Denver Public Schools Superintendent Alex Marrero on Thursday recommended the Board of Education vote to permanently close or restructure 10 schools across the city in response to declining K-12 enrollment in Colorado’s largest district.
READ MORE:Superintendent recommends DPS close or restructure 10 schools as enrollment continues to fall
Marrero made the announcement Thursday during a meeting of the elected school board. Earlier this year, the board adopted a policy that opened the door for DPS officials to consider potential school closures for the second time in two years.
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The seven-member school board is scheduled to vote on Marrero’s closure plan on Nov. 21. Before that, at 4:30 p.m. Nov. 18, the board will take public comment on the proposal at DPS headquarters, located at 1860 Lincoln St.
Under Marrero’s plan, DPS would close seven elementary and secondary schools. Another three schools would be restructured so that they serve a smaller number of students.
Here are the schools DPS is recommending close at the end of this academic year:
• Castro Elementary, 845 S. Lowell Blvd.
• Columbian Elementary, 2925 W. 40th St.
• Denver School of Innovation and Sustainable Design, 840 E. 14th Ave.
• International Academy of Denver at Harrington, 2401 E. 37th Ave.
• Palmer Elementary, 995 Grape St.
• Schmitt Elementary, 1820 S. Vallejo St.
• West Middle School, 951 Elati St.
Here are the schools DPS recommends be restructured:
• DCIS Baker 6-12, 574 W. Sixth Ave., would become a middle school and no longer serve high-schoolers
• Dora Moore ECE-8 School, 846 Corona St., would serve preschool to fifth grade, eliminating middle school grades
• Kunsmiller Creative Arts Academy, 2250 S Quitman St., would serve grades 6 to 12, eliminating elementary grades
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