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DSST and Colorado School of Mines Launch Guaranteed Admission Pathway for STEM‑Driven Students (Clone)

DSST Public Schools and Colorado School of Mines have taken a major step forward in expanding STEM opportunities for Colorado students. The two institutions have announced a new guaranteed admission pathway that will give qualifying DSST graduates a direct route into one of the nation’s top STEM universities.

Carried by community: DSST alumna Dr. Analisse Nava earns her doctorate - and honors her roots (Clone)

She grew up in Green Valley Ranch (GVR), the same neighborhood where she would one day teach. She sat in the same kinds of classrooms where she would later stand at the front. And when she crossed the stage to receive her doctoral degree, she did it knowing she wasn't walking alone. She was carried by every person who had believed in her along the way.

From unsure 6th grader  to college-bound musician & engineer : One DSST: Cole High School Senior’s Story

Taking the Risk — and Watching It Pay Off

When Irvin Gonzalez first walked through the doors of DSST: Cole Middle School in sixth grade, he didn't know a single person. He was nervous, unsure, and stepping into something completely new.

Announcing homes for heroes partnership

We’re excited to announce a new benefit designed to support your financial well‑being and make living in Colorado more sustainable for our educators and staff. We are proud to be the first school district in Colorado to partner with Homes for Heroes, a partnership that expands access to meaningful financial savings for every DSST team member buying or selling a home.

From Las Vegas to College Dreams: Zariah Russell, Elevate's Rising Art Star

A Fresh Start, A New Beginning
Zariah Russell's story begins with a bold move from North Las Vegas to Colorado during her sophomore year. "At my old school, no teachers really helped us out," Zariah reflects. "There was no tutoring like Elevate has."

The difference was immediate and transformative. "[DSST: Elevate] is way different from the school that I went to. And it's actually helped me be able to graduate. It really helped a lot."

Finding Her Voice Through Art
What drives Zariah? Art and animation. Her passion runs deep, rooted in a desire to make her mother proud and tell stories that inspire others. "If I can make animation and tell people's stories or make anime and inspire other people to do it, that's what I wanted to do," she explains.

Through DSST's Advanced Placement Art program and the Creative Content Cohort, Zariah has found her creative voice. She's created speed drawing  videos, collaborated with students from across the DSST network, and even auditioned to be her school mascot—building confidence she never knew she had.

Dreaming in Code: A Black Student's Journey Through STEM

Celebrating Black History Month by spotlighting Nyjah Munn, a DSST: Conservatory Green High School senior whose passion for engineering is shaping the future.

There's a moment that changed everything for Nyjah Munn, DSST: Conservatory Green ‘26. He was riding home from a summer camp, holding a drawing robot he'd just built. The small machine whirred and moved in his hands, tracing invisible patterns in the air. Then, without warning, it started to catch fire.

Feature Friday: How Salvador Ramirez cultivates belonging for DSST's diverse community

Every day, Salvador Ramirez shows up to work at the DSST Home Office with a clear sense of purpose: to build something better.

Important changes to DSST tech systems

Upcoming opportunities to grow your leadership at DSST

Interested in building your leadership? DSST offers several paid opportunities and funded development experiences to help you grow your impact next year.

From first‑gen student to community builder, Perla Bustillos Gutierrez shares how DSST taught her to lead on her own terms

As a first-generation student at DSST: Montview, college felt like a distant possibility for Perla Bustillos Gutierrez, not a guaranteed next step. But, through guidance, encouragement, and consistent support, Bustillos Gutierrez, Class of 2014, came to see that a four-year college was within reach, even before she fully knew how to imagine herself there.