The top reported proficiency rate is 21% in English language arts. The lowest is 11% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Kipp Sunshine Peak Academy
KIPP Sunshine Peak Academy is a charter middle school in Denver, serving grades five through eight. It is part of Denver Public Schools, and its charter status means it operates with its own governance and enrollment policies under the district's umbrella. The school is located at 375 South Tejon Street, in a southern part of the city. Denver is a major state capital and commercial hub, with an economy that includes telecommunications, aerospace, health care, and a significant tourism sector, and the school sits within that dense urban context.
The student body is almost entirely Hispanic, and a substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. The school's enrollment is moderate for a middle school, with a noticeable jump in size between fifth and eighth grade, indicating that the school adds students as the grades progress.
Academically, the state testing results present a clear picture. In math, across all tested grades, the share of students reaching proficiency on the Colorado Measures of Academic Success was low. In English language arts, the proficiency rate was also low but somewhat higher than in math. Science results, available for the tested grades of five and eight, showed a similar pattern: a low proficiency rate for fifth graders and an even lower one for eighth graders. Participation rates on the assessments were high, so the results reflect nearly the whole student body. Overall proficiency, averaged across all tested subjects and grades, places the school in the bottom quartile relative to other Denver County districts. A parent looking at these numbers will see that the school is working with students who, as a group, are far below grade-level benchmarks in core subjects.
Several data points common to school profiles are absent here. Information on students receiving special education services or English learner support was not available in this set. There is no data on chronic absenteeism or graduation rates, which is expected for a school that only serves middle grades and does not have a high school program. No program offerings were listed, so the breadth of electives, advanced coursework, or extracurricular pathways is not described in this profile. No staffing or class size data was provided.
Families navigating the larger Denver Public Schools system should be aware of recent changes. Voters in the district approved a major bond measure for facility improvements and new construction, and a separate mill levy override has supported teacher pay and mental health resources. The district also moved to a unified enrollment system for school choice and has adopted a new literacy curriculum based on the science of reading.
For a family considering KIPP Sunshine Peak Academy, the choice is shaped by what you are looking for in a middle school. The school serves a predominantly low-income, Hispanic student population in a Denver charter setting. Its academic results on state exams are low, and a parent will want to understand the school's approach to bringing students to grade level. The charter model may offer a specific instructional focus or school culture, but the available data does not detail what that is. This is a school where a family would want to talk directly with the staff about academic support, the curriculum, and how the school measures progress for children who start behind.
See more original research from School Decision →