Seven public schools in Denver will close at the end of the school year, and three others will limit the grade levels they serve. This decision came after the school board unanimously approved a controversial round of closures on Thursday evening. The vote faced strong backlash, with audience members chanting and shouting, “Shame on you.” The board convened a meeting at the district’s central offices and greenlit the closures to help the district make adjustments as its student count dwindles.

“This is an incredibly difficult decision,” board member Michelle Quattlebaum said before the vote, fighting back tears. “I have been deeply moved by the passion, dedication, and advocacy for our children, our schools, and our community. I am truly grateful for everyone’s honesty and engagement. Please know that I see you, I hear you, and I will continue to see you and hear you. I recognize your humanity.”

The following schools will be closing: Columbian Elementary School, Castro Elementary School, Schmitt Elementary School, International Academy of Denver at Harrington, Palmer Elementary School, West Middle School, and Denver School of Innovation and Sustainable Design.

Kunsmiller Creative Arts Academy, a K-12 institution, will eliminate grades 1-5. Dora Moore ECE-8 School will only offer preschool through 5th grade, cutting out grades 6-8. Meanwhile, the Denver Center for International Studies will focus on grades 6-8, discontinuing grades 9-12. Kunsmiller Creative Arts Academy, a K-12 institution, will eliminate grades 1-5. Dora Moore ECE-8 School will only offer preschool through 5th grade, cutting out grades 6-8. Meanwhile, the Denver Center for International Studies will focus on grades 6-8, discontinuing grades 9-12. The same schools listed for closure were on a proposal Superintendent Alex Marrero presented to the board two weeks ago.

He plans to eliminate 4,000 vacant seats in the district, which currently educates about 85,000 students — down from more than 92,100 kids during the 2019-20 school year. It will also save DPS an estimated $30 million at a time district officials project DPS will accrue $70 million less in annual revenue by 2028 than it did during the 2019-20 school year, its peak year of enrollment.DPS Superintendent Alex Marrero expressed his thoughts before the board vote, stating, “It’s been difficult. I want to thank the community for connecting with us.” He emphasized that the district has been focused on listening to the feedback from impacted students, families, and staff. Marrero acknowledged that the school closure process has been “imperfect,” as it “will always be.”

Despite the challenges, he expressed satisfaction with the consolidation plan, noting that the feedback received has been quite harsh. Board members also noted the emotional impact of closing schools, recognizing the deep connection families have to these institutions. They highlighted the importance of balancing this with the need to maintain the district’s budget, as operating smaller schools can be more expensive.

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A school is both an educational institution and a building designed to provide learning spaces and environments for teaching students under the guidance of teachers. Most countries have formal education systems, which are sometimes compulsory.

Denver Public Schools Shut Down

They pledged to hold Marrero and his cabinet accountable for ensuring that all students’ needs are met during the transition to new schools. “I know there are still questions that need to be answered and details that need to be worked out,” commented Board President Carrie Olson before the vote. Board member Scott Esserman described the necessity of closing schools as “an impossibly hard decision.”

“We’re facing a situation where there isn’t a right or best answer,” Esserman explained. “I want to acknowledge the pain, anger, fear, and uncertainty. I recognize that many people feel this has been a difficult process. I also want to highlight that this comes amidst the national upheaval, which is frightening for many of us.” Board member Scott Esserman described the need to close schools as “an impossibly hard decision.”

“We’re facing a situation where there isn’t a definitive right or best answer,” Esserman stated. “I want to acknowledge the pain, anger, fear, and uncertainty that people are feeling. This has been a difficult experience for many. I also want to recognize that we are navigating a time of national upheaval that is frightening for many of us.”