Original Research by School Decision on Escalante-biggs Academy
Escalante-Biggs Academy is an early childhood school in Denver that serves only pre-kindergarten and kindergarten students. Because the school does not include any tested grades, there are no state assessment results to report, and there is no graduation rate to consider. This is not a gap in the school's performance; it simply reflects that Colorado's standardized testing begins in third grade. For the same reason, the comparison to other Denver County districts on measures like proficiency and chronic absenteeism cannot be calculated.
The school enrolls a large group of students, the majority of whom are in pre-kindergarten. A substantial share of families qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, which gives a clear picture of the community's economic circumstances. The student body is predominantly Hispanic, with a meaningful share of Black students and smaller groups of Asian, white, multiracial, and Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander students. Data on students with disabilities and English learners were not available in the source material.
Escalante-Biggs Academy is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet. It operates as part of the Denver Public Schools district, which has undergone several recent shifts that families may want to consider. In the 2023-2024 school year, the district adopted a new literacy curriculum for elementary grades based on the science of reading, which would affect kindergarten instruction. Starting in the 2024-2025 school year, Denver Public Schools introduced a unified enrollment system that changes how families apply to and select schools. Voters also approved a substantial bond measure in 2024 for facility improvements and new construction across the district, as well as a mill levy override in 2022 to increase teacher pay and expand mental health services.
The school is located in the Denver area, a major consolidated city-county and state capital that serves as a transportation, commercial, and industrial hub for the Rocky Mountain West. The economy includes telecommunications, aerospace, software, financial services, health care, and tourism, with several Fortune firms headquartered in the city. The downtown area holds the State Capitol, the Denver Performing Arts Complex, and other cultural institutions, while the city's more than many parks and its bicycle network provide recreation. The metropolitan area has grown substantially over recent decades, spreading into the foothills to the west and across the high plains to the east. Housing values in the school's zip code have seen a modest decline in the past year, while rents have risen, consistent with broader national trends in shelter costs.
For a parent evaluating Escalante-Biggs Academy, the key takeaway is that this is a dedicated early childhood school within a large urban district. Because it serves only the youngest students, there is no test-based academic data to judge. Families should look into what the pre-kindergarten and kindergarten programs offer directly from the school. The district's literacy curriculum change and unified enrollment system are relevant details for anyone navigating school choice. The high share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch signals that the school serves a predominantly lower-income population, which may come with additional supports or federal programming. The lack of available data on special education and English learner services means a parent may want to ask the school directly about those resources.
See more original research from School Decision →