Dear DPS Community,
From Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, Denver Public Schools celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month, recognizing the many generations of Hispanic Americans who enrich our school district and our nation.
You may hear the terms “Hispanic” and “Latino” used interchangeably, but the words represent distinct backgrounds. "Hispanic” represents origins in Spanish-speaking nations, whereas “Latino,” “Latina,” “Latine,” and “Latinx” suggest geographic roots in Latin America. Because our schools are filled with various cultures, Hispanic Heritage Month in DPS celebrates students and staff with roots in countries where Spanish is the primary language.
Our district’s identity is deeply intertwined with this heritage. Today, 52.1% of nearly 90,000 students and more than 35.3% of our 18,000 staff identify as Hispanic or Latino. Our classrooms and workplaces are made better by their contributions.
The lived experiences of our Latine students, families and staff remain central to our priorities. The DPS Latine Student Success team leads ongoing work dedicated to the academic achievement of our Latine scholars. We are excited to share key highlights from our Latine Student Success Impact Report, reflecting the remarkable progress and dedication of our students, educators and community.
Key achievements include:
21% Growth in Foundational Reading Skills: Achieving the largest READ Act growth across the district.
18% Reduction in Below Grade Level Readers: Significantly decreasing the number of students reading significantly below grade level.
77% Proficiency in Bilingual K–3 Classrooms: Demonstrating outstanding biliteracy outcomes in Spanish reading.
Family Engagement & Leadership Institute (FELI) Success: Strengthening partnerships with families through targeted outreach and building deep relational trust within our school communities through professional learning.
There is much to explore and learn about when it comes to Hispanic history, culture and traditions. I invite you to join other members of the DPS community in celebrations happening at schools and across Denver. Stay tuned to the DPS social media pages and Our DPS Weekly for Hispanic Heritage Month features of students and staff through Oct. 15.
In collaboration,
Dr. Alex Marrero
Superintendent