, and prepared for their futures. Through rigorous academics, STEM learning opportunities, advising, college and career preparation, and strong relationships with caring adults, students build the knowledge, skills, and confidence they need to pursue lives of choice and opportunity. This commitment is rooted in a simple belief: every student deserves access to an excellent education and the opportunities that come with it.
More than two decades into the DSST journey, these results reflect thousands of moments: students mastering new concepts, teachers celebrating breakthroughs, advisors guiding tough conversations, families cheering on growth. Behind every data point is a student who gained confidence, overcame a challenge, discovered a passion, or saw a new possibility for their future. The 2026 SPF results remind us what can happen when students, educators, and families work together around a shared commitment to excellence.
We are incredibly proud of what students achieved this year and deeply grateful to the families and supporters who make this work possible. There is still important work ahead, but these results underscore the strength of our communities and the promise of what students can accomplish when they are surrounded by people who believe in them.
And that is a result worth celebrating.