Four Denver schools are safe from closure under a new district policy because they boosted their ratings

Denver Public Schools will not be closing any schools this year, thanks to a new policy that prevents the shuttering of persistently low-performing campuses. Four schools that were previously at risk under the policy boosted their state ratings, saving them from closure recommendations, according to preliminary data released by the Colorado Department of Education.

The ratings are primarily based on state test scores. The higher ratings are beneficial for those schools and may signal a positive trend for Superintendent Alex Marrero's carrot-and-stick approach. This strategy combines extra support for struggling schools with the threat of closure if they fail to improve. Marrero attributes the progress to community involvement and the deployment of district leaders to help the schools.

Only one of the four schools, Oakland Elementary, was part of the district's Elevate Schools Network, which provides extra support. This school improved its rating from orange to yellow. The largest of the four schools, John F. Kennedy High, increased its rating from orange to green, the highest possible rating. Kennedy participated in the Data MINE strategy, a district improvement initiative.

Two charter schools, Rocky Mountain Prep Noel and Academy 360, were also at risk of closure. Rocky Mountain Prep Noel improved its rating from orange to yellow, while Academy 360 earned a green rating for the second consecutive year. However, if their ratings decline, these schools could face intervention next fall. The preliminary ratings indicate that three additional schools, Ashley Elementary, Cheltenham Elementary, and Traylor Academy, could also be at risk.

Schools can appeal their preliminary ratings to the state and have another chance to prove their worth before the final ratings are released later in the fall. If a school maintains an orange rating for one to three years, it could be "renewed" or "reconfigured," leading to potential job changes or grade level cuts. After four years of low ratings, the district could "reimagine" the school, which often means closure.