Ever since I started at Boulder High, people have constantly asked me two questions: “Do you really drive 30 miles to get here?” and “Why did you leave your local district school?” I usually say Boulder’s school system offers opportunities I wasn’t getting in Denver. However, as an outsider, I exist in a kind of limbo between these two cities, which makes me want people in Boulder to better understand the Denver School of Science and Technology (DSST) school system.
During my time at BHS, I was surprised to see so many differences between here and my old school. One of the biggest differences was security. DSST didn’t have any visible security personnel. Another difference was Boulder High’s open campus. You can easily leave campus and go almost anywhere in Boulder, even with time limits during longer classes and shortened lunch periods.
However, there were different disciplinary techniques at DSST. For example, DSST used a rubric based on six core values that students were expected to follow: courage, respect, integrity, curiosity, responsibility, and doing their best. There was a point system that could be used to gain prizes, with demerits to act as punishment and rewards for following these ideas, which are usually considered Level 1 in the disciplinary framework, as well as fines for damaging school computers, school property, etc. (Level 2). However, these were not the only forms of punishment; there were detention forms that were supposed to be filled out, the bigger the offense, the longer they are, which fall between the first two.
Whereas the punishment system here at Boulder High is substantially different, the responses for the lower-level punishments are not as structured as in DSST. There are many different options for discipline depending on the situation; however, interestingly enough, some of the possibilities are very similar to DSST punishment, such as written reflections and loss of privileges. An explanation for this is that DSST is, in fact, a charter system. What is significant about this characteristic is two things: they do not have to follow the policies of the actual DPS district, and they don’t get a representative from the district to monitor their school; they have more autonomy on their rules and regulations, while receiving the same funding. Whereas Boulder High is, in fact, a standard public school, part of the district. However, according to Christopher Smith, our assistant principal who has worked in DPS, “the protocols are, by and large, slight differences, but basically similar.”
Other differences between the two include the relationship between the school and the community in DSST and Boulder. DSST has always seemed to be closed off to everyone. Towards the end of the day, they would always rush to close the doors on everyone, students, the public, etc. There was even a time limit for how long a person could wait for their family on campus. Whereas in Boulder, spaces are much more lenient and open to the public; just beyond the volleyball court, people can enter and exit the outer campus anytime they please; students, Boulderites, etc.
Another difference is diversity and religious accommodation. The current majority percentage of the people in the DSST system is Hispanic at a rate of 37.4%, with 24.1% for African American students, and 28.4% for White students, as well as 4.7% Asian and 5.1% mixed race. And based on my experience there, that is fairly accurate. The DSST program was more accommodating for different ethnic and religious groups in the demographic; the biggest example would be the prayer room. In DSST, there was a prayer room available for those who would like to pray, with accommodations made for students in their classes during Islamic events such as Ramadan.
The final difference worth mentioning is the Parent Advisory Committee. Similar to our Parent Teacher Association, but substantially smaller. This is the result of a key difference in the socioeconomic structure between Boulder and Denver. In Boulder, which is essentially a small town, the worth of the average house in Boulder is over 1.1 million dollars, with 24% having a value of over 1 million, and 31% between 500 thousand and 1 million, according to the Boulder census report. Whereas in Denver, the average housing value is 636,440 dollars, with 47% between 500 thousand and 1 million, and only 11% above 1 million. This would indicate that people in Boulder tend to be able to afford more and and, on average, have less time-consuming jobs and more time to invest in their child’s education, whereas in Denver it is the opposite. Therefore, there would not be as many parents capable of investing as much time in their child’s education, which explains the difference between Boulder High’s PTA and DSST’s PAC. Also, it explains why I have to drive 30 miles every day to get here, because finding an affordable space to rent in Boulder is seriously difficult.
So now you understand the major differences between this school and DSST. One of the best things about DSST is the fact that it is more acclimated to different cultures and peoples. It allows the many different ethnic communities in Denver to learn and grow together, and to get a decent education. So now that you know everything that I discussed, maybe it is a good lens to reflect on and see the best things about Boulder. It can also be a model, a form of inspiration, for example, a prayer room in Boulder High might be a good idea. Whatever the case, I hope that you learned something worthwhile.
