The impacts of the global pandemic, along with the continuing trend of declining enrollment across DPS schools of all governance types, makes for an uncertain environment for new schools in the district. As described in detail in the 2021 Strategic Regional Analysis, DPS expects these declining enrollment trends to continue in many regions of the city, with preliminary 2021 enrollment showing further declines rather than the slight rebound originally projected. In response to these trends, district leadership is currently considering possible new policies to address the growing number of under-enrolled schools in DPS.
Based on the forecasts of the Strategic Regional Analysis, DPS has determined that existing schools have more than enough capacity to meet enrollment needs at least through the 2023-2024 school year in all areas of our city. Under the policies of the Denver Board of Education, DPS only makes facilities available on the basis of enrollment or restart/turnaround needs. For this reason, DPS is not making facility support available for 2022 new school applicants.
Even in this uncertain environment, DPS honors its responsibility under Colorado law to consider new school applications annually. Below are key dates for the 2022 New Quality Schools process. This webpage will be updated periodically with additional information.
- March 18, 2022: Application deadline. View submitted applications on the Application Hub.
- March – June, 2022: District review of new school applications, including separate review by the District Accountability Committee (DAC).
- April 12, 13, and 14, 2022: Virtual district-hosted community meetings to gather feedback on the applications. Recordings of these meetings, including interpreted recordings and a survey for the DPS Board, available here.
- June 2, 2022: Superintendent presents recommendations on new school applications to the DPS Board (Board Work Session).
- June 9, 2022: DPS Board votes on whether to approve or deny each new school application.
Individuals or teams interested in applying through the New Quality Schools process should contact CNQS@dpsk12.org for more information and to ensure they’re included in all communications and updates about the new schools process.