Original Research by School Decision on Marvin W Foote Youth Services
Marvin W Foote Youth Services, located in Centennial, Colorado, is an alternative school serving grades five through twelve. It is part of the Cherry Creek School District No. 5, one of the largest and most well-resourced districts in the state. The school’s name and its designation as an alternative school signal a setting for students whose educational needs may be better met outside a traditional comprehensive school environment—often students who are credit-recovery, at-risk, or require a more individualized approach.
The school is very small, with a total enrollment that puts it among the smallest in the district for its grade band. The student body is concentrated in the higher grades, with the majority in eleventh and twelfth, and a handful in seventh through tenth. No students are enrolled in fifth or sixth grade despite the listed grade span. The demographic composition is diverse: Black and Hispanic students together make up a clear majority of the student body, with White students also represented, and a small share of multiracial and Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander students. About half of the students come from households that qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a share that is higher than the district’s overall rate and reflects the alternative program’s purpose of serving students who may face economic challenges.
State testing data in math, English language arts, and science are all suppressed—no proficiency rates, participation rates, or scale scores are reported. This is not unusual for a school with a very small tested population, and alternative schools often have students who do not take standard assessments for a variety of reasons, so the absence of that data should not be read as a measure of performance or lack thereof. A graduation rate is likewise not available in the data provided, nor are statistics on chronic absenteeism, discipline, or staffing. A parent considering this school would want to ask the school directly about its academic outcomes, graduation pathways, and what student support services are in place, as the public data gives no picture of these.
Centennial is a large suburban city south of Denver, developed mostly after the mid-20th century, with a mix of residential subdivisions and commercial corridors. It has no traditional downtown; shopping and civic activity are scattered along major roads like East Arapahoe Road and near Interstate 25. The area is home to several corporate headquarters and large retail centers, and the housing market in the zip codes that serve the school is well above both state and national averages. Rents are also high relative to incomes, making the area expensive for families. Because the school serves a relatively small and specific population, its catchment area may draw from across the Cherry Creek district rather than a single neighborhood, so the housing context may matter less for enrollment than the district’s broader policies.
Marvin W Foote Youth Services is not a school that a typical family would choose by comparing test scores or graduation rates. It is a specialized placement that serves students who have been referred or selected for an alternative setting. The data available paints a picture of a very small, upper-grades-focused alternative program within a well-regarded district, but leaves many questions unanswered about academics, climate, and outcomes. Families whose children have been recommended for such a program will want to visit, talk to staff, and understand the specific supports and expectations before making a decision.
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