The Board of Education’s BoardDocs platform is being upgraded to Diligent Community. This new platform will improve the end-user experience and make it easier for staff, students and community members to access important documents. Diligent Community will go live on March 1.

Last week, the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) released their 2024 NAEP results. DPS showcased consistent performance across all four tested areas, with fourth-grade reading and math gains surpassing those of the state of Colorado. 

DPS is a top performer in the 2024 Trial Urban District Assessment (TUDA), ranking second in eighth-grade reading and sixth in fourth-grade reading among participating urban districts. 

The district showed improvements in fourth- and eighth-grade reading from 2022, while national public schools experienced declines. Notably, the district's 2024 scores in three out of four tested areas are similar to the 2019 pre-pandemic levels, while national public schools reported significant decreases in all four assessments.

SchoolChoice Round 1 is open until 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 18. This annual enrollment process is for any student who wants or needs to attend a new school next year, particularly incoming ECE-3, kindergarten, sixth- and ninth-grade students.* 

To submit your application, create an account or use your Parent Portal username and password to log in to SchoolChoice. Rank up to 12 schools in order of preference and submit by Tuesday, Feb. 18. You’ll be notified of your results in late March. 

Find much more information on the SchoolChoice website. If you have any questions, review our FAQs, call 720-423-3493 or email schoolchoice@dpsk12.org.

*Families applying for ECE-4 must submit the Universal Preschool Colorado (UPK) application. Learn more on the SchoolChoice website.

On Wednesday, 30 DPS student-athletes participated in National Signing Day! Students from East, Thomas Jefferson, West, George Washington, North, Northfield and DMLK HS took part in the big day. National Signing Day marks the opening of the final signing period for the Class of 2025 where any remaining uncommitted or unsigned players sign with their schools. This is a major milestone for a student-athlete and an incredible achievement that many of these students have been dreaming of and working toward. Congratulations to all who signed and good luck on your future teams! 

On Saturday, the Juanita Gray Community Service Awards honored DPS’ Janet Damon, the 2025 Colorado Teacher of the Year and finalist for 2025 National Teacher of the Year, and Patrick Efferson, Northfield High School student. These awards recognize each individual as African-American community leaders in Colorado. 

In addition to her work as a history teacher at DELTA High School, Janet founded "Afros and Books" where she leads workshops on culturally responsive librarianship, empowering families with diverse books and resources while fostering appreciation for their unique histories. 

Patrick has been setting the bar high since age five, when he authored a children’s book to promote literacy among Black youth. More recently, he's won the KTONE Cares’ Black History Month Essay Challenge and completed the Ronald Reagan Student Leadership program. He is the youngest member of the Gary Foundation’s Youth Piton Fellowship and a participant in the Denver Mayor’s Youth Commission.

Congratulations on your incredible work and achievements, Janet and Patrick!

Photo credit: Denver Library

In the latest episode of the Black Voices in Color Podcast, hosts Joshua, Savannah, Anai and Paris dive into their purpose as leaders within the DPS community. Tune in to hear their thoughts on the importance of being selected for this impactful role, their commitment to inspiring others and using their voices to drive positive change. This episode also previews an upcoming discussion on Black student mental health, exploring the challenges students face and how they navigate them. 

Grammy Award-winning artist 123 Andrés performed a live show for students at Ashley Elementary. Far from a sit-and-listening show, students sang, danced and cheered during the performance. Staff members at Ashley also joined in on the fun and learned to dance bachata onstage. Watch 123 Andrés captivate students and turn this live show into an interactive learning experience!

In partnership with Intuit for Education, DPS is now the proud owner and operator of the 477th food truck in the city of Denver! Students will get real world experience on how to run and operate a food truck. The scenic food truck design was created by Adelade, a Thomas Jefferson High School student. Watch the unveiling.

A new Colorado Senate Bill has enabled qualifying graduates to obtain a special diploma endorsement called the Seal of Climate Literacy. Students must pass 20 credits of qualifying high school coursework and complete an experiential learning project in grades 6-12 that addresses climate change in their local community. Explore more information on how to qualify and apply.  

The first-ever Student Voices Podcast Network (SVPN) Summit was a dynamic gathering, uniting a dozen schools ranging from elementary to high school. Over 60 students, educators and teachers gathered for an inspiring day of collaboration and creativity. With a focus on digital storytelling, identity and the power of podcasting, the summit ignited fresh ideas and deep discussions on how these tools can help students explore their own stories, strengthen relationships and drive social change.

Achieving Excellence Academy is a free, cultural summer enrichment program for incoming ninth- through 12th-grade students. This program highlights the experiences of Asian-American/Pacific Islander, Black/African-American, Latine/LatinX and Indigenous students and families. The AEA gets students into the Denver community developing leadership skills, uncovering passions and forming strong commitments to social justice and service, where lifelong friendships and lasting memories are made! 

This will take place at Denver School of the Arts from June 9-July 2 with orientation on June 5. There will be a weekly combination of program half and full days (DPS bus transportation will be provided on half days only). Breakfast and lunch will be provided. Opportunities for cultural excursions (field trips) are included. 

Space is limited, enroll your child today! Visit the AEA Website or Summer Academy Website to register!

The DPS Substance Use Prevention Program is excited to have the DPS Family and Community Engagement (FACE) team joining us on Wednesday, Feb. 19 for our monthly webinar. This session will provide participants with valuable information about how FACE can assist students and families in accessing essential resources.

With partnerships spanning over 500 community organizations and more than 6,000 dedicated volunteers, FACE offers vital access to resources, information, education and support for everyone in the DPS community at every stage of their life.

Register to learn how FACE can help you or your family navigate available support systems! Spanish interpretation will be available.