At DSST Public Schools, we believe that who you will become is just as important as what you will accomplish. That's why we focus on character development and rigorous academics in equal measure. So our graduates are ready to become the best versions of themselves — in college, careers and in life.
Why is Juneteenth an important day?
Emancipation Day, also known as Juneteenth, is a day of remembrance, reflection and celebration for the Black community. Juneteenth is celebrated to...
Pride month is about more than just rainbows and parades
A post by Ash Gelb, Manager of Diversity Equity and Inclusion.
June is a thrilling month for the LGBTQIA community and their allies, filled with...
DSST alums share how DSST impacted them, give life advice to seniors
Our DSST alumni are out doing some pretty incredible things. As part of our sendoff to seniors, we asked a few of them to share some life advice....
Cole-chella, Wolfstock showcase creativity thriving in students at Cole and College View
Musicians, artists, tie-dye and more! The end-of-year events at DSST: Cole and DSST: College View showcased the creative spirit thriving at each...
Introducing the newest members of DSST's Senior Leadership Team
As we near the end of the 2021-22 school year, I am excited to share some updates about DSST’s leadership team. As many...
How to support students and families who are part of the foster care system
National Foster Care Awareness Month is a way to acknowledge foster parents, family members, volunteers, mentors, policymakers, child welfare...
Celebrating DSST’s Class of 2022
Last week DSST celebrated six graduations: DSST: Byers, DSST: Green Valley Ranch, DSST: Montview, DSST: Conservatory Green, DSST: College View and...
4 DSST teachers honored by Denver Broncos, Colorado Avalanches as MVTs
We know DSST is filled with top-tier teachers who love our students and want the best for their education and life, but it is always nice when others...
Magnificent May: Here are all the reasons to celebrate this month
The Month of May is a MAGNIFICIENT time for new beginnings, renewal and togetherness. Spring is arriving and the rain that is present provides our...
That's a wrap: A look back at Senior Signing Day 2022!
Thursday, April 28 we celebrated the Class of 2022 with over 5,000 DSST students, staff, parents and community members. The morning was filled with...
Senior Highlight: CG senior shares how DSST helped him find the right path
DSST: Conservatory Green senior CJ Jones plans to join the US Navy. We sat down to ask him about his time at DSST, his goal to make a career in the...
Neurodiversity: The diversity we don’t see
The diversity spectrum is farther reaching than any definition that meets the eye. Diversity is inclusive of multiple intersecting identities...
Senior Highlight: Byers Senior Rana Abdellatif is using her voice to make an impact in her community
DSST: Byers Senior Rana Abdellatif is a true leader and advocate! We sat down to ask her a few questions about her time at DSST, her role as a young...
Welcome, Danielle Felder: DSST's new Chief External Affairs Officer
A note from DSST CEO Bill Kurtz:
2022 Ariel Berryman scholarship winner, Sarah Portillo-Enriquez, hopes to one day pave the way for other women of color
Jim and Teresa Berryman launched the Ariel Berryman Memorial Scholarship Fund after the passing of their daughter, Ariel. Ariel’s passion for helping...
Spring Break recap: Here are some of the exciting experiences our students had over the break
Last week was Spring break for all of our campuses in Denver. From a trip to Spain to a leadership conference, here are some of the highlights from...
What you need to know about Ramadan, how you can support students, staff and families
A note from Dr. Aaron J. Griffen, VP of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion, Alana Raybon, School Director at DSST: Noel, and Rana Abdellatif, Student at...
Senior Highlight: College View classmates, friends talk about why they are proud of each other
DSST: College View seniors Leslie Cesta and Marissa Montoya are classmates, teammates and friends. We sat down to ask them a few questions about...
Reimagining Refuge and the Meaning of Being a 'Refugee'
A note from Dr. Aaron J. Griffen, VP of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion
Senior Highlight: 3 Cole 'Legacy Dragons' share their plans for the future
DSST: Cole seniors Arianna Silva, Kenneth Hurd, and Abraham Cabello grew up on the Cole campus. We sat down to ask them a few questions about their...
Senior Highlight: GVR senior shares how she found a love for software engineering, what graduation means to her as an older sibling
DSST: Green Valley Ranch senior Doryanna Aldava had a great role model in her older sister, and now it's her turn to be a role model to her younger...
DSST: College View getting new home soccer field in huge win for community
DSST: College View has been trying to get a home soccer field since 2013, and after years of work and advocating for the campus, it was approved by...
Senior Highlight: Montview senior shares his journey to acceptance at Cornell University
DSST: Montview senior Kidus Legesse had a 6.3% chance of getting into Cornell University. Despite the odds, he's going to be attending on a full ride...
Junior from DSST: Byers shares her perspective on International Women's Day conference
A post by Donna Williams-Martinez, junior at DSST: Byers
Strength of character is the true measure of success.
Year after year, our schools are rated as the top middle and high schools in Denver. And our students stand out because our culture and shared values. A strong, supportive community gives students the confidence to take the lead -- their studies, athletics and activities, and personal passions. And the strength of character they develop sets them up for lifelong happiness and success.
Our Core Values

We commit to create a welcoming, values-driven environment for anyone that enters our school in order to create a vibrant and inclusive DSST Community. Every individual has their own unique set of personal values. Living a values-driven life is an ongoing journey for staff, students and families at DSST and beyond. DSST was founded on six Core Values, which create common agreements to develop a strong, healthy community. Staff and students agree to live out these Core Values for the purpose of creating a stronger community and sense of belonging. Healthy communities support individuals to become the best version of themselves in order to contribute to the human story. We create shared commitments, aligned to the following Core Values to create strong DSST communities which help us achieve our mission:

Respect
We appreciate each person and their story through our words, actions, and attitudes. We value their unique perspective and treat others with dignity.

Responsibility
We acknowledge that our actions and choices impact ourselves and our community. We take ownership for what we do and how we choose to do it.

INTEGRITY
We act and speak with honesty, fairness, and thoughtfulness. We consistently align our words and actions.

COURAGE
We possess the confidence and resolve to take risks, push ourselves, and persevere in the face of pressure, adversity or unfamiliar circumstances.

CURIOSITY
We are eager to learn, question, and explore. We have a thirst for knowledge, a love of investigation, and a desire to learn about ourselves, our community, and our world.

DOING YOUR BEST
We put our best effort into everything we do. We know that individual and collective effort are required for our community to thrive.