Dora Moore ECE-8 school is one of three that would be partially closed under Denver superintendent Alex Marrero's recommended plan, meaning it would lose its middle school grades.
Five elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school would close if the Denver school board accepts a recommendation made by Superintendent Alex Marrero Thursday meant to address declining enrollment in Denver Public Schools.
Three other schools would be partially closed, meaning they would serve fewer grades.
The school board is expected to vote on the recommendation on Nov. 21. If the board votes yes, the 10 schools would close or partially close at the end of the school year.
The seven schools that would be closed are:
- Castro Elementary
- Columbian Elementary
- Denver School of Innovation and Sustainable Design
- International Academy of Denver at Harrington
- Palmer Elementary
- Schmitt Elementary
- West Middle School
The three schools that would be partially closed are:
- Kunsmiller Creative Arts Academy, which would lose its elementary school grades.
- Dora Moore ECE-8 school, which would lose its middle school grades.
- Denver Center for International Studies, which would lose its high school grades.
The partial school closures do not require a vote by the school board. Marrero has the authority to reconfigure a school without approval from the board.
The closures would eliminate nearly 4,000 vacant seats and save the district $29.9 million dollars, according to a district presentation. Since Denver funds its schools per-student, most of that money — $23.3 million — would follow students to their new schools. The district’s net savings would be $6.6 million in the 2025-26 school year.
Enrollment in Denver Public Schools peaked in 2019 and steadily declined in 2020, 2021, and 2022. In 2023, an influx of migrant students boosted the numbers. That increase has held this year, but district officials said it’s not enough to stave off school closures. They predict enrollment will fall another 9% between now and the 2028-29 school year.
The school board first acknowledged the need to close schools due to declining enrollment in 2021. But previous attempts were rejected by the board amid calls for more robust community engagement. The board eventually voted to close three small schools in the spring of 2023, while implying that more closures were coming. Earlier this year, board members passed a new school closure policy called Executive Limitation 18.
