The reported proficiency rate for Math is 5%.
Original Research by School Decision on Summit Academy
Summit Academy is an alternative school in Denver Public Schools serving grades six through twelve. It sits within Denver, a major consolidated city-county that functions as the principal commercial, industrial, and transportation hub for the Rocky Mountain West. The city has a dense downtown core with government offices and cultural institutions, extensive residential neighborhoods, and a large university presence. Denver has experienced sustained population growth over recent decades, and its housing market reflects that demand: home values in the zip code where the school is located are above the state median but have shown a modest decline recently, while rents are near the state median. The typical mortgage payment in the area would be substantially higher than the typical rent, a dynamic that shapes who can afford to buy versus rent. Families considering a move to this part of Denver should be aware that housing costs are not low.
The district, Denver Public Schools, has made several recent changes that directly affect how families interact with the school system. Starting in the 2024-2025 school year, the district moved to a unified enrollment system, consolidating school choice processes and changing how families apply to and select schools. In November 2024, voters approved a bond measure described as the largest in district history, funding facility improvements, safety upgrades, technology, and new school construction. A district-wide literacy curriculum shift began in the 2023-2024 school year, adopting evidence-based reading instruction aligned with the science of reading across elementary grades. And in 2022, voters approved a mill levy override to increase teacher pay and support mental health services. These changes signal a district in active transition around enrollment, literacy instruction, and facilities investment.
Summit Academy serves a small enrollment. The student body is overwhelmingly Hispanic, with a very small number of students identifying as white, Black, Asian, or American Indian or Alaska Native. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. Data on the share of students with individualized education programs or identified as English learners was not available.
The school is classified as an alternative school, which is a designation that often means it serves students who have not been successful in traditional school settings. This context is essential for understanding the school's academic performance. On the state math assessment, proficiency was very low, and the school placed in the bottom quartile among the small number of schools in Denver County for which data was reported. The English language arts and science proficiency rates were suppressed in state reporting, which often happens when the number of students tested or proficient is very small. The average scale scores on those tests were also low. A parent looking at these numbers should understand that Summit Academy serves a population that typically enters far below grade level, and the academic attainment measured by state tests reflects that reality. Graduation rate data was not available.
Program offerings and course access data were not reported, so it is unclear what pathways the school offers in terms of career and technical education, dual credit, or Advanced Placement. The school environment data, including discipline rates, staffing ratios, and attendance, was also missing. A family considering this school would want to ask directly about what academic and support services are available, what the school's approach is to re-engaging students who have struggled in other settings, and what post-graduation pathways students typically pursue. There is no charter or magnet designation; it is a traditional public school within the district's alternative education portfolio.
Summit Academy is a small, alternative school serving a predominantly Hispanic and low-income student population in a large, growing urban district. Its academic outcomes on state tests are very low, which is consistent with its mission of serving students who have not found success in conventional settings. The district is in the midst of several major operational changes around enrollment, literacy instruction, and facility investment. A family weighing this school should tour it and speak with staff about the specific supports in place, the school's approach to credit recovery or academic acceleration, and what the typical experience looks like for students who graduate or transition out. The raw state test numbers alone do not capture the full picture of what this school offers, but they do indicate that the academic starting point for most students is far below grade level.
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