8 th Grade PEP

1. 8th 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 totraditional 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 a homeschool and/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 may require additional application steps, 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 • Location: How will you be getting to school on a daily basis? Who will drive you? Will you take RTD? • Extracurricular activities: Do the extracurricular activities offered at this school match your interests and hobbies? • 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? • 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. Locationby region • 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 • Northwest • CEC Middle College • Girls Athletic Leadership School • North • STRIVE Prep – Highland • West Generation Academy • West Leadership 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) • East High School • DSST Green Valley Ranch • DSST Stapleton • Green (meets expectations) • Career Education Center Middle College (CEC) • Denver Center for International Studies (DCIS) • South • Denver School of the Arts (DSA) • George Washington (GW) • Martin Luther King Jr. Early College (MLK) • High Tech Early College • KIPP Denver Collegiate • STRIVE Prep –SMART Academy • Girls Athletic Leadership School

10. Overall SPF Ratings • Yellow (watch/approaching) • North • West Leadership Academy • Denver Online • Abraham Lincoln • Kunsmiller Creative Arts Academy (KCAA) • John F. Kennedy (JFK) • Thomas Jefferson (TJ) • Noel Community Arts • Vista Academy • Emily Griffith High School • Sims-Fayola International Academy • Orange (priority on watch) • Bruce Randolph • Southwest Early College • Collegiate Prep Academy

11. Overall SPF Ratings • Red (not meeting expectations) • Contemporary Learning Academy (CLA) • West Generation Academy • Florence Crittenton • Manual • Denver Center for 21st Century Learning at Wyman (DC-21) • PREP Academy • Venture Prep • Summit Academy • PUSH Academy • Rocky Mountain School of Expeditionary Learning • EscuelaTlatelolco • Denver Justice • ACE Community Challenge

12. Graduation Rates • 90% or above • Denver Center for International Studies (DCIS) • Denver School of the Arts (DSA) • Martin Luther King Jr. Early College (MLK) • 80% or above • CEC Middle College • East • Bruce Randolph • George Washington • DSST – Stapleton • 70% or above • John F. Kennedy • Thomas Jefferson • 60% or above • Abraham Lincoln • Manual • North • South

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

14. On the next page of the website, you will be asked to select the school categories and features that 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. Magnet Schools/Programs • CEC Middle College of Denver • Denver School of the Arts • Denver Center for International Studies (DCIS) • George Washington International Baccalaureate • Center for Communication Technology at TJ • Kunsmiller Creative Arts Academy • NEW: • DSA, GW IB, and TJ’s Center for Communication Technology are the only schools who select their students based on student’s audition and/or application. • All other magnet schools are now a part of the School of Choice lottery process. However, these schools may still require additional enrollment steps, such as participating in a mandatory orientation or completing an intent to enroll form.

19. CEC Middle College of Denver 21 career programs

20. 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.

21. CEC Middle College • Open House • Thursday November 7thfrom 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. • 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: • CEC Information Form • 3 Teacher recommendations • Attendance and academic record • Mandatory parent meeting • Student interview • Application Deadlines: • January 31st CEC Information Form • + January 31st School of Choice form

22. Denver School of the Arts

23. Denver School of the Arts • 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,

24. Denver School of the Arts • Visitation Mornings • November 1st, 4th, 8th, and 14thfrom 7:35– 9:00 a.m. • A chance to learn about the different majors, tour the school and visit with DSA Administration. • Application Process: • Online application • Mandatory pre-audition parent meeting • Student interview • Audition • Application Deadline: • November 22nd(noon) school specific online application • + January 31st School of Choice form

25. Denver Center for International Studies (DCIS)

26. Denver Center for International Studies (DCIS) • 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.

27. Denver Center for International Studies (DCIS) • School Tours / Open House • Morning Tours: Every Wednesday from 9:30 – 10:15a.m. • Evening Tours: November 6th or 20thfrom 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. RSVP to Iris Alarcon atiris_alarcon@dpsk12.org • Application Process: • Select DCIS (+language community preference) on School of Choice form (e.g. 1st choice - DCIS Chinese; 2nd choice – DCIS Japanese; etc.) • Once selected through choice process: • Mandatory orientation on Tuesday March 11th • Student interview with faculty to review interests, needs, strengths, etc. • Application Deadline: • January 31st School of Choice form

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

29. 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.

30. George Washington International Baccalaureate • Information Meetings • November 14th and December 3rd from 6:30 – 8:00 in the GW auditorium • Application Process: • Application • Teacher recommendations • Attendance and academic record • Student questions/essay • Student Interview • Application Deadline: • December 13th school specific application • + January 31st School of Choice form

31. 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.

32. 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.

33. The Center for Communication Technology Magnet • Open House • October 22nd and December 3rd from 6:00 – 8:30 p.m. • Application Process: • Online application at tjcomputermagnet.com • Student essay • Teacher recommendations • Application Deadline: • January 10th school specific application • + January 31st School of Choice form

35. 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.

36. Kunsmiller Creative Arts Academy • Tours • Fridays at 9:00 am. Call Main Office at 720-423-0200 to schedule your tour. • Application Process: • Mandatory Enrollment Night on either January 22nd or 23rdat 6:00 pm. During this event, you will be asked to: • Complete a student essay • Complete a student interview • Bring 1 artifact to share (e.g. work sample, art sample, etc.) • 2 Teacher recommendations • Application Deadline: • January 31st “Intent to Enroll” application form • +January 31st School of Choice form

37. Next steps? • Attend the MS and HS EXPO • Attend an Open House or take a school tour • Continue using the enrollment guides, school websites, and http://schoolmatch.dpsk12.org to research school options • If you are happy with your home school, select this as your 1st choice on the Choice form. • If you are unsure about your home school… • Rank order your other options (from 1 to 5) • Complete the School of Choice form by January 31st • Complete any other special application stepsby the required deadline

38. Please rank order the schools you are interested in attending on the handout provided.