When a 6th grade science teacher left our school last fall for active duty, a packed room of 6th and 7th graders gave him a tearful military sendoff. “He did so much to help me last year,” said one student, a former member of his advisory group. These words of gratitude were echoed by dozens of students.
Watching the emotion that day, I recognized how much strong student-teacher regard contributes to our school’s notable academic achievements. In 2019, DSST Middle School @ Noel– where 93% are students of color, and 73% receive free and reduced lunch – became the #1 middle school on the Denver Public Schools report card known as the School Performance Framework (SPF).
In both English and Math, our school scored #1 for student growth among DPS middle schools. We also earned “exceeds” status in the categories of student proficiency and reduction of academic gaps. Led by founding School Director Dr. Brandi Chin, our school’s leaders and teachers focus intently on analyzing and responding to academic data, aligned with a commitment to excellent academic planning.
Yet, intangible assets also contribute significantly to our school’s ability to create opportunities for every child to learn and grow. As our school’s founding Director of Curriculum and Instruction, I’ve observed three notable factors contributing to our #1 status.
