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At Our Core: Student-Teacher Relationships Powering Academic Excellence

Last week, we shared exemplary college readiness proficiency and growth from many of our schools, both overall and for FRL and ELL students. We were also proud to see from the 18-19 SAT scores that African-American/Black students at DSST have seen strong growth and proficiency in both math and literacy. Why are we highlighting African American/Black students’ success? Back in February, DPS passed the Black Excellence Resolution - an effort to reinforce and strengthen the district’s commitment to Denver’s diverse community.  

African-American students score higher at DSST Schools

DENVER — In schools across America, there is a problem that teachers have been working on for years. On average, African-American students tend to score lower than White and Asian students.

Highlighting Exemplary College Readiness Network-wide

A couple of weeks ago, we shared exemplary CMAS results from many of our Middle Schools for various student subgroups, including ELL, FRL, and Special Education. Today we’re focusing on the recently reported 18-19 SAT scores showing that our students across numerous demographics have seen incredible growth and proficiency in both math and literacy. This is truly a testament to the hard work and dedication of our committed staff and resilient students.

DSST had 2 of the top 3 high schools in the state for Math growth (MGP)- congratulations to DSST: Green Valley Ranch HS and DSST: Conservatory Green HS.  The average network Math MGP was 70, 11 points higher than the prior year, and the average ELA MGP was 55, 10 points higher than the prior year. Overall, all six DSST High Schools are in the top 10 in Denver for combined high school growth. 

For proficiency, DSST outperformed both the state and the district on average SAT scores, reporting an average of 1091, compared to a state average of 1001 and DPS average of 968.

2019 Denver School Board Election Resources

A+ Colorado launches School Board Election Resources to help voters understand what is at stake for students and families in Denver.
 
These School Board Election Resources are released to serve as a community tool about what Denver Public Schools looks like and how the district supports students. A+ Colorado strongly believes this data should be used to hold candidates accountable to their voters and to the community they serve. These resources tell a nuanced story about Denver Public Schools’ board districts, and will help inform the community about what is happening within these schools based on publicly available data, to help minimize the risk of the proliferation of false information as voters make this important decision.

The changing face of school integration

Washington Post: 

AST Groundbreaking

On the afternoon of September 12, Aurora Science & Tech and APS celebrated the groundbreaking of the brand new school building on the Fitzsimons Innovation Campus. APS and DSST team members, along with AST parents and students, gathered in the middle of the active construction site under the shade of a tent. 

Guests heard from Marques Ivey, APS Board of Education President, who kicked off the ceremony, Bill Kurtz, CEO of DSST Public Schools, Founding School Director Peter Sherman, AST parent Eunice Mwebi, AST founding Owl Cassandra Maynard, and Scott Arthur, Vice Chancellor of Advancement at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. 

                          Marques Ivey                                                               Bill Kurtz

                        Peter Sherman                                                          Eunice Mwebi

                   Cassandra Maynard                                                      Scott Arthur

The excitement and anticipation for the brand new school was palpable, and after the speeches, the official "groundbreaking" took place, complete with shovels and hard hats. 

Thanks to the building's proximity to the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Center, this partnership will provide students with a multitude of real-world science and research opportunities. We are so excited for Fall 2020 when the AST Owls will move in to their very own school! 

Denver7 gave viewers a sneak peek of the event, and we'll be sharing more video footage in the days to come! 

Africa: Expanding Students' Horizons

An Ebola outbreak did not stop eight DSST-Montview seniors from participating in a school-sponsored trip to Rwanda and Uganda this summer. The trip, which is in its fifth year, allows students to explore local agriculture, biology, and conservation issues while promoting greater cross-cultural understanding.

Is delivering a baby in your job description?

On the day after Labor Day, the last thing anyone expected was for a teacher to go into labor. But that’s exactly what happened at DSST: Conservatory Green Middle School this past Tuesday.

Test Scores, Vaccination Rates, AC and More

Chalkbeat: 

What's an Emotion Scientist?

When Nilda Irizarry was a sophomore in her Springfield, Massachusetts, high school, she didn’t raise her hand and she didn’t participate in class discussions. Although she loved learning, she was certain she didn’t fit in.