Denver Public Schools, Colorado
| Denver Public Schools |
|---|
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| Denver, Colorado |
| District details |
| Superintendent: Alex Marrero |
| # of school board members: 7 |
| Website: Link |
Denver Public Schools is a school district in Colorado.
Click on the links below to learn more about the school district's...
- Superintendent
- School board
- Elections
- Budget
- Teacher salaries
- Academic performance
- Students
- Staff
- Schools
- Contact information
Superintendent
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This information is updated as we become aware of changes. Please contact us with any updates. |
Dr. Alex Marrero is the superintendent of Denver Public Schools. Marrero was appointed superintendent on July 6, 2021. Marrero's previous career experience includes working as the Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction of the New Rochelle School District in New York and subsequently serving as acting and then interim superintendent.[1]
Past superintendents
- Dwight Jones was the superintendent of Denver Public Schools in 2021.[2] Jones' previous career experience includes working as the senior deputy superintendent for equity for Denver Public Schools, commissioner of education for Colorado, and superintendent of Clark County School District in Nevada.[2]
- Susana Cordova was the superintendent of Denver Public Schools from 2018 to 2020.[3][2] Cordova's previous career experience includes working as a bilingual teacher, principal, and assistant principal.[4]
- Tom Boasberg was the superintendent of Denver Public Schools from 2009 to 2018. Boasberg's previous career experience included working as an executive of Level 3 Communications and as an English teacher in Hong Kong.[5][6]
School board
The Denver Public Schools Board of Education consists of seven members elected to four-year terms. Two members are elected at large and five members are elected by district.[7]
| Office | Name | Date assumed office |
|---|---|---|
| Denver Public Schools Board of Education At-large | Scott Esserman | November 30, 2021 |
| Denver Public Schools Board of Education At-large | John Youngquist | December 1, 2023 |
| Denver Public Schools Board of Education District 1 | Kimberlee Sia | December 1, 2023 |
| Denver Public Schools Board of Education District 2 | Xochitl Gaytan | November 30, 2021 |
| Denver Public Schools Board of Education District 3 | Carrie Olson | December 21, 2017 |
| Denver Public Schools Board of Education District 4 | Michelle Quattlebaum | November 30, 2021 |
| Denver Public Schools Board of Education District 5 | Marlene De La Rosa | December 1, 2023 |
Elections
Elections are held on a staggered basis in November of odd-numbered years.[8]
Four seats on the board are up for general election on November 4, 2025. The filing deadline for this election was August 29, 2025.
Ballotpedia covered school board elections in 367 school districts in 29 states in 2024. Those school districts had a total student enrollment of 12,203,404 students. Click here to read an analysis of those elections.
Join the conversation about school board politics
Public participation in board meetings
The Denver Public Schools Board of Education maintains the following policy on public testimony during board meetings:[9]
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Students, parents/guardians, staff and residents of Denver who wish to address the Denver Public Schools Board of Education during a public meeting may sign up online or via phone. The online sign up form is available on the agenda for public comment at BoardDocs. Sign up is available online at 10:00 a.m. the Friday before a regularly scheduled Thursday business meeting. Sign up via phone is available by calling 720-423-3210 for those without access to the internet. The deadline to sign up for public comment is by 5:00 p.m. the day before the Board public comment. For example if the public comment session is on Thursday, May 17, the deadline to sign up is Wednesday, May 16 at 5:00 p.m. A finalized list of speakers will be posted to the Public Comment agenda by noon the day of the board meeting. To manage the Board's and the public's time in the most effective manner and to include as many community voices as possible, there is a three-minute time limit for individual speakers. Groups of four or more on the same topic are allotted 10 minutes. NO INDIVIDUAL IN A GROUP WILL BE ALLOWED TO SPEAK FOR MORE THAN THREE MINUTES. Substitutes are not allowed…only the person/people who signed up to speak may address the Board. The Board asks that remarks address new thoughts or concepts. Remember, it is not the number of people who address the Board that leads to better decision-making, rather the content of your presentation. It is best to plan your presentation in advance, have copies of any written materials to distribute to the Board, and make your presentation as clear and concise as possible. Since the Board is the policy-making body of the school district, it is most appropriate to address the direction of policy with the Board. Individual concerns are best resolved closest to the situation. Parents are encouraged to contact their local school or central department to handle a specific problem.[10] |
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District map
Budget
The following statistics were published by the National Center for Education Statistics, which is a part of the U.S. Department of Education.[11]
| SOURCE | AMOUNT | AMOUNT PER STUDENT | PERCENT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal: | $225,870,000 | $2,540 | 13% |
| Local: | $1,242,366,000 | $13,973 | 70% |
| State: | $295,554,000 | $3,324 | 17% |
| Total: | $1,763,790,000 | $19,838 |
| TYPE | AMOUNT | AMOUNT PER STUDENT | PERCENT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Expenditures: | $1,715,633,000 | $19,296 | |
| Total Current Expenditures: | $1,363,511,000 | $15,335 | |
| Instructional Expenditures: | $637,386,000 | $7,168 | 37% |
| Student and Staff Support: | $249,537,000 | $2,806 | 15% |
| Administration: | $274,519,000 | $3,087 | 16% |
| Operations, Food Service, Other: | $202,069,000 | $2,272 | 12% |
| Total Capital Outlay: | $154,955,000 | $1,742 | |
| Construction: | $101,650,000 | $1,143 | |
| Total Non El-Sec Education & Other: | $46,166,000 | $519 | |
| Interest on Debt: | $143,104,000 | $1,609 |
Teacher salaries
The following salary information was pulled from the district's teacher salary schedule. A salary schedule is a list of expected compensations based on variables such as position, years employed, and education level. It may not reflect actual teacher salaries in the district.
| Year | Minimum | Maximum |
|---|---|---|
| 2023-2024[12] | $54,141 | $117,744 |
| 2021[13] | $46,364 | $100,835 |
Academic performance
Each year, state and local education agencies use tests and other standards to assess student proficiency. Although the data below was published by the U.S. Department of Education, proficiency measurements are established by the states. As a result, proficiency levels are not comparable between different states and year-over-year proficiency levels within a district may not be comparable because states may change their proficiency measurements.[14]
The following table shows the percentage of district students who scored at or above the proficiency level each school year:
| School year | All (%) | Asian/Pacific Islander (%) | Black (%) | Hispanic (%) | Native American (%) | Two or More Races (%) | White (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-2021 | 25 | 37 | 14 | 11 | <=5 | 43 | 57 |
| 2018-2019 | 33 | 48 | 18 | 20 | 20-24 | 48 | 64 |
| 2017-2018 | 32 | 46 | 17 | 20 | 15-19 | 47 | 64 |
| 2016-2017 | 30 | 47 | 16 | 18 | 15-19 | 44 | 62 |
| 2015-2016 | 28 | 46 | 15 | 18 | 14 | 42 | 61 |
| 2014-2015 | 26 | 44 | 13 | 16 | 10 | 36 | 57 |
| 2013-2014 | 47 | 64 | 32 | 38 | 33 | 61 | 78 |
| 2012-2013 | 46 | 61 | 31 | 38 | 34 | 61 | 76 |
| 2011-2012 | 43 | 58 | 27 | 36 | 34 | 57 | 75 |
| 2010-2011 | 72 | 75 | 58 | 69 | 67 | 90 |
The following table shows the percentage of district students who scored at or above the proficiency level each school year:
| School year | All (%) | Asian/Pacific Islander (%) | Black (%) | Hispanic (%) | Native American (%) | Two or More Races (%) | White (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-2021 | 40 | 48 | 28 | 25 | 20-24 | 59 | 72 |
| 2018-2019 | 43 | 54 | 30 | 30 | 30-34 | 61 | 74 |
| 2017-2018 | 40 | 50 | 27 | 28 | 25-29 | 58 | 72 |
| 2016-2017 | 39 | 54 | 27 | 27 | 25-29 | 55 | 71 |
| 2015-2016 | 36 | 52 | 24 | 24 | 22 | 53 | 69 |
| 2014-2015 | 33 | 48 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 48 | 67 |
| 2013-2014 | 54 | 64 | 46 | 44 | 48 | 73 | 86 |
| 2012-2013 | 54 | 60 | 46 | 45 | 48 | 74 | 85 |
| 2011-2012 | 52 | 58 | 44 | 43 | 49 | 72 | 84 |
| 2010-2011 | 79 | 73 | 75 | 75 | 76 | 94 |
The following table shows the graduation rate of district students each school year:
| School year | All (%) | Asian/Pacific Islander (%) | Black (%) | Hispanic (%) | Native American (%) | Two or More Races (%) | White (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-2020 | 75 | 75-79 | 71 | 73 | 50-59 | 70-74 | 83 |
| 2018-2019 | 71 | 75-79 | 68 | 68 | 45-49 | 70-74 | 81 |
| 2017-2018 | 70 | 75-79 | 67 | 68 | 50-54 | 80-84 | 78 |
| 2016-2017 | 67 | 75-79 | 66 | 64 | 40-49 | 75-79 | 74 |
| 2015-2016 | 67 | 80-84 | 64 | 63 | 45-49 | 75-79 | 78 |
| 2014-2015 | 65 | 75-79 | 64 | 61 | 50-59 | 70-74 | 74 |
| 2013-2014 | 63 | 70-74 | 62 | 58 | 30-39 | 75-79 | 74 |
| 2012-2013 | 61 | 75-79 | 64 | 55 | 50-59 | 65-69 | 71 |
| 2011-2012 | 59 | 65-69 | 58 | 55 | 30-39 | 70-74 | 68 |
| 2010-2011 | 56 | 65-69 | 58 | 51 | 20-29 | 66 |
Students
| Year | Enrollment | Year-to-year change (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 2023-2024 | 88,258 | 0.4 |
| 2022-2023 | 87,883 | -1.2 |
| 2021-2022 | 88,911 | -0.2 |
| 2020-2021 | 89,081 | -3.4 |
| 2019-2020 | 92,143 | 0.1 |
| 2018-2019 | 92,039 | 0.2 |
| 2017-2018 | 91,822 | 0.7 |
| 2016-2017 | 91,138 | 1.0 |
| 2015-2016 | 90,235 | 1.5 |
| 2014-2015 | 88,839 | 3.1 |
| 2013-2014 | 86,046 | 3.1 |
| 2012-2013 | 83,377 | 3.0 |
| 2011-2012 | 80,890 | 3.2 |
| 2010-2011 | 78,339 | 1.4 |
| 2009-2010 | 77,267 | 4.0 |
| 2008-2009 | 74,189 | 1.5 |
| 2007-2008 | 73,053 | 0.7 |
| 2006-2007 | 72,561 | 0.3 |
| 2005-2006 | 72,312 | -0.1 |
| 2004-2005 | 72,410 | 0.4 |
| 2003-2004 | 72,100 | 0.2 |
| 2002-2003 | 71,972 | -0.5 |
| 2001-2002 | 72,361 | 2.1 |
| 2000-2001 | 70,847 | 1.6 |
| 1999-2000 | 69,693 | 0.0 |
| RACE | Denver Public Schools (%) | Colorado K-12 STUDENTS (%) |
|---|---|---|
| American Indian/Alaska Native | 0.5 | 0.6 |
| Asian or Asian/Pacific Islander | 3.1 | 3.3 |
| Black | 13.2 | 4.6 |
| Hispanic | 51.8 | 35.9 |
| Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander | 0.8 | 0.3 |
| Two or More Races | 5.1 | 5.3 |
| White | 25.2 | 49.9 |
Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here.
Staff
As of the 2023-2024 school year, Denver Public Schools had 5,954.73 full-time classroom teachers. The student-teacher ratio was 14.82.
| TYPE | NUMBER OF TEACHERS |
|---|---|
| Prekindergarten: | 564.78 |
| Kindergarten: | 380.27 |
| Elementary: | 2,316.09 |
| Secondary: | 2,693.59 |
| Total: | 5,954.73 |
Denver Public Schools employed 290.81 district administrators and 723.17 school administrators as of the 2023-2024 school year.
| TYPE | NUMBER OF ADMINISTRATORS |
|---|---|
| District Administrators: | 290.81 |
| District Administrative Support: | 586.79 |
| School Administrators: | 723.17 |
| School Administrative Support: | 546.44 |
| TYPE | NUMBER OF OTHER STAFF |
|---|---|
| Instructional Aides: | 2,370.91 |
| Instruc. Coordinators & Supervisors: | 577.73 |
| Total Guidance Counselors: | 200.46 |
| Elementary Guidance Counselors: | 17.16 |
| Secondary Guidance Counselors: | 152.36 |
| Librarians/Media Specialists: | 14.95 |
| Library/Media Support: | 34.73 |
| Student Support Services: | 1,565.22 |
| Other Support Services: | 1,599.79 |
Schools
Noteworthy events
2017: School board and teachers union agree on five-year contract
The Denver Board of Education and the Denver Classroom Teachers Association agreed on a five-year contract on September 1, 2017, the day after the former contract expired.[15] Both the board of education and the teachers union approved the agreement later in the month, with the board voting unanimously to accept it and the union ratifying it with 89 percent in favor.[16]
The new contract increased base salaries for teachers by $1,400 for the 2017-2018 school year, and it gave an additional $1,500 a year to teachers serving in schools with a high percentage of low-income students as long as they did not already receive incentive pay. Starting in the 2018-2019 school year, teachers received an additional $1,200 in benefits subsidies if they had children enrolled in their medical plans, and they added an extra day for lesson planning.[15][16]
A new committee and a new task force were also created with the contract's approval. A joint collaborative committee was set up “to review and oversee ongoing improvements to the growth and performance system for teachers,” and a joint task force was set up “to review current and best practices, policies and recommendations for future improvements around the whole child.” The union also asked for a moratorium on the expansion of charter schools and for more transparency when schools were closed, but those were not added to the contract.[15]
Denver Superintendent Tom Boasberg said the contract was the strongest the district had offered in more than 10 years. “The (financial) incentive in and of itself doesn’t change behavior,” Boasberg said. “But when coupled with really good school leaders, positive school culture and a strong set of supports — social and emotional supports for students — all of those together help attract and retain great teachers at our higher poverty schools.”[15]
Pam Shamburg, executive director of the Denver Classroom Teachers Association, said that the contract was a good deal but not enough. “It is ridiculous as a society what we’re asking our teachers to do for nothing, for a pittance of pay, for the hours they put in,” said Shamburg.[15]
Prior to the $1,400 base salary increase, first-year teachers who had a bachelor's degree received a starting salary of $41,389. The union asked to increase that starting salary to $50,000, while the district initially offered to raise salaries by $600.[15]
The contract was negotiated in public in front of an audience of 300 people that included both teachers and community members. Boasberg said in-public bargaining made the process more transparent and accessible, but he also said it brought challenges. “Public bargaining makes it much harder for both sides to be vulnerable and engaged in the give-and-take and exploration of solutions, as opposed to statement and restatement of positions,” said Boasberg.[15]
2016: Educator effectiveness law affects Denver teachers
- See also: Battles over school governance (2016)
In 2016, Chalkbeat Colorado reported that 47 tenured teachers in Denver Public Schools would lose their non-probationary status after receiving ineffective ratings for two consecutive years. This was a higher proportion of teachers compared to districts of similar enrollment size in the state. The 47 teachers represented 2 percent of tenured teachers in the district.
By comparison, the Douglas County School District saw 1 percent of its tenured teachers lose their non-probationary status, and Aurora Public Schools had less than 1 percent of its tenured teachers lose their non-probationary status. Jeffco Public Schools, the state's second-largest school district, had no teachers lose their tenure.
The teachers who lost their tenure due to receiving ineffective ratings did not lose their jobs. They were put on probationary status and set up with one-year contracts. At the end of that one year, teachers could be fired for any legal reason. Teachers with non-probationary status could only be fired if the district could prove certain grounds.
It was the first time teachers lost their tenure through the program Leading Effective Academic Practice (LEAP), an educator effectiveness evaluation program created by the district in response to Senate Bill 191, which passed in 2010. SB-191 set up a process for teachers to be evaluated every school year, regardless of whether or not they were tenured, and only came into full effect after the 2015-2016 school year. The law changed how teachers received non-probationary status: instead of receiving tenure after three years in a district, teachers had to receive effective ratings for three consecutive school years to become tenured. It also required that districts use student academic growth for at least 50 percent of a teacher's score.
Out of LEAP's four ratings, teachers had to be considered "distinguished" or "effective" to gain or maintain tenure. Ratings of "approaching" or "not meeting" would cause them to lose their non-probationary status if received two years in a row. In the 2015-2016 school year, 29 percent of teachers in the Denver school district were considered distinguished, 65 percent were rated effective, 6 percent received ratings of approaching, and 0.1 percent of teachers were considered not meeting.
Sarah Almy, the district's executive director of talent management, said LEAP's goal "is not to be punitive but to help teachers improve," according to Chalkbeat. “I don’t think this reflects that Denver has fewer effective teachers or that our teachers and what they’re doing to advance student learning is any less powerful or effective,” said Almy.
Executive Director of the Denver Classroom Teachers Association Pam Shamburg expressed concerns about LEAP, specifically the fact that teachers who lose tenure also lose their due process rights. She was also concerned it would lead to high teacher turnover. “This happening to 47 teachers has a much bigger impact,” said Shamburg. “There will be hundreds of teachers who know about this. They’ll say if they can do that to (that teacher), they can do that to me.”[17]
Contact information
Denver Public Schools
1860 Lincoln St.
Denver, CO 80203
Phone: 720-423-3200
Email: info@dpsk12.org
About school boards
Education legislation in Colorado
Bills are monitored by BillTrack50 and sorted by action history.
See also
| Colorado | School Board Elections | News and Analysis |
|---|---|---|
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External links
- Search Google News for this topic
- Denver Public Schools
- Colorado Association of School Boards
- Colorado Department of Education
Footnotes
- ↑ Denver Public Schools, " Superintendent," accessed April 24, 2023
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Denver Public Schools, "Board Selects Dwight Jones as Interim Superintendent," accessed January 13, 2021
- ↑ Denver Public Schools, "Susana Cordova Named DPS Superintendent," accessed November 16, 2019
- ↑ Denver Public Schools, "DPS Leadership," accessed November 16, 2019
- ↑ Chalkbeat, "Former Denver schools superintendent Tom Boasberg lands a new gig," November 20, 2018
- ↑ Denver Post, "Tom Boasberg, Denver school leader, has a lot riding on board election results," August 30, 2013
- ↑ Denver Public Schools, "Board of Education: Get to Know the Board," accessed April 14, 2021
- ↑ LexisNexis: Colorado Legal Resources, "C.R.S. 22-31-104," accessed April 9, 2021
- ↑ Denver Public Schools, "Participate in a Board of Education Meeting - Public Comment," accessed April 14, 2021
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ National Center for Education Statistics, "Elementary/Secondary Information System," accessed October 6, 2025
- ↑ Denver Public Schools, "Teacher and SSP Step and Grade Schedule 2020 - 2021," accessed April 14, 2021
- ↑ Denver Public Schools, "Teacher and SSP Step and Grade Schedule 2020 - 2021," accessed April 14, 2021
- ↑ U.S. Department of Education, Washington, DC: EDFacts, "State Assessments in Reading/Language Arts and Mathematics- School Year 2018-19 EDFacts Data Documentation," accessed February 25, 2021
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 15.4 15.5 15.6 Chalkbeat Colorado, "Denver school district, teachers union reach agreement on contract that includes $1,400 increase to base salary," September 1, 2017
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 Chalkbeat Colorado, "New Denver teachers contract approved by school board and union," September 29, 2017
- ↑ Chalkbeat Colorado, "Denver Public Schools set to strip nearly 50 teachers of tenure protections after poor evaluations," July 15, 2016
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