Teaching in Denver
Our Students and Schools
Denver Teaching Fellows work throughout the city, in any of our partner schools that need for dedicated educators to teach critical shortage subjects. While many work in Denver Public Schools, some Fellows obtain positions in affiliated charter schools with similarly high-need student populations.
Denver Public Schools (DPS) serves more than 80,000 students, with the majority (72%) eligible for free or reduced-price lunch. The district is also diverse: 58% of students are Hispanic; 20% are white; 15% are black; 3% are Asian; 3% are multi-racial and 1% are American Indian. Over 30% of Denver students are English language learners and 40% are native Spanish speakers. Working with such a diverse and high-need population brings rewards and challenges, but Fellows hold high expectations for students and themselves, ensuring that all students get the support they need to succeed in school. Click here to watch videos of Denver Teaching Fellows in their classrooms.
A Focus on Teacher Effectiveness and Student Growth
As a Denver Teaching Fellow, you will be working in a district that is deeply committed to its mission: to provide all students the opportunity to achieve the knowledge and skills necessary to become contributing citizens in our society. We know that the quality of the teacher in front of the classroom plays a greater role in whether or not that goal is realized than any other in-school factor.
Over the past few years, DPS has embraced the challenge of transforming outcomes in the city’s chronically low-performing schools by ensuring that there is an effective teacher in every classroom. DPS launched Denver Teaching Fellows in 2007—bringing new teacher talent into schools that had long struggled to attract and retain great teachers—retention rates for Denver Teaching Fellows are higher than both the state and national urban average teacher retention rates.
Our schools are beginning to see significant results. Since 2005, DPS has shown more academic growth on state assessments than any other major school district in Colorado and has reduced its drop-out rate by one third. Student enrollment has steadily increased and teachers are increasingly supported by progressive district programs which offer the development opportunities teachers need to put students on track for success in school and beyond. While much work remains, things are clearly headed in the right direction, and Fellows will continue to play a key role ensuring all students have access to great teachers and the excellent education they deserve.
Living in Denver
Located at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, Denver is centrally located and enjoys over 300 days of sun per year. The nearby mountains have made tourism one of the city’s economic mainstays. With a lower cost of living compared to most major U.S. cities, exceptional healthcare, public transportation expansion plans, and an array of cultural and recreational attractions, Denver is one of the nation’s truly one of America's most-livable cities. Its outstanding restaurants, championship sports teams, top-ranked educational institutions and reputation for offering an ideal blend of urban and outdoor living make Denver a great home for young professionals and families alike. By making a long-term commitment to teach in this exceptional city, Fellows will influence students’ lives in their classroom every day while making a positive contribution to the Denver community for years to come.
For more information about living and working in Denver, please visit the following websites: