DSST Public Schools (DSST), formerly known as the Denver School of Science and Technology, is a public charterSTEM network comprising 16 schools on eight campuses in Denver and Aurora, Colorado, United States, in partnership with Denver Public Schools. DSST is ranked among the top 200 public high schools in the US.[2]
| DSST Public Schools | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Location | |
 | |
| , Colorado United States | |
| Coordinates | 39°44′52″N 104°53′27″W / 39.74778°N 104.89083°W |
| Information | |
| Type | Charter |
| Established | 2004 (20 years ago) |
| Founder | David Ethan Greenberg |
| School district | Denver Public Schools |
| Grades | 6-7, Aurora Science & Tech 6-12, Montview 6-12, Green Valley Ranch 6-12, Cole 6-12, College View 6-12, Cedar 6-12, Conservatory Green 6-8, Henry 6, Noel[1] |
| Enrollment | 5,300 |
| Campus type | Urban |
| Admissions | Lottery |
| Website | School website |
Overview
editMetropolitan area students are selected for admission entirely by a lottery.[3] As students follow a science, mathematics, and technology focused liberal arts education, more than half of the 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.[2] 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.[4] [5]
History
editDSST 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.[6] Bill Kurtz, a former investment banker at JP Morgan, is founding principal.[7]
Recognition
editAccording to the 2015 U.S. News & World Report 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.[2] 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.[8] In a 2014 Denver School Performance report, five of the top six schools in Denver were part of DSST.[9]
Since graduating its first class in 2008, 100 percent of DSST: Montview and DSST: Green Valley Ranch seniors have been accepted to a four-year university.[9][10]
DSST is recognized for its values-centered culture, daily emphasizing respect and responsibility,[11] and has been regarded as one of the top mid-size workplaces in Colorado.[12]
Demographics
edit| Statistics, 2017 school year (all in %)[13] | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Male | Female | Free/reduced lunch 2015-16[14] |
Black/African American |
Asian | Hispanic/ Latino |
White | |
| DSST: Cedar (middle) | 53 | 47 | 45 | 12 | 5 | 30 | 48 |
| DSST: Cedar (high) | 61 | 39 | 45 | 11 | 4 | 30 | 47 |
| DSST: Cole (middle) | 54 | 46 | 91 | 16 | 1 | 78 | 4 |
| DSST: Cole (high) | 53 | 47 | 79 | 18 | 3 | 69 | 9 |
| DSST: College View (middle) | 52 | 48 | 93 | 1 | 5 | 91 | 5 |
| DSST: College View (high) | 53 | 47 | 89 | 1 | 5 | 87 | 4 |
| DSST: Conservatory Green (middle) | 55 | 45 | 64 | 27 | 5 | 46 | 17 |
| DSST: Conservatory Green (high) | 55 | 45 | 59 | 25 | 3 | 48 | 15 |
| DSST: Green Valley Ranch (middle) | 50 | 50 | 79 | 23 | 8 | 60 | 5 |
| DSST: Green Valley Ranch (high) | 52 | 48 | 73 | 21 | 11 | 56 | 8 |
| DSST: Montview (middle) | 51 | 49 | 69 | 31 | 3 | 41 | 16 |
| DSST: Montview (high) | 54 | 46 | 52 | 25 | 5 | 35 | 28 |
| DSST: Henry (middle) | 57 | 43 | 86 | 3 | 6 | 74 | 13 |
| Notes
No available data for DSST Elevate @ Noel Campus (opened 2018-2019) No available data for DSST: Elevate (Opened 2021-22) | |||||||
Support
editDonors 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,[15] a $3 million grant by the Daniels Fund,[16] $1 million gift by media mogul Oprah Winfrey,[17][18] a $1 million donation by the Anna and John Sie Foundation,[19][20] a $500,000 grant by the Thiry-O'Leary Foundation,[21] and a $50,000 grant by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.[22]
References
edit- ^ "DSST Campuses". DSSTPublicSchools.org. Denver School for Science and Technology Public Schools. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
- ^ a b c "Dsst: Stapleton Overview". usnews.com. U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved September 19, 2015.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "DSST Public Schools: Course Overview". DSSTpublicschools.org. Denver School of Science and Technology. Retrieved November 13, 2015.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ Haanen, Jeff (August 2, 2013). "A Growing Charter School Planted in Rocky Soil". christianitytoday.com. Christianity Today. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
- ^ "U.S. News & World Report Education: Colorado High Schools". usnews.com. U.S. News & World Report. 2015. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
- ^ a b 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. Archived from the original on November 30, 2014. Retrieved November 27, 2014.
- ^ Outcalt, Chris; Larusso, Jessica (September 2013). "The Dean's List". 5280.com. 5280 Magazine. Archived from the original on 2014-12-02.
- ^ Brooks, David (November 27, 2015). "Communities of Character". The 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.
- ^ "TOP WORKPLACES 2014". denverpost.com. The Denver Post. Retrieved November 27, 2014.
- ^ "DSST By The Numbers". dsstpublicschools.org. Denver Public Schools. Retrieved November 27, 2014.
- ^ "School Data - K-12 Free and Reduced". Pupil Membership - School Data. Colorado Department of Education. Retrieved April 19, 2016.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Daniels Fund grants $3M to Denver School of Science and Technology". bizjournals.com. Denver Business Journal. November 15, 2010. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Groundbreaking Charter Schools: Denver School of Science and Technology". oprah.com. Retrieved November 27, 2014.
- ^ 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. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 9, 2014. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "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.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "How We Work: Denver School of Science and Technology Inc". gatesfoundation.org. Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. November 2011. Retrieved November 27, 2014.
