We are nearing the end of the 2024-25 school year and many families are already making exciting plans for the summer! Summer programming allows students a safe place to have fun, make friends and continue their learning. Both Denver Public Schools and the City and County of Denver offer summer opportunities and resources for our students and families. Check out some of the upcoming summer opportunities below.

DPS Programming

• Achieving Excellence Academy (AEA): This four-week culture and identity studies program is especially for, but not exclusive to, students and families with Black/African-American, Latine/LatinX, Asian American/Pacific Islander and/or Indigenous backgrounds to engage in hands-on, fun, experiential learning about the modern civic complexities that marginalized communities face.

• Athletics: Periodically check the DPS Athletics website as new summer athletics opportunities will be added.

• Extended Learning and Community Schools (ELCS) offers various summer camps open to students in all grades. Several activities have a limited number of seats and enrollment windows.

  • Discovery Link: Fun-filled summer camps for children ages three through 12 across Denver, featuring outdoor activities, arts, sports and field trips that spark curiosity and foster growth.

  • ELCS Enrichment: Subjects could include and are not limited to: Physical Education, Coding, Music, Art, Chess, Ballet, Fencing, STEAM, Science, Audio Visual and many more!

  • ELCSports: Students will learn fundamental skills in basketball, flag football, and soccer along with regular camp activities, including yard games, challenges and weekly themes.

• Ready for 202X: This program offers a sneak peek into the upcoming ninth-grade year with Math, Literacy and Science content. Students will engage in a variety of electives, which include (depending on site) virtual reality, 3D printing, financial literacy, entrepreneurship, career exploration and theater. Students will also have the opportunity to visit a college.

• Summer Academy: This is a comprehensive academic program that is open to all rising first- through fifth-grade DPS students at eligible schools. Students will engage with content they will see in the upcoming school year, which will include instruction in foundational literacy and math.

• The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) is a federally-funded, state-administered program that provides nutritious meals to children 18 years and younger at no charge. More information about food sites and schedules will be available on the Food and Nutrition Services website after April 21.

The DPS website will be continuously updated with more information about summer programming. Keep checking the DPS Summer Programs page to see what opportunities are available!

DPS Resources

• Family and Community Engagement (FACE) provides resources and additional opportunities for families and students outside of summer programming. Please note that the Community Hubs are closed over the summer break. Visit the FACE resources page and the Youth Program Locator to find community opportunities and offerings over the break.

• Library Services: Students have year-round access to books both online and in-person through DPS Library Services. Ensure your student continues building their reading skills by accessing books through libraries such as Sora and LION.

City and County of Denver Programming and Resources

• Youth Program Locator: To learn more about summer programming and resources throughout the City and County of Denver, utilize the new Youth Program Locator and connect with events and activities near you!

• My Denver Card: Youth ages five through 18 have free access to Denver’s recreation centers, swimming pools and cultural centers with their My Denver Card.

The SchoolChoice Round 2 application is now open! Anyone can participate in Round 2, including families who:

• Did not submit an application in Round 1 and would like their student to enroll in a different school.

• Have changed their minds since submitting a Round 1 application and would like to re-explore their options.

• Are new to DPS for the 2025-26 school year.

There is no lottery in Round 2. Applications are processed on a first-come, first-served basis within school admission priorities. Students are offered a seat if the school has available space. If a waitlist exists, students are added to the list in date and time order within their priority at that school.

Families who are applying for ECE-4 should also submit the Colorado Universal Preschool application. Visit the SchoolChoice website for more information on the preschool application process.

If you have any questions, please email schoolchoice@dpsk12.org or call the Choice Hotline at 720-423-3493.

Teacher Appreciation Week is just around the corner, taking place May 5-9! In celebration, DPS invites our students to recognize their favorite teachers by sharing what they love most about them. 

Please share this opportunity with students and ask them to share why they love their teachers by completing this short form by Friday, April 18! Submissions may be featured on the DPS website and DPS social media pages (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn).

Discovery Link registration for next school year will go live on Tuesday, April 29 at 6 a.m. Check out the resources below for more information.

• Details and how to register

• Discovery Link program information

Questions? Email discovery_link@dpsk12.org.

In this powerful episode, DPS Black Voices in Color hosts explore the profound impact of Black music, past and present. From gospel to jazz, they reflect on how music has shaped their identity, amplified their culture and influenced pop culture. 

If you’ve ever been moved by a beat, a lyric or a sound that speaks louder than words, this episode is for you. Watch this video or listen on your favorite podcast platform by searching for the Denver Public Schools Podcast.

Just in time for Earth Day, Bruce Randolph School invites the DPS community to celebrate the grand opening of its new greenhouse on Monday, April 21 beginning at 11 a.m. 

As a recognized leader in sustainability, with a hydroponics farm launched in 2022 and initial funding from the DPS Foundation $1 million fund in 2021, Bruce continues its commitment to eco-focused learning. 

The event will feature a ribbon-cutting ceremony, tours of student learning spaces, garden-fresh snacks and a celebration of community and innovation. Guests can take home their own seedlings to keep the growing going. Come celebrate the next chapter of Bruce’s green journey and see how it is planting the seeds for a more environmentally-friendly future.

Over 250 high schoolers are pursuing the new Seal of Climate Literacy diploma endorsement this year!

If you are a guardian of a student engaged in this important climate activism, we would love for you to attend the awards ceremony on May 12 from 5-7 p.m. at North High School where students will receive honors from the superintendent. Refreshments will be served, VIP speakers will inspire and students will be honored! 

Be sure to complete the RSVP form with your student so their DPS email is recorded with the RSVP.