The top reported proficiency rate is 39% in English language arts. The lowest is 22% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Dsst: Conservatory Green Middle School
DSST: Conservatory Green Middle School is a public charter school serving sixth through eighth grade in Denver. It operates as a regular school within School District No. 1, Denver Public Schools, and families apply through the district’s school choice process. The school is one campus in the broader DSST network, though its specific design and curriculum are a matter of the school’s own charter.
Enrollment runs to several hundred students, with a roughly even split across the three grade levels. The student body is majority Hispanic, with a substantial Black share and smaller numbers of white, Asian, and multiracial students. A large majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, indicating a predominantly low-income population. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available in the state reporting. The school does not serve high school grades, so there is no graduation rate to report.
On state assessments, student proficiency rates provide a mixed picture. In English language arts, something under half of students reached the proficient or advanced level, a result that is below a majority but higher than the school’s math and science outcomes. In math, about one in five students met proficiency, and in eighth-grade science, roughly one in five did as well. Participation rates on all tests were high, above nine in ten for math and ELA and above eight in ten for science. Compared with other districts in Denver County—the available benchmark—the school’s overall proficiency index fell below the midpoint. A parent may want to ask the school directly about trends in these scores, how they align with the school’s instructional approach, and what supports are in place for students who are not yet at grade level.
The school is located in Denver, a large consolidated city-county and state capital that functions as the economic and transportation hub of the Rocky Mountain region. Denver’s major employers span telecommunications, aerospace, software, financial services, health care, and government, and the city hosts professional sports teams and multiple cultural institutions. The broader metropolitan area has grown steadily over decades, spreading into the foothills and onto the high plains. Housing costs in the zip code around the school are above the national median, and both home values and rents have declined modestly in the most recent twelve-month period. Rents currently make up a significant share of typical area income.
Denver Public Schools has undergone several system-wide changes recently. In 2024, voters approved the largest bond in district history, funding facility upgrades, safety improvements, technology, and new construction. A literacy curriculum shift aligned with the science of reading was rolled out beginning in the 2023-2024 school year. And for the 2024-2025 school year, the district adopted a unified enrollment system, consolidating how families apply to schools across the district. As a charter school, DSST: Conservatory Green has its own governance and may implement its own instructional choices; the district-level literacy shift might not dictate what happens in its classrooms. Families should confirm which of these district initiatives directly affect this school.
No information was available on discipline rates, staffing ratios, chronic absenteeism, or course offerings such as advanced, arts, or career programs. A parent interested in those elements would need to consult the school directly or look for additional public reporting.
For a family considering this school, the key takeaway is a diverse, urban charter middle school serving a high-poverty population, with state test results that are below the midpoint of local districts and with particular room for growth in math and science. The school sits in a large city with many economic and cultural resources and within a district that is investing heavily in infrastructure and literacy. Parents who value a charter environment and a student body that reflects the city’s demographics may find this a reasonable option, while those looking for stronger academic proficiency data may want to explore further.
See more original research from School Decision →