It’s hard to believe that we’ll be wrapping up yet another fantastic school year at the end of this week. Filled with both momentous achievements and serious challenges, there was no shortage of authentic moments. As we send our students off to enjoy the (hopefully!) warmer weather and head out ourselves for a well-deserved and relaxing summer break, we’re also reflecting on the ups and downs we’ve experienced along the way. What was your greatest success of the year? Your toughest challenge? We’d love to hear your thoughts - drop us a note through the comment box below!
The 2018-2019 Highlights
This year, four graduating classes, representing almost 400 DSST seniors, announced where they would be attending college next year, including DSST: Montview (née Stapleton), DSST: GVR, DSST: Cole, and the founding class of DSST: College View. As if that wasn’t enough, the day was made even more memorable by guest appearances from Mayor Michael Hancock, a keynote speech from immigrant activist Gaby Pacheco, and an epic mascot dance-off.
100% of DSST graduating seniors were admitted to college. DSST Public Schools is home to 7% of DPS high school seniors, but represents over 13% of college ready seniors in all of DPS.
DSST wins the 2018 Broad Prize
In June 2018, DSST won the 2018 Broad Prize for Public Charter Schools. To be named top public charter network in the country is a tremendous honor, and this award belongs to our students, staff and families, whose hard work is the foundation of our success. While none of us choose the work of public education and eliminating inequity to win awards, this is a great affirmation of 15 years of excellence.
DSST opens over 700 new seats - giving more students access to a great education
Every year, we continue to grow as a network and serve more students with the excellence they deserve. From adding a senior class to DSST: College View High School, a class of juniors to DSST: Byers High School, sophomores at DSST: Conservatory Green High School, eighth graders at DSST: Henry, and a founding class of sixth graders at the brand new DSST: Middle School @ Noel, we served over 150 new families. As we continue to add grades to several of our schools, as well as open the new Aurora Science & Tech later next year, we’re positioned to serve the Denver metro area to the tune of 6,000 students next year. In a time when both the nation and Denver needs good schools more than ever, reaching more students means providing more much-needed opportunities for robust learning and growth.
DSST Public Schools named a 2019 Top Workplace.
Earlier this month, DSST was honored to be named one of the 2019 Top Workplaces, the fifth time in the past 6 years. Kudos go out to our staff, because they make DSST a Top Workplace! Just like our students, we strive to help our employees grow by creating a workplace that values who they are and connects them to our greater mission.
The Challenges
School violence and tragedy
Let’s be honest, it was heartbreaking and difficult to have our year bookended by two tragic events: a DSST: Cole student senselessly shot outside of school on the 9th day of school and a tragic shooting at a STEM charter school just south of Denver in May. Our nation is witnessing an epidemic of violence directed at our most vulnerable - our kids - and lawmakers continue to struggle to find even basic solutions. The demands on our schools - from safety to providing adequate mental health resources, continues to grow. We know these challenges will not be solved easily, and the angst and heartache that students, parents, and staff face as they continue to go to school is always on the front of our minds. We are dedicated to continuing to build safe school communities where each student feels known and secure and able to flourish.
Politics increasingly creeps into education; charter schools see stronger pushback from status quo
The harsh divisions of our political landscape continue to be reflected in our current education ecosystem. Lines are being drawn for the 2020 presidential election, with the announcement by Bernie Sanders supporting a ban on for-profit charter schools, as well as a “call for a moratorium on the funding of all public charter school expansion until a national audit on the schools has been completed.” This will quickly trickle down to local Board elections here in Denver and Aurora. Despite the fact that charters in Colorado are prohibited by law from being for profit, and despite our results and our mission, charter networks like DSST will be thrown into the fray. Click here for a run down on the dialogue that is bound to continue to shape our world in the coming months.
A continued lack of adequate funding for education in Colorado
Contrary to the popular belief that marijuana money is pouring in to fund our schools, Colorado remains near the bottom of states in terms of education funding. Between the persistence of TABOR and repeated failures of initiatives to increase education funding, our schools and students continue to suffer. Back in November, the failure of Amendment 73 was not surprising, but deeply disappointing nonetheless. Denied this new funding stream that would have went towards an increase in teachers salaries, DPS felt increased pressure from the DCTA, ultimately resulting in a three day strike back in February. This was a challenging, emotional, and at times divisive moment for all public school teachers. We all know that school funding continues to be inadequate in Colorado. While DSST was able to give an average raise of 12% to school-based staff, we know we need to continue to do more. We will continue to advocate alongside other groups, including Colorado Children’s Campaign, to move the needle on education funding.
Members of the DSST: Henry community supporting public comments at a November board meeting
Henry High School Blocked
Earlier in the year, we ran in to many obstacles while working to secure a space for the graduating 8th graders of Henry Middle School to attend next year. Despite our very best efforts as a community to push DPS to uphold their commitment in finding facility space for our high school, they were unwilling to make a space available to open a school. After finding that DPS had not been willing to work with us or even lay out a process by which we could secure a facility space, we saw no path to open a DSST: Henry High School next year. Needless to say, this was very disappointing and not a decision that put students and families first. This unfortunate situation is indicative of larger politics at play within the DPS board of education. And it is especially disheartening that students living in the Southwest, a historically underserved part of Denver, have been denied an opportunity for a quality education.
What’s next?
Throughout this year, our priorities have remained the same: serving all students with excellence as we prepare them for success in college and career, providing a positive place for staff to learn and grow their careers, and committing to continuously improving how we serve our students. Thank you for all of your hard work and resilience this year, and for never losing sight of our larger mission and goals. Here’s to a wonderful summer and an even better 19-20 school year!