1. 8 th Grade PEP Academic Guidance

2. Which High School should I choose?

3. High School Options Traditional Schools Public secondary schools are intended to provide general knowledge and school programming. Example: North, South, East, GW, Lincoln, TJ, etc. Innovative/Autonomous Schools Innovative schools are similar to traditional public school, but have more control over their positions, schedules, and use of resources. Examples: Manual, Bruce Randolph, West Generations, etc. Application Process: Students are automatically assigned to one of these school or they may select one of these schools using the School of Choice enrollment process.

4. High School Options Magnet Schools Magnet schools have specialized courses or curricula to attract students from all over the district. RTD bus passes are provided to students who live outside the school’s boundary. Examples: DSA, CEC, DCIS, GW IB, Kunsmiller, etc. Multiple/Intensive Pathway Schools Multiple and Intensive Pathway schools provide intensive supports for student groups with specific needs. They offer curriculum and supports that are more flexible for students than a traditional public school. Examples: Emily Griffith, CLA, Florence Crittenton, PREP, DC-21, Summit, and Vista Application Process: Both of these types of schools are usually smaller and require a special application, in addition to the School of Choice form required by all schools.

5. High School Options Charter Schools Charter schools are created and organized by teachers, parents, and community leaders. These schools operate independently of other schools and are allowed to create their own educational programs and policies. Examples: DSST, Girls Athletic Leadership School, KIPP, etc. Application Process: Like public schools, charter schools must use a lottery system when the number of applications exceeds their enrollment. Charter schools may or may not participate in the School of Choice process. If they do, they may also require an additional application form.

6. How do I find a school that’s right for me? Things to Consider o Location: How will you be getting to school on a daily basis? Who will drive you? Will you take RTD? o Extracurricular activities: Do the extracurricular activities offered at this school match your interests and hobbies? o School Culture/Environment: What is important to this school? Are students well behaved? Do students attend class and value their education? Do students and teachers treat one another with respect? o Educational Quality: It’s important to research the schools’ drop-out rates and school performance (SPF) ratings. These ratings may indicate the quality of education you will receive. In addition, it’s important to research whether the school offers classes or programs that support your career goals and academic needs.

7. Location by region Northwest -CEC Middle College -Girls Athletic Leadership School -North -STRIVE Prep – Highland -West Generation Academy -West Leadership Academy Far Northeast -Collegiate Prep Academy -DCIS at Montbello -DSST: GBR -DSST: Stapleton -High Tech Early College -MLK Jr. Early College -Noel Community Arts -Vista Academy Near Northeast -Bruce Randolph -DC-21 -Denver Online -Denver Montessori HS -Denver School of the Arts -East -Manual -PREP Academy -Venture Prep Southwest -Abraham Lincoln -DCIS -DSST: College View -Florence Crittenton -JFK -KIPP Denver Collegiate -Kunsmiller -Summit Academy Southeast -DSST: Byers -George Washington -Rocky Mountain School of Expeditionary Learning -South -Thomas Jefferson

8. Education Quality Academic proficiency Academic growth rate Student engagement and satisfaction Parent satisfaction Re-enrollment & drop-out rates College and career readiness What are the SPF Ratings based on?

9. Overall SPF Ratings Blue (exceeds expectations) o DSST Green Valley Ranch o DSST Stapleton o High Tech Early College o Strive Prep – Highland Green (meets expectations) o Career Education Center Middle College o Collegiate Prep o DCIS (but yellow for academic growth) o DCIS @ Montbello o Denver Online o Denver School of the Arts (DSA) o East o Emily Griffith High School o Girls Athletic Leadership School o KIPP Denver Collegiate o Noel Community Arts School o Venture Prep

10. Overall SPF Ratings Yellow (watch/approaching) o Vista Academy (but red for academic growth) o Manual o North (but green for academic growth) o George Washington o South (but green for academic growth) o Thomas Jefferson (but green for academic growth) o Lincoln (but green for academic growth) o Kunsmiller Creative Arts Academy Orange (priority on watch) o Bruce Randolph (but red for academic growth) o Academy of Urban Learning (but red for academic growth o ACE Community Challenge (but red for academic growth) o John F. Kennedy (but yellow for academic growth) o Southwest Early College (but yellow for academic growth)

11. Overall SPF Ratings Red (not meeting expectations) o Denver Center for 21 st Century Learning (DC-21) o PREP Academy o Colorado HS Charter (but yellow for academic growth) o CLA (but yellow for academic growth) o Denver Justice (but yellow for academic growth) o Florence Crittenton (but yellow for academic growth) o RESPECT Academy o Summit Academy

12. Drop-out Rates 90% or above o Denver School of the Arts (DSA) o Martin Luther King Jr. Early College (MLK) 80% or above o CEC Middle College o DSST – Stapleton o East o George Washington 70% or above o John F. Kennedy o Thomas Jefferson 60% or above o Lincoln o Bruce Randolph o Manual o North

13. http://schoolmatch.dpsk12.org Select 9 th Grade Click Get started Enter your address High School Exploration Resource

14. BasicsPerformanceSpecial Programs Intensive Programs College & Career Readiness AthleticsAfter school Programs ELA servicesOverall SPF Rating Arts focusEngagement Center World languages Fitness Center Academic club BreakfastGraduation Rate Fine ArtsCredit recovery AP coursesSpiritArts or music club LunchPerforming Arts Honors courses BasketballCommunity service club PEInternational Baccalaureate Concurrent enrollment Field hockeyClub based on ethnicity Before-school programming International Focus Career/Tech education GolfYearbook or Newspaper Uniform required Science FocusAVIDLacrosseSocial clubs DPS standard curriculum American Indian Future CenterSoccerStudent leadership Tutoring Offered Expeditionary Learning ASCENTSoccer Newcomer Center Pre-collegiate Programs Softball JROTCSwimming Tennis Track & field, Etc. On the next page of the website, you will be asked to select the school categories and features are important to you. Here is a table with all the options within each category.

15. High School Exploration by Category Location Education Quality Extra-curricular

16. www.dpsk12.org Other High School Exploration Resources

17. Magnet Schools

18. Location o View District Map o Students who attend Magnet Schools and live more than 3.5 miles from their school receive FREE RTD bus passes. Educational Quality o View the School Performance Framework data and Graduation Rate data provided Extracurricular Activities o May not offer as large of a variety of clubs and activities as a traditional school, but will likely offer opportunities unique to the school focus that other schools cannot provide. School Culture o Students and staff are all choosing to attend the Magnet School, which tends to increase engagement and reduce problem behaviors

19. CEC Middle College of Denver Denver School of the Arts Denver Center for International Studies (DCIS) George Washington International Baccalaureate John F. Kennedy Middle Years and International Baccalaureate Program TJ Computer Magnet Center for Communication Technology at TJ Kunsmiller Creative Arts Academy Magnet Schools/Programs

20. CEC Middle College of Denve r 21 career programs

21. CEC Middle College Career Education Center Middle College of Denver (CEC) is dedicated to career exploration and college readiness. Students divide the day between academic classes and real-life career experiences. Juniors and seniors get a head-start on college, taking classes and earning full college credit on the Auraria campus.

22. CEC Middle College Open House o Thursday November 8 th from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. o Come and find out about the 21career programs and how the middle college program works. See actual demonstrations, talk to teachers and sample fantastic food. Application Process: o Application o Teacher recommendations o Attendance and academic record o Mandatory parent meeting o Student interview Application Deadlines: o December 7 th school specific application o + January 31 st School of Choice form

23. Denver School of the Arts

24. Denver School of the Arts is the only comprehensive secondary arts magnet in the Rocky Mountain region, offering grades 6 through 12. In addition to a challenging and rigorous academic program, students engage in intensive studies in 10 arts-focus areas. The school community of faculty, staff and students strive to achieve an exceptional level of performance resulting in outstanding post- secondary placements, test scores and personal fulfillment. Majors: Piano, Theatre, Visual Arts, Video Cinema, Vocal Music, Stagecraft and Design, Guitar, Band, Orchestra, Dance, Creative Writing,

25. Denver School of the Arts Visitation Mornings o November 1, 5, 8, and 13 from 7:35– 9:00 a.m. o A chance to learn about the different majors, tour the school and visit with DSA Administration. Application Process: o Online application o Mandatory parent pre-audition meeting o Student interview Application Deadline: o November 19 th (noon) school specific application o + January 31 st School of Choice form

26. Denver Center for International Studies (DCIS)

27. DCIS, offering grades 6 through 12, focuses on international studies and offers five world languages. Students actively participate in local and global service-learning, leadership and travel programs, preparing to be college-ready and globally competent. DCIS is proud of its high graduation and college going rates.

28. Denver Center for International Studies (DCIS) School Tours / Open House o Morning Tours: Every Wednesday from 8:00 – 9:15 a.m. from now until the end of November o Evening Tours: November 6 th or 13 th from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. RSVP to Iris Alarcon at iris_alarcon@dpsk12.org Application Process: o Application o Teacher recommendations o Attendance and academic record o Student essay o Student Interview Application Deadline: o December 7 th school specific application o + January 31 st School of Choice form

29. George Washington International Baccalaureate (Special magnet program within GW)

30. George Washington International Baccalaureate Are you looking for a rigorous and rewarding high school experience? The International Baccalaureate diploma program at George Washington offers a globally focused liberal arts education for motivated and ambitious students. Students are immersed in six academic subjects and must participate in extra curricular activities. Students apply for admission into pre-IB in grade 9 and are selected by test scores, recommendations and academic records.

31. George Washington International Baccalaureate Information Meetings o November 7 and December 4 at 6:30 in the GW auditorium Application Process: o Application o Teacher recommendations o Attendance and academic record o Student questions/essay o Student Testing o Student Interview Application Deadline: o December 20 th school specific application o + January 31 st School of Choice form

32. The Center for Communication Technology Magnet (Special magnet program within TJ) Where creativity is our focus, technology is our tool, and communication is our goal.

33. The Center for Communication Technology Magnet The four-year, comprehensive Center for Communication Technology at Thomas Jefferson High School offers industry-standard training in Web Applications, Software Engineering, 3D Design, Robotics, and Broadcast/Broadband Journalism and Communications. The Center for Communication Technology gives students the opportunity to enhance their computer, technical and problem-solving skills as well as their oral, written and visual communication abilities.

34. The Center for Communication Technology Magnet Open House o October 23 and November 27 from 6:00 – 8:30 p.m. Application Process: o Online application at tjcomputermagnet.com o Student essay o Teacher recommendations Application Deadline: o January 11 th school specific application o + January 31 st School of Choice form

36. Kunsmiller Creative Arts Academy Kunsmiller Creative Arts Academy is a K-12 educational environment that provides learning based on documented research that active learning, experiential investigation, and integrated arts are vital for the development of higher level thinking and of enthusiastic engagement inherent in lifelong learning.

37. Kunsmiller Creative Arts Academy Tours o Tuesday and Thursday by appointment, call Marie Sanchez at 720-423-0218 Application Process: Student “Intent to Enroll” application form due by January 8 th 2 Teacher recommendations Attend Mandatory Essay Night on either January 9 th or January 10 th and complete student essay Student Interview 1 artifact to share in student interview (work sample, art sample, etc.) Application Deadline: o January 8 th school specific application o +January 31 st School of Choice form

38. Please write the Magnet Schools you want to apply to on the paper provided.

39. HS Exploration Next steps? Attend the MS and HS EXPO o Tuesday October 23 rd from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at the Infinity Park Event Center, located at 4400 E. Kentucky Ave. Glendale, CO 80246 Attend a district-wide Regional EXPO o Saturday December 8 th from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. at the following locations: Far Northeast - Evie Dennic Campus (4800 Tellurd St.) Southeast – South High School (1700 E Louisiana Ave.) Southwest – Kepner Middle School (911 S. Hazel Ct.) Near Northeast - Bruce Randolph (2960 N. Speer Blvd.) Attend an Open House or take a school tour Continue using the enrollment guides, school websites, and http://schoolmatch.dpsk12.org to research school optionshttp://schoolmatch.dpsk12.org

40. HS Application Next Steps? Locate your home school If you are unsure about your home school o Rank order your other options (from 1 to 5) o Complete the School of Choice form by January 31 st o Complete any other special application requirements by the required deadline