Shrinking Schools

A Native American student stands at a podium, addressing the school board. His mother and grandmother stand on either side of him. All are wearing traditional dress. His mother and grandmother have red painted handprints over their mouths.

Charters & Choice Charters & Choice

American Indian Academy of Denver will be the fourth Denver middle school to close this spring

The 3-year-old charter school cited low enrollment and high costs as the reasons for the closure in a resolution passed by its board of directors.

By Melanie Asmar

Exterior image of Fairview Elementary shows a short stairway, mosaic tile, and colorful murals.

Chalkbeat En Español Chalkbeat En Español

Tres escuelas de Denver cerrarán al final del año escolar

Las escuelas Fairview Elementary, Math and Science Leadership Academy y Denver Discovery School cerrarán al final de este año escolar por tener una inscripción sumamente baja.

By Melanie Asmar

Denver Public Schools Denver Public Schools

Denver board votes to close three small schools just one day after recommendation made public

‘These are really tough decisions and none of us are taking them lightly,’ said board member Carrie Olson, who experienced a school closure when she was a teacher.

By Melanie Asmar

Shrinking Schools Shrinking Schools

Denver superintendent expected to recommend closing 3 schools for low enrollment

Fairview Elementary, Math and Science Leadership Academy, and Denver Discovery School could close at the end of this school year if the school board approves the recommendation.

By Melanie Asmar

Denver school board members sit at a dais in a gymnasium. The audience sits in folding chairs with their backs to the camera. A big screen shows a stopwatch counting down.

Shrinking Schools Shrinking Schools

Denver school board wants better communication with parents as district weighs school closure

“Clear communication with answers at meetings is going to be vital and imperative,” board member Carrie Olson said.

By Melanie Asmar

A bald man wearing a dark jacket sits in a chair at a desk in front of a computer.

Shrinking Schools Shrinking Schools

15 Denver schools, 3 with ‘critically low enrollment,’ named for possible closure

Superintendent Alex Marrero has named 15 schools with low enrollment, 3 of them ‘critical,’ as school closure conversations resume.

By Melanie Asmar

A teacher in the far right of the image holds up four fingers for a young boy who concentrates on counting them. To the left, a girl works on a project at the same table.

School Enrollment School Enrollment

Missing from the data: Analysis points to 9,000 unaccounted-for school-age children in Colorado

States like Colorado where kindergarten is voluntary account for a larger share of children missing from the data, a new analysis finds.

By Erica Meltzer

Elementary students and faculty walk down a white hallway on the first day of school.

School Enrollment School Enrollment

Colorado school enrollment drops again, while fewer students are home-schooled

Look up your district enrollment and how it has changed over time.

By Yesenia Robles

A colorful mural spelling “KEPNER” on a wall of a middle school campus

Charter schools Charter schools

In rare move, the Denver school board could vote to shutter a charter school

Denver Public Schools’ superintendent is recommending closing STRIVE Prep - Kepner middle school for low test scores. The school board is set to vote Jan. 12.

By Melanie Asmar

Chairs and equipment are stacked up in an empty classroom in deep shadow.

School Enrollment School Enrollment

Jeffco proposes $32 million in school upgrades to accommodate students from closing schools

School board members were initially shocked at the price and will consider downsizing some projects in January or February.

By Yesenia Robles

Aurora Superintendent Rico Munn, wearing a green tie and glasses, poses for a portrait while seated. A portrait of Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall hangs on the wall.

Aurora Public Schools Aurora Public Schools

Aurora school board and superintendent had ‘different visions’ for the district

The Aurora school board voted 4-3 this week to accept a transition plan. Rico Munn has led the district for more than 9 years.

By Yesenia Robles

School Enrollment School Enrollment

Big questions about next steps after Denver board declines to close schools

“The reality is, at several points in the near future, we’re all going to have to make unpopular decisions,” Superintendent Alex Marrero said.

By Melanie Asmar

A man holds his head in dismay during a meeting.

School Enrollment School Enrollment

Denver board votes down school closures, restarts declining enrollment conversation

The Denver school board rejected a pared down recommendation to close just 2 schools. Members called for more community engagement even as budget questions loom.

By Melanie Asmar

A woman with long dark hair wipes her left eye with her left hand. Her eyes are closed and she looks like she’s trying not to cry.

Denver Public Schools Denver Public Schools

Denver school board hears hours of testimony against school closure

“I really like my school and I want to keep it open because it’s like family to us,” one second grader told the Denver board, which is set to vote Thursday on recommended school closures.

By Melanie Asmar

A second-grade student raises their hand at Denver’s Carson Elementary.

Chalkbeat En Español Chalkbeat En Español

Lo que necesitas saber sobre la recomendación de cerrar escuelas en Denver

El junta escolar tiene la última palabra. La junta tiene programado votar por la recomendación el 17 de noviembre. Se requiere mayoría de votos para aprobar la recomendación.

By Melanie Asmar

Chairs upside-down on a table and two empty chairs sit in an empty classroom.

Denver Public Schools Denver Public Schools

What you need to know about Denver’s school closure recommendation

Questions about Denver’s school closure recommendation, answered.

By Melanie Asmar

Dr. Alex Marrero, wearing a dark checkered suit jacket, white shirt, blue striped tie and a lapel pin.

Denver Public Schools Denver Public Schools

5 Denver schools removed from closure recommendation — for now

The 5 schools Superintendent Alex Marrero is prioritizing for closure are: Denver Discovery School, Schmitt Elementary, Fairview Elementary, IAD at Harrington, and MSLA.

By Melanie Asmar

A woman with dark hair lifts her glasses to wipe her eyes with a tissue. There’s a laptop and mic in front of her.

Jeffco Public Schools Jeffco Public Schools

Jeffco board votes unanimously to close 16 elementary schools

The elementary schools will close at the end of the school year.

By Yesenia Robles

A group of women stand outside an elementary school. They hold signs that say “Don’t Close Our School,” “Colfax is Our Family,” and “DPS, Please Listen” in Spanish.

Chalkbeat En Español Chalkbeat En Español

Cierre de escuelas: Cómo Denver, Jeffco y Aurora están abordando la decisión

Los líderes de los distritos de Denver, Jeffco y Aurora tuvieron en cuenta varios factores a la hora de decidir qué escuelas cerrar. Aquí veremos cómo cada distrito está manejando el cierre de escuelas.

By Yesenia Robles and Melanie Asmar

A teacher pats one of his students on the head while he is working at a desk, seated next to a young girl.

Shrinking Schools Shrinking Schools

Where are the kids? Colorado school enrollment trends shed light on closure discussions

As Colorado districts prepare to vote on school closures, Chalkbeat answered some common questions.

By Melanie Asmar, Yesenia Robles, and 2 more

Two pairs of hands are shown working on an activity for young children. The smaller pair of hands holds a marker and a marker cap, while the larger pair of hands points to the paper.

Teaching & Classroom Teaching & Classroom

School closures: How Denver, Jeffco, and Aurora are approaching the decision

The Denver school board will vote on Nov. 17. The Jeffco school board will vote on Nov. 10.

By Yesenia Robles and Melanie Asmar

Denver Public Schools Denver Public Schools

Denver board members question superintendent’s recommendation to close 10 schools

“There are a lot of unknowns,” a Denver school board member said.

By Melanie Asmar

A teacher and three elementary school students sit at a table in a classroom. The teacher has a surprised look on her face, and one of the students is laughing.

Denver Public Schools Denver Public Schools

‘Disheartening’: Denver parents grapple with school closure recommendations

Superintendent Alex Marrero defends his list of 10 schools recommended for closure.

By Melanie Asmar

A student holds up a pencil with a yellow eraser.

Denver Public Schools Denver Public Schools

Denver superintendent recommends closing 10 schools

The Denver school board is set to vote on the school closure recommendations on Nov. 17.

By Melanie Asmar

A girl with brown hair wearing a green shirt sits at a desk, reading a book.

Shrinking Schools Shrinking Schools

Denver’s STRIVE Prep charter network to close its Lake middle school

The school, which serves 188 students, will close at the end of this school year.

By Melanie Asmar

Students shout in protest against the closure of their school. The photo shows a group of students outside in winter. In the center, a girl shouts.

Denver Public Schools Denver Public Schools

These Denver school board members lived through school closures. Now they’ll be voting on them.

This time, they’re on the other side.

By Melanie Asmar

Three students sit side by side and read books. The photo shows just their legs and their sneakers.

Politics & Policy Politics & Policy

Ahead of school closures, 5 takeaways about the number of schools and students in Denver

A Chalkbeat analysis found that Denver schools opened at a rapid pace as enrollment climbed. Now school closures are looming.

By Melanie Asmar

The backs of three students outside a school, wearing backpacks.

Jeffco Public Schools Jeffco Public Schools

Jeffco parents share advice on what helped their kids during past school closures

These Jeffco parents have already been through a school closure. They have advice on how to help your child through the change. It starts with patience and an open ear.

By Yesenia Robles

A pale blue backpack and a pink backpack hang in adjacent vertical wooden cubbies; next to them a lavender backpack sits in another cubby with a small stuffed dog. Part of a royal blue cushioned chair shows in one corner of the foreground.

Jeffco Public Schools Jeffco Public Schools

Jeffco recommends closing 16 elementary schools

By closing 16 elementary schools at the end of this school year, Jeffco hopes to offer better educational experiences at the remaining schools. The board votes in November.

By Yesenia Robles

A group of six elementary students sit together and engage with their teacher, standing at the front of the classroom with her arms raised.

Jeffco Public Schools Jeffco Public Schools

Community feedback won’t stop Jeffco school closures

The Jeffco school board will hear closure recommendations on Aug. 25 and vote in November.

By Yesenia Robles

Shrinking Schools

News about small schools and school closures in Colorado related to declining student enrollment.

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