The top reported proficiency rate is 33% in English language arts. The lowest is 17% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Dsst: Montview Middle School
DSST: Montview Middle School is a charter school serving sixth through eighth grade within Denver Public Schools. It operates as a regular public school under a charter, meaning it has its own governance while remaining part of the district. The school is located in Denver, a major city and state capital that anchors a large metropolitan area with a diverse economy spanning telecommunications, aviation, health care, and government. Housing costs in Denver are high relative to national benchmarks, reflecting the region’s sustained population growth and demand.
The student body is moderately sized for a middle school and economically diverse, with a large share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price meals. The population is majority non-white, with Black and Hispanic students each making up a substantial portion, along with smaller shares of white, Asian, and multi-racial students. Information on the share of students with individualized education programs or English learner status was not available in the data reviewed.
On state assessments administered in the most recent school year, DSST: Montview Middle School’s proficiency rates were well below the state average in math, English language arts, and science. In math, about a quarter of students scored at or above the proficient level. In English language arts, roughly a third of students reached proficiency. Science proficiency was notably lower. When placed alongside other Denver County districts, the school’s overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades landed in the bottom quarter. These are significant soft spots that a family considering the school would want to explore further with Montview’s staff, particularly regarding instructional approaches, intervention programs, and how the school supports students who are not yet meeting benchmarks.
The school does not serve high school grades, so there is no graduation rate to report. Data on chronic absenteeism, discipline, staffing ratios, and course access were also absent from the available records. Families may wish to ask the school directly about discipline practices, teacher experience, and the range of academic and enrichment offerings.
The district has made several recent changes that could affect the school. In November 2024, Denver voters approved a large bond measure for facility improvements, safety upgrades, and new construction across the district. A mill levy override passed in 2022 to increase teacher pay and expand mental health services. The district also adopted a new literacy curriculum aligned with the science of reading starting in the 2023-2024 school year and launched a unified enrollment system beginning in 2024-2025, changing how families apply to schools. These initiatives may influence resources and programming at Montview.
DSST: Montview Middle School presents a picture of a charter middle school in a large, economically dynamic city, serving a diverse and predominantly low-income student body. Its academic results are a clear area of concern relative to other districts in the county, and the school’s data gaps leave several questions about the learning environment unanswered. For a family who values the charter model and wants to understand how the school addresses academic challenges, a direct conversation with the school about its curriculum, intervention strategies, and support systems would be essential before making a decision.
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