Denver School of Science and Technology

Denver School of Science and Technology
Location
Denver
Colorado
United States
Information
Type Charter
Established 2004 (12 years ago)
Founder David Ethan Greenberg
School district DSST Public Schools
Principal Bill Kurtz
Grades 6-12, Stapleton
6-12, Green Valley Ranch
6-10, Cole
6-9, Byers
6-9, College View
6-7, Conservatory Green
6, Henry[1]
Number of students 4,200 (2015)[2]
Campus type Urban
Admissions Lottery
Website School website

DSST Public Schools (DSST), formerly known as the Denver School of Science and Technology, is a public charter STEM network comprising twelve schools on seven campuses in Denver, Colorado, in partnership with Denver Public Schools. DSST is among the top 200 public high schools in the United States.[3]

Overview

Metropolitan area students are selected for admission entirely by lottery.[4] As students follow a science, mathematics, and technology focused liberal arts education, more than half of graduates declare a STEM major in college. Students of color comprise 80 percent of the student body and 68 percent qualify for free or reduced lunch.[3] All DSST students follow a prospectus that includes seven years of natural sciences, seven years of mathematics, three years of Spanish, a trimester internship, and a two-trimester senior project.[5] By 2024-25, DSST is slated to consist of twenty-two schools on eleven campuses, with eighteen schools focused on STEM and four focused on the humanities, enrolling 10,500 students, or a quarter of Denver’s secondary school population.[6]

History

DSST was founded in 2004 at Park Hill in northeast Denver by David Ethan Greenberg, who also served as the first board chair of its successor organization, DSST Public Schools.[7] Bill Kurtz, a former investment banker at JP Morgan, is founding principal.[8]

Recognition

According to a 2015 US News ranking of American public high schools, the Stapleton campus was nationally ranked 192nd, 158th in STEM education, 55th among charter schools, and 5th in Colorado.[3] In the same year, the school was ranked 5th in mathematics proficiency, tied for 15th in reading proficiency, and was ranked 5th in college readiness, in the state.[9] In a 2014 Denver School Performance report, five of the top six schools in Denver were part of DSST.[10] Since graduating its first class in 2008, 100 percent of DSST: Stapleton and DSST: Green Valley Ranch seniors have matriculated to a four-year university.[10][11] DSST is recognized for its values-centered culture, daily emphasizing respect and responsibility,[12] and has been regarded as one of the top mid-size work places in Colorado.[13]

Demographics

Statistics, 2014 School Year (all in %)[14]
Male Female Free/Reduced
Lunch 2015-16[15] 		Black/African
American 		AsianHispanic/
Latino		White
DSST: Byers (Middle) 63 37 36.8 7 4 23 60
DSST: Cole (Middle) 55 45 86.4 24 1 57 14
DSST: Cole (High) 58 42 75.8 23 4 60 13
DSST: College View (Middle) 54 46 89.8 0 4 84 8
DSST: Conservatory Green (Middle), 2015[16] 58 42 54.0 32 10 35 23
DSST: Green Valley Ranch (Middle) 54 46 77.1 27 9 50 8
DSST: Green Valley Ranch (High) 46 54 70.3 27 8 50 9
DSST: Stapleton (Middle) 53 47 60.5 21 4 34 34
DSST: Stapleton (High) 48 52 53.0 24 3 36 30
Notes

Henry Middle and College View High data unavailable.

Support

Donors have played a significant role in the establishment and expansion of DSST. Notable contributions include a $7 million gift by Liberty Media chairman John C. Malone,[17] a $3 million grant by the Daniels Fund,[18] $1 million gift by media mogul Oprah Winfrey,[19][20] $1 million donation by the Anna and John Sie Foundation,[21][22] a $500,000 grant by the Thiry-O'Leary Foundation,[23] and a $50,000 grant by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.[24]

References

  1. ↑ "Choose The DSST Campus For You". DSSTPublicSchools.org. Denver School for Science and Technology Public Schools. Retrieved November 26, 2014.
  2. ↑ "ENROLLING AT A DSST SCHOOL". dsstpublicschools.org. Denver School of Science and Technology. 2015. Retrieved January 27, 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 "Dsst: Stapleton Overview". usnews.com. US News and World Report. Retrieved September 19, 2015.
  4. ↑ Gonchar, Joann. "A Learning Community: Dynamic and adaptable spaces serve hands-on education at a charter school with a science, math, and technology focus". archrecord.construction.com. Architecture Record. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
  5. ↑ "DSST Public Schools: Course Overview". DSSTpublicschools.org. Denver School of Science and Technology. Retrieved November 13, 2015.
  6. ↑ Zubrzycki, Jaclyn; Gonzalez, Susan (June 18, 2015). "Denver board approves dramatic expansion for charter network DSST: DPS board approves new school plans, 2015-16 budget at June meeting". co.chalkbeat.org. Chalkbeat Colorado. Retrieved June 19, 2015.
  7. ↑ "29th Annual Bonfils-Stanton Awards Honors Three Renowned Leaders for Significant Contributions to Colorado". businesswire.com. Business Wire. May 8, 2014. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
  8. ↑ Haanen, Jeff (August 2, 2013). "A Growing Charter School Planted in Rocky Soil". christianitytoday.com. Christianity Today. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
  9. ↑ "US News & World Report Education: Colorado High Schools". usnews.com. US News & World Report. 2015. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
  10. 1 2 Garcia, Nelson (October 4, 2014). "The Denver School of Science and Technology is spreading its success to multiple campuses around the city.". 9news.com. 9 News. Retrieved November 27, 2014.
  11. ↑ Outcalt, Chris; Larusso, Jessica (September 2013). "The Dean's List". 5280.com. 5280 Magazine.
  12. ↑ Brooks, David (November 27, 2015). "Communities of Character". nytimes.com. New York Times. Retrieved January 14, 2016. The Denver School of Science and Technology has an intense values-centered culture, emphasizing values like respect and responsibility. Four days a week everybody gathers for a morning meeting. Those who contribute to the community are affirmed. When students have strained the community, by being rude to cafeteria workers, for example, the rift is recognized, discussed and healed.
  13. ↑ "TOP WORKPLACES 2014". denverpost.com. The Denver Post. Retrieved November 27, 2014.
  14. ↑ "Choose The DSST Campus For You". dsstpublicschools.org. Denver Public Schools. Retrieved November 27, 2014.
  15. ↑ "School Data - K-12 Free and Reduced". Pupil Membership - School Data. Colorado Department of Education. Retrieved April 19, 2016.
  16. ↑ "DSST: Conservatory Green Middle School". DSSTpublicschools.org. DSST. 2015. Retrieved October 20, 2015.
  17. ↑ Robles, Yesenia (July 13, 2011). "Mogul John Malone to donate $7 million to Denver School of Science and Technology". denverpost.com. The Denver Post. Retrieved November 27, 2014.
  18. ↑ "Daniels Fund grants $3M to Denver School of Science and Technology". bizjournals.com. Denver Business Journal. November 15, 2010. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
  19. ↑ Meyer, Jeremy P. (September 20, 2010). "Oprah gives $1 million to Denver School of Science & Technology". denverpost.com. The Denver Post. Retrieved November 27, 2014.
  20. ↑ "Groundbreaking Charter Schools: Denver School of Science and Technology". oprah.com. Retrieved November 27, 2014.
  21. ↑ Nelson, Christine; Call, Anna (June 5, 2012). "ANNA AND JOHN J. SIE FOUNDATION DONATES $1 MILLION TO DSST PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Gift Supports Groundbreaking Teacher Effectiveness Model Helps to Close Challenge Grant from John C. Malone, PhD" (PDF). dsstpublicschools.org. DSST Public Schools. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
  22. ↑ Davidson, Joanne (June 7, 2012). "Sie Foundation’s $1 million gift completes $7 million pledge to Denver School of Science and Technology". blog.denverpost.com. The Denver Post. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
  23. ↑ "DSST Public Schools Receives $500,000 Grant from Thiry-O'Leary Foundation to Expand Opportunities for Denver Students and Bolster Leadership Development". dsstpublicschools.org. DSST. April 27, 2015. Retrieved June 11, 2015.
  24. ↑ "How We Work: Denver School of Science and Technology Inc". gatesfoundation.org. Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. November 2011. Retrieved November 27, 2014.

External links

Coordinates: 39°44′52.33″N 104°53′26.78″W / 39.7478694°N 104.8907722°W / 39.7478694; -104.8907722

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