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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. 

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Five DSST Students earn Full-Ride Questbridge Scholarships

A single scholarship can change the entire course of a student’s life. Doors open, opportunities arise and futures shine a little brighter when...

DSST alum moves on to run organization that focuses on giving all students critical networking stills and more

DSST is built on a foundation of educational equity, something which alumni and former DSST teacher Nicholas Kukucka has worked to incorporate into...

Announcing the launch of Aurora’s first DSST high school

A note from DSST CEO, Bill Kurtz

Dr. Martin Luther King and the 'critical' promise of democracy

A note from Dr. Aaron J. Griffen, VP of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., over the course of the last decade or...

Top 10 DSST highlights from 2021

We made it! As we begin the new year, we’re reflecting on the numerous high points and bright spots seen across our network and our larger...

It takes a village: How the Cole Fire-Ball came together to showcase musicians in all 7 grades

Music is more than just knowing how to sing or play an instrument. Music is knowing how to book a tour, how to unload equipment and set up for a show...

More than Christmas: Learn about some of the other holidays celebrated this time of year

A note from Dr. Aaron J. Griffen, VP of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion, Ash Gelb, Manager of Diversity Equity and Inclusion, and Mercedes Blea-Davis,...

First DSST parent elected to DPS Board shares his perspective

Scott Esserman is the first DSST parent elected to the Denver Public School Board of Education. His son attends DSST: Montview Middle School. 

How one Montview senior turned years of hard work into major cross county success

You are the starting line waiting for the gun to go off. There are butterflies in your stomach. All those years of hard work have led to this moment....

Standing in solidarity with our trans and nonbinary community for Transgender Awareness Week

A note from Dr. Aaron J. Griffen, VP of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

Native American Heritage Month: A brief look at the history of Native Americans and how you can honor the culture

November is National Native American Heritage Month. The DSST Diversity, Equity and Inclusion team put together some information to help inform...

Small Steps, Big Impact: One DSST parent’s advocacy story

When you get involved with DSST as a parent or community member, your steps may be small — but your collective impact is big.

What Veterans Day means to these DSST veterans

A note from Dr. Aaron J. Griffen, VP of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

A look into the history of Veterans Day and the forgotten veterans of the Korean War

A note from Dr. Aaron J. Griffen, VP of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

From student to coach: How an unexpected opportunity put 23-year-old Socorro Sandoval in a position to lead a team, make an impact at DSST: MTV

The gym doors shut with a loud thud. Three stray high schoolers sauntered in and gravitated toward the basketballs in the bleachers.

DSST middle and high schools rank among top in the state

The U.S. News and World Report has released its list for the top middle schools in Colorado. According to the report, U.S. News analyzed 102,610...

How one DSST family helped their school open its doors

Larry Maynard and his family were excited when they heard in 2018 that a DSST school could be opening in their Aurora community. So they attended...

Food pantry started by Cole High School community approved for $10K grant

A small idea started in the fall of 2020 to help serve families struggling at the height of the pandemic has blossomed into something that has...

Thank you school directors! Honoring our school leaders for National Principal's Month

It takes a lot of hard work and team effort to keep a school running smoothly. At the helm of that effort are our school directors. October is...

'We are drowning, we are struggling, but we are here': a post by Mother, educator Rosita Mallo

It is 10:03 p.m. on a Tuesday evening, and while I should be in bed making sure I am well enough to go back to work tomorrow after being sick for the...

DSST Celebrates! Hispanic Heritage Month

DSST is celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month! We are excited to share a video series with you, led by DSST Manager of Diversity and Belonging Mercedes...

Community Engagement: A DSST Priority

At DSST we believe our role as educators is to prepare our students for what they need in the future - to have the courage to design and implement an...

Words Beyond Walls: a New Initiative at Cole

This post was written by Megan Casimir, a social worker at DSST: Cole and founder of Words Beyond Walls.

DSST: Conservatory Green Students Bring Core Values to Life

Nyjah Munn, an 8th grader at DSST: Conservatory Green Middle School, noticed another student during their first week of school. Ivory Corona-Sanchez...

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

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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.

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