Announcements
Help Celebrate Our Culture
It is time for the creation of the second annual DSST Culture Book. We need your voice and your stories in this year’s culture book! Read Bill's blog about how to participate.
DSST is one of three DPS high schools on U.S. News best list
DSST is one of three DPS high schools among familiar names on U.S. News 'best' list. Read the article in the Denver Post and in U.S. News and World Report.
DSST: Named a Top Workplace and We’re Hiring!
DSST has been named one of the 2013 Top Workplaces in Denver, and we're hiring! Available positions are posted on our website!
STEMGirls Class Develops App
Good luck to the STEMGirls program at DSST:Cole who have entered the 2013 Technovation Challenge, a national competition that allows female students to create and develop an app for the Android market. Read more about the competition and class in our our April newsletter.
DSST Top Workplace
DSST is honored to be named one of the 2013 Top Workplaces in Denver. Read the article in the Sunday (April 21) Denver Post.
DSST Highlighted as a Model STEM School
DSST is featured in Smithsonian magazine as a model STEM school. According to the article, DSST "is solving the equation for what makes a STEM school great."
Thank you!
Thank you to everyone who attended and supported DSST Public Schools at our 9th annual Slice of Pi fundraiser. The money raised will support our network of schools! We look forward to celebrating with you next year!
Photos are available on our Facebook page, more to come!
DSST Beats Odds for Low Income Students, According to Local Report
A Denver citizens group, A+ Denver, released a sharp critique of Denver and Aurora High Schools on Thursday that calls for a radical redesign of urban high schools.
The report maintains that even though more students are graduating high school and are college bound, they are far from being college-ready. Academic performance has hardly budged—and many students graduate well below grade level. The problem is particularly pronounced among low-income and minority students.
According to the report, DSST Public Schools is one of the only schools in these two districts to beat the odds for low income and minority students on three college-readiness indicators: ACT scores, college remediation rates and Advanced Placement pass rates.
Kurtz Goes to Washington
On Wednesday, April 10 at 8 a.m. MT, Bill Kurtz, the CEO of DSST Public Schools, testified before the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education in Washington, D.C. The subcommittee held a hearing entitled “Raising the Bar: Reviewing STEM Education in America.”
An archive webcast of the hearing is available online, as well as a copy of Kurtz's testimony to the subcommittee.
100% Acceptance to College
For the sixth consecutive year, 100% of the senior class attending DSST: Stapleton High School has been accepted to a four-year college. All 92 students in the Class of 2013 have been admitted to at least one institution of higher learning, duplicating the achievement of the students enrolled in DSST’s first five graduating classes beginning in 2008. This accomplishment is unprecedented for a public high school in Metro Denver. Photos are on DSST's Facebook page!
DSST Wants Talented Teachers!
Are you a talented teacher or know someone who is? DSST is hiring for the 2013-14 school year? Apply today!
Big Weekend for DSST
March 8-10 will be a big weekend for several DSST students and teams.
The Mock Trial team is heading to Ft. Collins and putting its litigation skills to the test at the state competition. As the team t-shirt reads, 'Stay Calm and Mock On!'
The DSST girls and boys basketball teams will play in the state tournament Friday night at Bruce Randolph High School in Denver. The boys take the court at 4 p.m. and the girls at 6 p.m. If both teams win, they will play again on Saturday, March 9th, 1 p.m. for the boys and 3 p.m. for the girls.
Congratulate your classmates on their success and good luck everyone!
Let’s Go Knights!
It's a big weekend for both the girls and boys basketball teams at DSST: Stapleton! Details on the semi-finals and finals are on our blog! Come on out and show your support for the Knights!
Why work at DSST?
DSST has an amazing new video where teachers and staff explain why they work at DSST. Watch it today and see what jobs are currently available on our website.
DSST is in L.A.
We are not shooting a movie, we're looking for talented teachers! Join us for a networking event in downtown L.A. on Friday, Feb. 21. Details on our Facebook page.
Next Week: Denver Urban Charter School Career Fair
The Denver Urban Charter School Career Fair is the first Denver-based career fair aimed at candidates interested in working in an urban charter school environment. Participating schools are innovative, successful charter networks committed to eliminate educational inequity in Denver and are interested in employees who share this vision for success. Join DSST as we host the Denver Urban Charter School Career Fair.
Registration is free!
DSST Core Values on the Basketball Court
DSST's boys basketball team and center Davis Carter make the front page of the Denver Post's sports section.
Come and experience DSST!
DSST would like to invite parents and students to attend one of our upcoming Prospective Family Shadow Days. Each of these school tours will provide parents and students with the opportunity to see what it’s like to attend a DSST middle school.
DSST Open House Series
DSST will be hosting a series of Open Houses for perspective families. Each Open House will provide parents and perspective students the opportunity to learn more about DSST's curriculum, educational program, mission and core values. Perspective parents and students can also meet teachers, faculty and administrators at each school and tour the building.
It is recommended that parents register online for each open house.
Open House Dates: (schools are listed in alphabetical order)
DSST: Byers - held at our 2012 temporary campus at Calvary Temple (200 S. University Blvd).
- Jan. 28, 2013, 5:30 p.m.
DSST: College View Campus
- Jan. 30, 2013, 5:30 p.m.
DSST would also like to invite parents and students to attend one of our upcoming Prospective Family Shadow Days. Each of these school tours will provide parents and students with the opportunity to see what it’s like to attend a DSST middle school.
If you are interested in attending, please register today!
For families interested in Byers and Cole:
Prospective Family Shadow Day
7:45 – 9:30 a.m. Monday the 28th and Tuesday the 29th
Cole Middle School (both Shadow Days held at Cole)
3240 Humboldt St, Denver, Colorado 80205 (Entrance is on Franklin just North of Martin Luther King Blvd.)
For families interested in College View:
Prospective Family Shadow Day
7:45 – 9:30 a.m. Tuesday the 29th
Machbeuf Hall Colorado Heights University campus - 3001 S. Federal St (Follow signs to DSST parking)
DSST Alumni Week
DSST's alumni week is Jan. 7-11. Photos on our Facebook page!
DPS School Choice Forms Released
Parents can expect to receive SchoolChoice forms from DPS beginning Monday, December 3rd. This process is how parents enroll their childern into a DSST school. All schools in DPS participate in this process - please visit soco.dpsk12.org for more information or download a form at http://schoolchoice.dpsk12.org/schoolchoice-forms/
Parents need to select their top five choices for which school they would like their child to attend. In order to obtain a spot in our open lottery, parents should preference their DSST campus of choice and return before January 31, 2013 at 5pm. The form can be returned to any DPS school, but we recommend submitting the form to your top DSST school of choice.
For additional questions, please visit enrollment portion of our website or contact enrollment@dsstpublicschools.org.
Colorado Gives Day is December 4th
Starting at 12 a.m.Tuesday, December 4, 2012, you can donate to DSST as part of Colorado Gives Day. All donations received on this date will be matched by the FirstBank Incentive Fund!
DSST Schools Named Top Two Secondary Schools In Denver
DENVER - Two DSST schools were ranked the top two secondary schools in the city based on the School Performance Framework (SPF), released yesterday by Denver Public Schools. DSST: Green Valley Ranch High School was the top high school in Denver and DSST: Cole Middle School was the top middle school in Denver last year. Both schools opened in the fall of 2011, posting outstanding results in their first year of operation. The SPF evaluates school performance in six categories including growth, achievement, readiness, student engagement, parent engagement and demand.
DSST: Green Valley Ranch High School had the highest growth scores of any Denver Public School this past year, posting median growth percentile scores of 98 in mathematics, 77 in reading, and 77 in writing. These scores make it the second highest growth school in the state of Colorado. DSST: Cole Middle School also posted outstanding growth results, including a median growth percentile score of 83 in mathematics.
Both schools were opened last fall in neighborhoods that have historically had large achievement gaps. DSST: Green Valley Ranch High School and DSST: Cole Middle school are Title 1 Schools, both serving over 70% low income students.
"DSST Public Schools is proud to continue to serve Denver students with extraordinary excellence. For the last eight years, DSST has demonstrated that all students, regardless of their background can achieve at the highest level. It is gratifying to see this tradition continued in the Cole and Green Valley Ranch neighborhoods," said Bill Kurtz, CEO of DSST Public Schools.
About DSST Public Schools
DSST Public Schools (DSST) operates open-enrollment STEM charter schools and is part of the Denver Public Schools (DPS) district. In 2012-13, DSST will serve approximately 2,100 students in six schools on four campuses throughout Denver. DSST has been approved to open four additional schools on three campuses over the next five years. At full enrollment, DSST Public Schools will serve over 4,500 students, and will help to nearly double the number of four-year college-ready DPS graduates by 2020. 100% of DSST seniors have earned acceptance to four year college. DSST students have the 5th lowest remediation rate of all public and private schools in Colorado.
DSST Public Schools was founded as the Denver School of Science and Technology in 2004. DSST: Stapleton serves students from all parts of Denver with a student population of 68 percent minority and 43 percent low income. DSST: Green Valley Ranch, which opened in August 2010, was the network's second campus. Its student population is 85 percent minority and 68 percent low income. DSST opened its third campus, DSST: Cole, in the Whittier neighborhood in July 2011. Its student population is 80 percent minority and 74 percent low income. DSST's fourth campus, DSST: College View, based in southwest Denver, opened in summer 2012 with 145 sixth graders.
Students are selected to attend DSST through a random lottery; there are no admissions criteria. Additional information about DSST Public Schools is available at www.dsstpublicschools.org.
Mayor Hancock and Sup. Boasberg Celebrate DSST’s Top Academic Growth
DSST Public Schools (DSST) was honored to host Mayor Michael Hancock and Denver Public Schools (DPS) Superintendent, Tom Boasberg, this morning on the first day of school for students at our Green Valley Ranch High School, which posted the highest median growth scores in Denver Public Schools and the second highest in the state of Colorado. Mayor Hancock and Superintendent Boasberg welcomed students as they arrived at school and celebrated with the entire student body of 300 ninth and tenth graders at the school's Morning Meeting to kick off the first day.
Highlighting the extraordinary success of the school, Mayor Hancock said to students, "I am so proud of you. We want you to attack this next year so profoundly and so hard that you feel suffocated by the desire to continue to be successful, to beat the 98 percent [median math growth rate] that you earned this year. There are those who don't believe you deserve this school. There are those who don't believe you deserve this opportunity. I want you to fight for it in that classroom."
Superintendent Boasberg told students that he is "filled with pride" with the results. He noted that, "If we look out across the state, there are 2,000 schools in the state of Colorado. And for growth, to be one of the top two schools in the state of Colorado, is extraordinary."
DSST: Green Valley Ranch High School posted median growth percentile scores of 98 in mathematics, 77 in reading and 77 in writing. As many of you know, DSST: Green Valley Ranch High School opened its doors one year ago, enrolling 150 ninth grade students from far northeast Denver, predominantly, the Green Valley Ranch and Montbello neighborhoods. Seventy percent of high school students qualify for free or reduced price lunch and over 85 percent are students of color.
DSST: College View Middle School Opens, Marking DSST’s Sixth School in Denver!
DSST Public Schools is proud to announce that our fourth campus, DSST: College View, is now open in the southwest corner of Denver. On Monday, June 25, College View opened its doors to 150 sixth grade students for a three week summer school orientation that will prepare them to hit the ground running this fall. College View's summer school is being held in temporary space as final touches are being added to their next home on the College Heights University campus.
College View's summer school kicked off with a powerful community morning meeting, run by School Director Heather Newton, that introduced students to the concept of expectations: we expect big things from our students not just in terms of academic achievement but also when it comes to living the DSST Core Values, a hugely important aspect of DSST's program, and we set those expectations early. Over the next few weeks, College View sixth graders will be further introduced to aspects of the DSST culture, the academic rigor that they will experience throughout their careers at DSST, and the technology that we utilize in our classrooms, including our one-to-one laptop program.
Like all DSST schools, College View's campus offers a college preparatory focus, with an emphasis on developing core liberal arts skills in reading, writing, mathematics and science. Following the DSST Public Schools model, students succeed through a highly structured classroom environment with clear academic and behavioral expectations. This program and environment prepares students for the rigorous high school program at DSST: College View High School (to be opened in a few years) and ultimately for the challenges of college.
As with all DSST Public Schools, enrollment to DSST: College View Middle School will be granted through a lottery process. Please see our Enrollment pages for further details.
Sie Foundation Gifts $1M to DSST for Groundbreaking Teacher Effectiveness Model
DENVER –DSST Public Schools (DSST) announced today that it has received a $1 million gift from the Anna and John J. Sie Foundation to fund the charter school network’s Teacher Career Pathway program, a groundbreaking initiative aimed at developing and implementing concrete ways to evaluate, develop and retain outstanding teachers.
The gift also helps to close Dr. John C. Malone’s generous matching grant, a component of the largest donation in DSST history. In July, Malone, a cable TV pioneer, Chairman of Liberty Global, Inc. and Liberty Media Corporation, pledged $7 million to DSST including a $3 million matching pledge.
“John Malone is a dear friend and was my boss for several decades. When we heard about his matching grant, Anna and I wanted to make sure we helped,” said John J. Sie, trustee of the Anna and John J. Sie Foundation and founder of the Starz Entertainment Group. “We were also one of the first donors to help establish DSST, so this gift makes a lot of sense and will do a tremendous amount of good in developing outstanding teachers and future leaders.”
The Sie Foundation’s $1 million gift will allow DSST to build off of some of Colorado’s recent education reform innovations, including 2010’s Colorado Senate Bill 10-191 (SB-191), which was championed by Colorado State Senator and former educator Mike Johnston and then State Representative Christine Scanlon, and is widely regarded as landmark education legislation. SB-191 aims to revolutionize teacher and principal accountability by measuring professional performance based on student results.
“It is exciting to see how Senate Bill 191 is inspiring and leveraging community resources that will continue to support the work of outstanding Colorado teachers,” said Senator Johnston. “The DSST initiative is good news for Denver and could very well serve as a national model that would benefit many communities across the country.”
While pay-for-performance is a common practice in other industries, it has long been a contentious topic in K-12 public education. In developing a comprehensive Teacher Career Pathway, which includes the opportunity to become a “master teacher,” DSST seeks to keep outstanding teachers in the classroom.
“DSST is very grateful for the generous ongoing support of Anna and John Sie. Their support has been truly instrumental in the growth and success of our network of schools,” said Bill Kurtz, CEO of DSST Public Schools. “Not only will the Sies’ gift allow DSST to build an innovative career pathway for teachers, it will also inform and influence the ongoing regional and national conversation about the retention of, and compensation for excellent teachers,” he added.
In addition to this donation, the Anna and John J. Sie Foundation gave the capstone gift to complete DSST’s first building, Stapleton High School, which houses “Sie Hall.” The Sie Foundation also established the DSST Sie Faculty Excellence Award – an annual, monetized award presented to one outstanding teacher each year at the DSST graduation.
About the Anna and John J. Sie Foundation
The Anna and John J. Sie Foundation supports the sharing of knowledge amongst peoples and cultures throughout the global community, with an emphasis on Down syndrome, international security and diplomacy, education, media, business and technology. The foundation is a supporter of the Anna and John J. Sie Center for Down Syndrome at Children’s Hospital Colorado, the Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome on the Anschutz Medical Campus, the Sié Chéou-Kang Center for International Security and Diplomacy at the University of Denver’s Korbel School of International Studies, the Denver Art Museum, the Starz Film Center, and numerous other civic, social and educational institutions.
About DSST Public Schools
DSST Public Schools (DSST) operates open-enrollment STEM charter schools and is part of the Denver Public Schools (DPS) district. DSST currently serves approximately 1,500 students with five schools on three campuses. DSST has been approved to open five additional schools on three campuses over the next five years. At full enrollment, DSST Public Schools will serve over 4,400 students, and will nearly double the number of four-year college-ready DPS graduates by 2020.
DSST Public Schools was founded as the Denver School of Science and Technology which opened in 2004. DSST: Stapleton serves students from all parts of Denver with a student population of 68 percent minority and 43 percent low income. At DSST’s second campus, DSST: Green Valley Ranch, opened in August, 2010, the student population is 85 percent minority and 68 percent low income. DSST opened its 3rd campus at Cole K-8 in the Whittier neighborhood in July, 2011 which serves 74 percent low income and 80 percent minority students.
DSST: Stapleton is widely considered to be one of the leading open enrollment STEM schools (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) in the U.S. DSST: Stapleton has consistently been the highest performing high school in DPS, based on growth and absolute performance. DSST: Stapleton Middle School was one of six middle schools nationally to earn an EPIC award for outstanding student growth and achievement results in 2011.
Students are selected to attend DSST through a random lottery; there are no admissions criteria. Additional information about DSST Public Schools is available at www.dsstpublicschools.org.
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DSST One of Six Schools Highlighted in National Brief on High Performing, Integrated Charters
The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools (NAPCS) has just released a brief naming Denver School of Science and Technology (DSST) as one of six high performing public charter schools nationwide with missions intentionally designed to serve racially and economically integrated student populations. The report examines pairings of high performing school models in Denver, Washington, D.C., and San Diego. Each of the schools profiled employs different recruitment models to fulfill their respective missions, but all are posting extraordinary academic results for their students. DSST Public Schools, along with West Denver Prep (WDP), were chosen as the Denver success stories. The report explains that “[t]hrough rigorous curricula, a commitment to strong school culture, and an absolute focus on academic achievement, both school models have yielded incredible academic growth for their students. In fact, when Denver Public Schools (DPS) published the list of schools that showed the greatest amount of student growth in 2010-2011, seven of the top eight schools were either WDP or DSST schools.”
Click here to check out the full report.
Slice of Pi Raises $1 Million for DSST Public Schools
On Friday, April 13, DSST Public Schools raised an outstanding $1 million at its annual celebration, Slice of Pi. Held on DSST’s Stapleton campus, the event featured hands-on student demonstrations, school theater performances, a live jazz band and the popular DSST Wishing Wall, which enabled guests to “purchase” items requested by the five DSST schools and included things like drills and screwdrivers for engineering and robotics classes, 3-D DNA models, and fees for hosting a Teach for America Corps Member for one year, among others.
Two alumni from the class of 2004, DSST’s first, returned to share their thoughts on the school and the impact it’s had on their lives. Kamaria Hakeem, who will graduate this spring with a degree in Chemical Engineering from Howard University, spoke of DSST’s diversity and the school’s strong emphasis on “self advocacy”, which she feels had a direct impact on her success. Chris Torres, who will graduate from Stanford University this year with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, spoke of DSST’s strong focus on college readiness. He shared his experience of attending an intensive summer program at MIT between his junior and senior years at DSST. The experience was eye opening for him in many ways, but made him keenly aware of how well-prepared he was for college-level coursework already.
Documentary filmmaker Amie Knox premiered a short film featuring 2012 Slice of Pi honoree and Liberty Media Chairman John Malone. The film highlighted his enthusiasm for DSST and STEM-based education, and his hopes for a brighter future for American public education. The film was then followed by an informative question and answer session between DSST CEO Bill Kurtz and John Malone. Governor Hickenlooper presented Mr. Malone with a proclamation honoring his outstanding commitment to education in the city of Denver.
Honorary Co-Chairs Governor John Hickenlooper and Helen Thorpe were joined by 600 guests, as well as Event Co-Chairs Laura Barton, Mike and Amber Fries, Steve and Susan Halstedt, Greg Maffei, Steve and Kathy McConahey, and the Anna and John J. Sie Foundation. Additional support was provided by Anonymous, Discovery Communications, Dish Network, InterMedia Partners, L.P., Liberty Global, Balan and Joe Joe Nair, JC Sparkman, Kent Thiry and Denise O'Leary, CH2M HILL, Forest City Stapleton, Gates Family Foundation, SBSA, Inc. and Sherman & Howard.
For more Slice of Pi coverage, click here.
Lady Knights Rank 3rd in 3A State Basketball!
DSST: Stapleton High School's girls basketball team, the Lady Knights, played an amazing season and this weekend ranked 3rd in the state among 3A teams. They had a nail-biting season, particularly in the playoffs and blew everyone away. Congratulations to the Lady Knights for your amazing performance this season--can't wait to see all that you accomplish next year! To read more about the Lady Knights' season and the State tournament, click here.
Secretary of Education Arne Duncan Visits DSST: Green Valley Ranch Campus
U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan Holds a Town Hall Meeting at DSST: Green Valley Ranch
February 28, 2012
DENVER – Today U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan visited the Denver School of Science and Technology (DSST) Green Valley Ranch campus where he held a town hall meeting highlighting Colorado’s national leadership in public education. The event gathered more than 250 educators, parents, elected officials, business leaders and students, including 20 9th grade students from DSST: Green Valley Ranch High School. Secretary Duncan was joined by Lt. Gov. Joe Garcia, Colorado Commissioner of Education Robert Hammondand Denver Public Schools Superintendent Tom Boasberg.
Secretary Duncan stressed the importance of replicating high performing schools like DSST and applauded DSST’s efforts to add more schools in Denver. Secretary Duncan’s visit to a DSST campus underscores the school’s vital role in the effort to significantly raise the bar in American public education. The Secretary identified Colorado as a key state that is leading the nation in education reform. He cited the strong collaboration between state and local policy leaders and courageous leadership in Colorado as the primary drivers for success.
DSST Public Schools, a network of five Denver charter schools, has become an exemplar for STEM education, data-driven instruction, and integrated schools nationwide. The combination of the school's highly significant year-to-year student learning growth, extraordinarily diverse student population, innovative school culture, and 100% college acceptance rate for graduates has made DSST a change agent for local public schools and a destination for school reformers from all over the country.
Other DSST Highlights Include:
- DSST: Green Valley Ranch Middle School is part of the Denver Public Schools (DPS) Far Northeast Turnaround and was the highest performing secondary school in Denver last year on the DPS school performance framework.
- DSST schools had the lowest remediation rate of any Denver Public Schools last year, and the fifth lowest rate of any Colorado school, public or private, while serving significant numbers of low income students (four times the number of low income students than the other top four schools combined).
- 95% of DSST graduates are enrolled in college within two years; 88% persist from the first to second year of college—a significant predictor for college completion.
About DSST Public Schools
DSST Public Schools (DSST) operates open-enrollment STEM charter schools and is part of the Denver Public Schools (DPS) district. DSST currently serves approximately 1,500 students with five schools on three campuses. DSST has been approved to open five additional schools on three campuses over the next five years. At full enrollment, DSST Public Schools will serve over 4,400 students, and will nearly double the number of four-year college-ready DPS graduates by 2020.
DSST Public Schools was founded as the Denver School of Science and Technology which opened in 2004. DSST: Stapleton serves students from all parts of Denver with a student population of 68 percent minority and 43 percent low income. At DSST’s second campus, DSST: Green Valley Ranch, opened in August, 2010, the student population is 85 percent minority and 68 percent low income. DSST opened its 3rd campus at Cole K-8 in the Whittier neighborhood in July, 2011 which serves 74 percent low income and 80 percent minority students.
DSST: Stapleton is widely considered to be one of the leading open enrollment STEM schools (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) in the U.S. DSST: Stapleton has consistently been the highest performing high school in DPS, based on growth and absolute performance. DSST: Stapleton Middle School was one of six middle schools nationally to earn an EPIC award for outstanding student growth and achievement results in 2011.
Students are selected to attend DSST through a random lottery; there are no admissions criteria. Additional information about DSST Public Schools is available at www.dsstpublicschools.org.
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Second round of SchoolChoice available on March 1st—Seats available!
Based on preliminary numbers, we anticipate that we will have a limited number of available seats at the Cole and College View campuses (6th grade only) for the 2012-13 school year.
The second round of SchoolChoice is FIRST COME FIRST SERVE. If you are interested in a seat at either campus, please plan to turn in a preference form as soon as possible after 8am March 1. You can return this form to any DPS school, but we recommend you submit the form to our Cole campus. Once all the spots have been filled, the wait list will begin.
To get a spot, please visit soco.dpsk12.org to find and print the correct form (grades 6-8).
If you have any questions about the second round, please contact Megan Helseth at 303-524-6324.
DSST Posts Lowest College Remediation Rates in Denver, Among the Lowest Statewide
For Immediate Release on: February 8, 2012
Contact: Christine Nelson, christine.nelson@scienceandtech.org
DSST Posts Lowest College Remediation Rates in Denver, Among the Lowest Statewide
DENVER – The Denver School of Science and Technology (DSST) at Stapleton has the lowest college remediation rate among all public Denver high schools and the fifth lowest remediation rate of all secondary schools—public or private— in the state of Colorado. According to the “2011 Legislative Report on Remedial Education,” issued yesterday by the Colorado Commission on Higher Education, only 11 percent of DSST graduates who enrolled at Colorado colleges or universities were required to take remedial coursework.
Other DSST highlights include:
· DSST: Stapleton High School had the 5th lowest college remediation rate of any private or public school in the state. Only 11 percent of graduates (or 4 students) who attended in-state schools were required to take a remedial class before earning college credit toward a degree program.
· DSST graduates a larger number of students qualifying for free and reduced priced lunch. Among schools with lower remediation rates in the state, only 11 percent of their 2010 total student populations are considered low income, compared to 44 percent of 2010 DSST Stapleton students.
· DSST: Stapleton High School has the lowest remediation rate in Denver Public Schools. On average, almost 60 percent of Denver Public Schools graduates required one or more remedial class in college.
· DSST’s low college remediation rate and high student re-enrollment rate is a very unusual combination. Students choose to stay enrolled at DSST at a rate that is the second highest among secondary schools in Denver Public Schools.
· Approximately half of DSST students attend four year college out of state. Though national data was not tracked in this report, DSST does not believe that any of these students were required to complete remedial courses.
“I am so pleased that 100 percent of our seniors earn acceptance to a four year college, but I am absolutely thrilled that they are prepared to succeed in college from day one,” said Bill Kurtz, CEO of DSST Public Schools. “Our goal is to make sure students are well prepared for life beyond high school. DSST’s low remediation rates are reassuring that we are on track to accomplishing that goal.”
About DSST Public Schools
DSST Public Schools (DSST) operates open-enrollment STEM charter schools and is part of the Denver Public Schools (DPS) district. DSST currently serves approximately 1,500 students with five schools on three campuses. DSST has been approved to open five additional schools on three campuses over the next five years. At full enrollment, DSST Public Schools will serve over 4,400 students, and will nearly double the number of four-year college-ready DPS graduates by 2020.
DSST Public Schools was founded as the Denver School of Science and Technology which opened in 2004. DSST: Stapleton serves students from all parts of Denver with a student population of 68 percent minority and 43 percent low income. At DSST’s second campus, DSST: Green Valley Ranch, opened in August, 2010, the student population is 85 percent minority and 68 percent low income. DSST opened its 3rd campus at Cole K-8 in the Whittier neighborhood in July, 2011 which serves 74 percent low income and 80 percent minority students.
DSST: Stapleton is widely considered to be one of the leading open enrollment STEM schools (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) in the U.S. DSST: Stapleton has consistently been the highest performing high school in DPS, based on growth and absolute performance. DSST: Stapleton’s first four graduating classes earned 100% acceptances into four-year colleges. DSST: Stapleton Middle School was one of six middle schools nationally to earn an EPIC award for outstanding student growth and achievement results in 2011.
Students are selected to attend DSST through a random lottery; there are no admissions criteria. Additional information about DSST Public Schools is available at www.dsstpublicschools.org.
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DSST Publishes 2012-13 School Year Calendar
Students, families, and interested parties,
Please see this link for an official copy of the 2012-13 DSST Public Schools calendar.
DSST Public Schools Testifies in Congress on STEM Education
For Release on: October 12, 2011
Contact: Jenny Meyer, 303-524-6363, jenny.meyer@scienceandtech.org
DSST Public Schools Testifies in Congress on STEM Education
DENVER – DSST Public Schools, represented by Mark Heffron, Campus Director at Stapleton, testified today before the Research on Science and Education Subcommittee of the Committee on Science, Space and Technology in the United States House of Representatives.
The subcommittee hearing, “What Makes for Successful K-12 STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) Education: A Closer Look at Effective STEM Education Approaches,” discussed the findings of a recent report issued by the National Academy of Sciences on effective practices in STEM education. DSST Public Schools was highlighted in the report as a model for STEM schools where enrollment is open to all students.
“We urge this committee to stress the creation of open-enrollment access for all STEM schools. Only through these schools will we tap into the potential of all children in our country to create new labor markets for our STEM sector,” Heffron stated in his testimony. More than forty percent of recent DSST graduates are currently pursuing STEM fields of study at college.
DSST: Stapleton is widely considered to be one of the leading open enrollment STEM schools in the U.S. and has become a destination for educators nationwide. DSST: Stapleton has consistently been the highest performing high school in Denver Public Schools, based on growth and absolute performance. DSST: Stapleton’s first four graduating classes earned 100% acceptances into four-year colleges.
About DSST Public Schools
DSST Public Schools (DSST) operates open-enrollment STEM charter schools and is part of the Denver Public Schools (DPS) district. DSST currently serves approximately 1,500 students with five schools on three campuses. DSST has been approved to open five additional schools on three campuses over the next five years. At full enrollment, DSST Public Schools will serve over 4,400 students, and will nearly double the number of four-year college-ready DPS graduates by 2020.
DSST Public Schools was founded as the Denver School of Science and Technology which opened in 2004. DSST: Stapleton serves students from all parts of Denver with a student population of 65% minority and 45% low income. At DSST’s second campus, DSST: Green Valley Ranch, opened in August, 2010, the student population is 83% minority and 60% low income. DSST opened its 3rd campus at Cole K-8 in the Whittier neighborhood on July 5, 2011.
Students are selected to attend DSST through a random lottery; there are no admissions criteria. Additional information about DSST Public Schools is available at www.dsstpublicschools.org.
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DSST: GVR Middle School Top Performing Secondary School in Denver
Press Release
For Release on: September 26, 2011
Contact: Christine Nelson, 303-524-6322, christine.nelson@scienceandtech.org
DSST Public Schools Top Performing Secondary School in Denver
DENVER – DSST: GVR (Green Valley Ranch) Middle School was recognized today as the top performing secondary school in the Denver Public Schools (DPS), as measured by the DPS School Performance Framework (SPF). The SPF evaluates school performance in six categories including growth, achievement, readiness, student engagement, parent engagement and demand.
Highlights of DSST schools’ results include the following:
· DSST: GVR Middle School was the top performing secondary school in Denver last year and #2 for all schools behind Steck Elementary.
· DSST: Stapleton High School was the highest performing secondary school in Denver on the key academic ratings (academic status and growth) earning the highest percentage of points of any Denver Public Secondary School.
· All three DSST schools were rated distinguished, the highest rating on the SPF Framework.
· DSST Public Schools were #2, #4 and #8 in CSAP growth in Denver, according to the Colorado Growth Model.
· DSST Public Schools were #6 and #10 in CSAP growth for all schools in Colorado.
“DSST Public Schools is proud to continue to serve Denver students with excellence. DSST: GVR Middle School’s performance demonstrates the efficacy of the DSST model, and the opportunity we have to help Denver Public Schools become the leading urban public school district in the country,” said Bill Kurtz, CEO of DSST Public Schools.
About DSST Public Schools
DSST Public Schools (DSST) operates open-enrollment STEM charter schools and is part of the Denver Public Schools (DPS) district. DSST currently serves approximately 1,500 students with five schools on three campuses. DSST has been approved to open five additional schools on three campuses over the next five years. At full enrollment, DSST Public Schools will serve over 4,400 students, and plans to nearly double the number of four-year college-ready DPS graduates by 2020.
DSST Public Schools was founded as the Denver School of Science and Technology which opened in 2004. DSST: Stapleton serves students from all parts of Denver with a student population of 65% minority and 45% low income. At DSST’s second campus, DSST: Green Valley Ranch, opened in August, 2010, the student population is 83% minority and 60% low income. DSST opened its 3rd campus at Cole K-8 in the Whittier neighborhood on July 5, 2011.
DSST: Stapleton is widely considered to be one of the leading open enrollment STEM schools (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) in the U.S. and has become a destination for educators nationwide. DSST: Stapleton has consistently been the highest performing high school in DPS, based on growth and absolute performance. DSST: Stapleton’s first four graduating classes earned 100% acceptances into four-year colleges. DSST: Stapleton Middle School was one of six middle schools nationally to earn an EPIC award for outstanding student growth and achievement results.
Students are selected to attend DSST through a random lottery; there are no admissions criteria. Additional information about DSST Public Schools is available at www.dsstpublicschools.org.
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DSST Public Schools Receives Award For Excellence from El Pomar Foundation
For Release on: September 23, 2011
Contact: Christine Nelson, 303-524-6322, nelson.christine@dsstpublicschools.org
DSST Public Schools Receives Award for Excellence from El Pomar Foundation
DENVER –DSST Public Schools (DSST) announced today that it has received the Charles L. Tutt Award for Excellence in Education from the El Pomar Foundation for 2011. The award, announced at a presentation ceremony in Black Hawk, Colorado on Sept 19, comes with a $25,000 grant.
“DSST Public Schools is thrilled and humbled to be recognized as a recipient of this prestigious award. DSST is an organization that is committed to extraordinary excellence for our students in the context of a values-driven culture. We are grateful that the El Pomar Foundation believes in our work on behalf of Colorado children,” said Bill Kurtz, CEO of DSST Public Schools.
In total, seven organizations and three individuals were honored by El Pomar and $215,000 was granted. The complete list of 2011 awards can be found at http://www.elpomar.org/news/118.
Awards for Excellence, a program directed by Colorado Springs-based El Pomar Foundation, annually recognizes the state’s highest performing nonprofit organizations. Since its inception in 1989, the program has awarded more than $4.8 million in grants to more than 400 different nonprofit organizations throughout the state.
About DSST Public Schools
DSST Public Schools (DSST) operates open-enrollment STEM charter schools and is part of the Denver Public Schools (DPS) district. DSST currently serves approximately 1,500 students with five schools on three campuses. DSST has been approved to open five additional schools on three campuses over the next five years. At full enrollment, DSST Public Schools will serve over 4,400 students, and will nearly double the number of four-year college-ready DPS graduates by 2020.
DSST Public Schools was founded as the Denver School of Science and Technology in 2001 and the founding campus at Stapleton opened in 2004. DSST: Stapleton serves students from all parts of Denver with a student population of 65% minority and 45% low income. At DSST’s second campus, DSST: Green Valley Ranch, the student population is 83% minority and 60% low income. DSST opened its 3rd campus at Cole K-8 in the Whittier neighborhood on July 5, 2011.
DSST: Stapleton is widely considered to be one of the leading open enrollment STEM schools (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) in the U.S. and has become a destination for educators nationwide. DSST: Stapleton has consistently been the highest performing high school in DPS, based on growth and absolute performance. DSST: Stapleton’s first four graduating classes earned 100% acceptances into four-year colleges. DSST: Stapleton Middle School was one of six middle schools nationally to earn an EPIC award for outstanding student growth and achievement results.
Students are selected to attend DSST through a random lottery; there are no admissions criteria. Additional information about DSST Public Schools is available at www.dsstpublicschools.org.
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John C. Malone, Ph.D. Pledges $7 Million to Fund DSST Public Schools’ Expansion
For Release on: July 13, 2011
Contact: Kathie Kramer Ryan, 303-524-6329, ryan.kathie@dsstpublicschools.org
John C. Malone, Ph.D. Pledges $7 Million to Fund DSST Public Schools’ Expansion
DENVER –DSST Public Schools (DSST) announced today that it has received a $7 million commitment from John C. Malone, Ph.D., Chairman of Liberty Global, to help fund expansion of its network of public charter schools. The $7 million commitment is comprised of a $4 million gift in 2011 and an additional $3 million in matching funds for new money raised by DSST through 2013. The grant from John Malone is the largest in DSST history.
“I strongly believe in the DSST Public Schools model built on outstanding academic performance focused on STEM, character development, innovation, and leadership. DSST represents excellence in the public education sector. Its track record of extraordinary student results is something I am very pleased to support as the organization expands to educate over 4,000 students in Denver,” explains Malone.
Dr. John C. Malone is the Chairman of the Board of Liberty Global, Inc. Dr. Malone is also Chairman of Liberty Media Corporation. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for Ascent Media Corporation, Discovery Communications, Inc., Expedia, Inc., and SiriusXM Radio Inc. Additionally, Dr. Malone is Chairman Emeritus of the Board for Cable Television Laboratories, Inc. as well as Director or similar capacity for various family businesses, trusts and foundations.
“We are thrilled to receive this significant gift from Dr. Malone. His generosity is critical in supporting our vision of helping double the number of four-year college-ready graduates from Denver Public Schools by 2020,” said Bill Kurtz, CEO of DSST Public Schools. “Dr. Malone’s funding represents an important vote of confidence for DSST Public Schools and public education in Denver and we are grateful for his leadership to ensure that all Denver students have access to a high quality education and the opportunity to attend college.”
DSST will use Malone’s gift to support the opening of new schools across Denver and to build the systems necessary to scale excellence across its network of schools.
About DSST Public Schools
DSST Public Schools (DSST) operates open-enrollment STEM charter schools and is part of the Denver Public Schools (DPS) district. DSST currently serves approximately 1,500 students with five schools on three campuses. DSST has been approved to open five additional schools on three campuses over the next five years. At full enrollment, DSST Public Schools will serve over 4,400 students, and will nearly double the number of four-year college-ready DPS graduates by 2020.
DSST Public Schools was founded as the Denver School of Science and Technology in 2001 and the founding campus at Stapleton opened in 2004. DSST: Stapleton serves students from all parts of Denver with a student population of 65% minority and 45% low income. At DSST’s second campus, DSST: Green Valley Ranch, the student population is 83% minority and 60% low income. DSST opened its 3rd campus at Cole K-8 in the Whittier neighborhood on July 5, 2011.
DSST: Stapleton is widely considered to be one of the leading open enrollment STEM schools (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) in the U.S. and has become a destination for educators nationwide. DSST: Stapleton has consistently been the highest performing high school in DPS, based on growth and absolute performance. DSST: Stapleton’s first four graduating classes earned 100% acceptances into four-year colleges. DSST: Stapleton Middle School was one of six middle schools nationally to earn an EPIC award for outstanding student growth and achievement results.
Students are selected to attend DSST through a random lottery; there are no admissions criteria. Additional information about DSST Public Schools is available at www.dsstpublicschools.org.
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