West Denver Prep: Highland 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

West Denver Prep, Highland Campus is one of the first schools in the West Denver Preparatory network to be opened in Northwest Denver. Highland Campus opened in August 2010 by GSS Fellow Betsy Peterson in conjunction with Lake Campus.

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 – Highland Campus
Opened by Get Smart Schools Fellow Betsy Peterson

Opening Date: August 2010
Grades served: 6-7, expanding to 8th grade in 2012
# Of Students: 220

Location: North Denver
Address: 2417 West 29th Avenue (29th and Zuni), Denver, CO 80211
Phone: 303-630-0360
Website: http://www.westdenverprep.org/
Enrollment Information
Career Opportunities

Preliminary Achievement Facts

At the West Denver Prep – Highland Campus, the students grew an average of 36 words per minute on the Oral Reading Fluency assessment from the beginning of the year to the end of the year. Additionally, on average, the students identified 10 more words correctly on the MAZE assessments in May than they did in August. On the nationally normed NWEA MAP tests, students grew an average of 1.9 years in reading, 2.5 years in language, 3.7 years in math, and 2.4 years in science.

The interim data from these assessments has been used strategically throughout the year to inform instruction in the classroom as well as determine which students need additional interventions. This data suggests that there are many components of West Denver Prep Highland’s current program, which are contributing to the students’ significant growth, and this data will help us continue to provide a strong academic program for every student in the coming year.