The top reported proficiency rate is 14% in English language arts. The lowest is 8% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Strive Prep - Kepner
STRIVE Prep - Kepner is a closed charter school in Denver that served middle school grades. The school is no longer operating, so any family seeking a middle school option in this part of the city will need to look at other schools. The data available here offers a picture of what the school was like in its final year of operation.
The school was a regular public charter school within Denver Public Schools, located in the southwest Denver neighborhood near the intersection of South Hazel Court and West Yale Avenue. As a charter, it operated with some autonomy from the district while remaining part of the Denver Public Schools system. The school was designated as a regular school, not an alternative or special-purpose institution, so its student body would have reflected the general enrollment patterns of its attendance zone or choice lottery.
During the 2022-23 school year, the school participated in Colorado state assessments for math, English language arts, and science. The proficiency rates for all students tested were well below the state average. In math, roughly one in every thirteen students scored at the proficient or advanced level. In English language arts, about one in seven students met that bar. In eighth-grade science, approximately one in nine students reached proficiency. These figures place academic performance at this school in a range that many families would want to investigate further. The participation rate for math was high, but the ELA participation rate was somewhat lower, which is a detail worth noting but not one that changes the overall picture of low student attainment.
Enrollment and demographic data for the school were not available, including total enrollment, free or reduced-price lunch eligibility, race and ethnicity breakdowns, special education status, and English learner status. Without this information, it is not possible to describe the peer environment or the level of support provided to different student groups. The school environment data, including discipline rates, course access, staffing ratios, and attendance, were also missing. This absence of context makes it difficult to assess what kind of day-to-day experience students had at the school or what programs were offered beyond the core academic subjects.
Because STRIVE Prep - Kepner served only middle grades, it had no graduation rate to report and no data on high school outcomes. Similarly, information about course offerings, such as advanced coursework or electives, was not available.
The school's location in Denver means families considering the area have access to the full range of Denver Public Schools options, as well as other charter schools. Denver Public Schools has recently made several changes that prospective families should be aware of. Voters approved a large bond measure in 2024 for facility improvements and new school construction across the district. The district also shifted to a unified enrollment system for the 2024-25 school year, which changed how families apply to and select schools. Additionally, a district-wide literacy curriculum shift began in the 2023-24 school year, adopting evidence-based reading instruction in elementary grades. These changes affect all DPS schools, including any future middle school choices a family might make.
The main takeaway for a parent or resident reading this is that STRIVE Prep - Kepner is closed. When it was operating, it served middle school grades as a charter and produced very low state assessment scores in all three tested subjects. The absence of demographic, program, and environment data means the full picture of the school's identity remains incomplete. For families now looking for a middle school in southwest Denver, the school's closure itself is the primary fact to act on.
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