School’s out forever at Castro Elementary
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DENVER — Kindergarteners through fifth graders walked out of Castro Elementary School for the last time Tuesday after an early dismissal, kicking off their summer vacation under gray, cloudy skies.
The somber weather matched the bittersweet ending to the school year.
After more than 30 years of welcoming students in Denver’s Westwood neighborhood, Castro Elementary is closed.
Castro Elementary is one of 10 schools that closed or partially closed this year after the Denver Public Schools board approved superintendent Alex Marrero’s closure recommendations in November.
Marrero recommended the closures based on low enrollment and declining birth rates in the city. Schools are funded on a per-student basis, meaning schools with fewer students receive less money.
“I think I'm so upset with this decision because my children and I live in that area. I went to that school when it was first built. It's a community, and that school is in the heart of the neighborhood,” said Castro parent Maria Rodriguez.
Rodriguez has four children who graduated from Castro Elementary and two — her kindergartener and fifth grader — who attended this school year.
Despite being located in one of the youngest neighborhoods in Denver, enrollment at Castro Elementary had been declining.
Castro Elementary served about 240 students this school year, less than half the number of students who attended 10 years ago.
This decline in enrollment could be due to an oversaturation of schools in the area. There are 15 elementary schools — three of them charter schools — within two miles of Castro Elementary. When the student population is spread out across several campuses, enrollment at each school is lessened.
The other schools that closed at the end of this school year are Columbian Elementary, Palmer Elementary, Schmitt Elementary, the International Academy of Denver at Harrington, West Middle School and the Denver School of Innovation and Sustainable Design.
DCIS Baker 6-12, Dora Moore ECE-8 School and Kunsmiller Creative Arts Academy will restructure and serve fewer grade levels next year.
DPS promised students at closing schools highest priority in the SchoolChoice application process, in which students apply to attend schools outside of their assigned zone.
These students were also guaranteed spots at specified schools in their “enrollment zone.” Former Castro Elementary students are guaranteed a spot at Knapp Elementary or Charles M. Schenck Community School.
Summit Academy, a Denver Public Schools-run “pathways school” for sixth through 12th graders, will move into the Castro Elementary building over the summer and open in time for the upcoming school year.
Designed for students who are not on track to graduate at other campuses, DPS pathways schools offer credit recovery programs, more career and technical education courses and smaller class sizes.
Summit Academy currently operates out of a converted office building, so the campus has no athletic facilities for students to use.
Although older students will be using the campus starting next year, Andrew Huber, executive director of enrollment and campus planning at DPS, said the playground at Castro Elementary will not be removed and will still be accessible for community use.
Type of story: News
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
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