West Denver Prep: Harvey Park Campus


West Denver Prep is a local network of free, open enrollment, public charter schools committed to providing every student with an excellent, rigorous, college preparatory education. Our skilled teachers prepare students for the challenges of high school and college in a small, safe and highly-focused learning environment.

Since our founding, West Denver Prep schools have led Denver middle schools in student achievement and academic growth. We currently have four campus locations serving west Denver neighborhoods with additional campuses planned, including our first high school to open in 2012.

Mission

Success for every student. Through a demanding education of high standards, structure and accountability, West Denver Preparatory Charter School prepares students for educational success from middle school through college.

History

Given current area achievement rates, a majority of students in west Denver, many who are students of color from low-income communities, will leave the eighth grade seriously behind in the critical basic skills of math, reading, and writing, and enter local high schools only to continue this trend.

West Denver Preparatory Charter School was established to help change this, and to provide another choice for parents and families. Led by founder, Chris Gibbons, the school was approved for a three-year charter from the Denver Board of Education in November, 2005, and opened its first middle school, the Federal Campus, in August 2006 with 100 students in 6th grade. Due to demand from families, in August 2009, we opened a second campus in Southwest Denver, Harvey Park, followed by two campuses in Northwest Denver in August, 2010, Lake and Highland.

The network now serves 1,100 students in grades 6-8 across four campuses and is home to the two highest performing public secondary schools in Denver on the 2010 DPS School Performance Framework. The Harvey Park and Federal campuses are also the two highest performing public secondary schools statewide for academic growth, as measured by the Colorado Growth Model.

School Facts

West Denver Prep Network

Eligible for Free/Reduced Meals: 90%
Race/Ethnicity: 96% Students of Color (91% Latino)
English Language Learners: 40%
Receive Special Education Services: 10%
Bi-lingual Staff: 50%
Faculty/Staff Retention Rate: 87%

West Denver Prep – Harvey Park Campus
Opened by Get Smart Schools Fellow Josh Smith

Opening Date: August 2009
Principal: Josh Smith
Grades served: 6-8
Number of students: 320
Eligible Free/Reduced Lunch: 93%

Location: Southwest Denver
Address: 2250 S. Quitman Way, North Entrance 4th Floor, Denver, CO 80219
Phone: 303-962-9880
Website: http://www.westdenverprep.org/
Enrollment Information
Career Opportunities

Achievement Facts

Harvey Campus
  • #1 public school in Denver overall out of 132 schools evaluated on 2010 DPS School Performance Framework
  • #1 public secondary school statewide for academic growth on the 2010 Colorado Growth Model
From the Colorado Department of Education’s 3 Year SPF Report

Plan Assignment: Performance
Academic Achievement: Meets (83.3%)
       Reading: Exceeds (75.2%)
       Mathematics: Meets (82.0%)
       Writing: Meets (64.1%)
Academic Growth: Exceeds (100.0%)
       Reading: Exceeds (83% Median Growth)
       Mathematics: Approaching (95% Median Growth)
       Writing: Exceeds (89% Median Growth)
Academic Growth Gaps: Exceeds (100.0%)