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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