Dear DPS Community,
Last night, the DPS Board of Education reached a unanimous decision regarding the Superintendent's recommendation to close 7 schools and change 3 schools’ programs within our district. We have made the difficult decision to approve the recommendation for the 2025-26 school year. Our hearts are heavy with the weight of the decision as we know that this will be very difficult for these school communities. We have not made this decision lightly.
Over the past two weeks, each Board member engaged deeply with all the information we had to make this decision - community input, the difficult realities our district is facing and the data. We approached this decision with care, recognizing the deep connections that students, staff and families have to their schools and the significant effects these closures will have. We have been moved by what we learned from the meetings, phone calls, public comments, and personal stories from all of our DPS community. We also thoroughly reviewed the proposal and all the factors that brought us to this point.
Ultimately, the Board determined that closing these schools was the most responsible path forward to address the impact of declining enrollment. Consolidating resources will allow us to better support students across the district by reducing underutilized facilities, improving educational equity, and ensuring more sustainable investments in our schools.
We know this decision will bring feelings of loss and uncertainty for many in our community, and we respect the perspectives of those who may disagree with this outcome. Our focus now is on ensuring a smooth and supportive transition for all impacted students, families, and staff. The district is committed to providing clear communication and resources to help during this time of change.
We will continue to work closely with the Superintendent and district leadership to navigate the challenges ahead with transparency and care. We will hold him accountable to providing the resources these 10 schools need as well as assisting the receiving schools with what they need to ensure this transition goes well.
Thank you for your continued commitment to our students and for supporting each other during this period of transition. For the most up-to-date information on school closures, please visit the Denver Schools Thrive Initiative webpage for more information.
Respectfully,
Carrie A. Olson, PhD
Board of Education President
District 3 Director