Free. Public. Open to All.
Denver’s charter schools are tuition-free, public and open to all students. Denver charter schools offer high-quality education options to students and families through unique educational approaches. Charter schools have more operational freedom and flexibility than district-managed schools, but are also held to higher levels of accountability.
Public, Free, and Open to All
Denver’s public charter schools serve as choices for families. They offer options for students’ individual needs because one size doesn’t fit all, and students deserve to attend the school where they will thrive.
Out of more than 200 schools in Denver Public Schools
are public charter schools
are enrolled in Denver’s public charter schools
of Denver’s charters are authorized and approved by Denver Public Schools
Frequently Asked Questions
Are charter schools public schools?
Denver’s charter schools are tuition-free, nonprofit public schools that have the flexibility to be innovative, entrepreneurial, self-governing, and are held accountable for student and operational performance. Open to all students, each of these independent public schools is different, increasing the variety of high-quality school choices available across the city.
Who can attend charter schools?
Charter public schools are open to all students and do not have special eligibility or entrance requirements (with a few exceptions like Denver Language School or alternative education options for high-risk students). Denver’s charter schools are built on the belief that every student should have the opportunity to attend a great school that puts their needs first, regardless of zip code, income or ability level.
What makes charter schools different from other public schools?
“One-size-fits-all” doesn’t work when it comes to education. Charter schools offer the personal attention, creativity and passionate teaching that kids need to succeed. Public charter schools are free from restrictions that can affect students, teachers, and learning.
How are charter schools held accountable?
How are charter schools held accountable?
All charter schools must first be authorized to operate by the Denver Public Schools Board of Education. To ensure high standards for all families, all Denver charter schools are accountable to state and federal public education laws and undergo extensive oversight by DPS with a regular, rigorous charter renewal process. Renewal recommendations are made based upon a body of evidence of the school’s performance, with academic performance being the primary consideration.
How are charter schools funded and managed?
Like traditional public schools, charters receive state funding based on a formula for each child enrolled in the school, referred to as Per-Pupil Revenue, or PPR. When a student enrolls in a school—district-run or charter—the public funds for that child go with the child. In essence, no school operator is entitled to funding; the funding is for the student. Charters housed in district facilities benefit from a share of bond-funded capital improvements. However, charter schools do not all have access to publicly-funded facilities; some must secure buildings to house their schools.
Who teaches at charter schools?
The passionate and dedicated teachers at Denver’s charter schools are required to meet the same federal standards as traditional public school teachers.
How do charter schools fit into the DPS SchoolChoice process?
All Denver charter schools participate in the DPS School Choice process. Families who would like to enroll their student in a school other than their assigned boundary school (or the school they are currently attending) may participate in SchoolChoice. The exceptions are alternative education campuses (AECs) that serve high-risk students. All district-managed and charter AECs in Denver use a central team to match qualifying students to their schools.
What are the demographics of students attending charter schools in Denver?
Charter schools serve a broad range of students, including students of color, students from low-income households, second language learners and students with disabilities or other special needs.
Denver Charter Schools
Resources
National Alliance for Public Charter Schools
Colorado League of Charter Schools
DPS Choice and Enrollment
Public, Free, and Open to All
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