Unformatted Attachment Preview
District Disparities:
Denver, CO
EDS 112
Adrianne Calibuso, Hasan Ismail, Siting Liu, Areej Sekeb,
Maysam Sekeb, Reanne Zheng
Denver
●
Urbanized city with a
population of 704,621
(2017 census)
Littleton
●
Suburban district bordering
downtown Denver, with a
population of 47,734 (2017
census)
Cherry Creek
●
Suburban residential district
not bordering Denver, with
a population of 11,120
(2018 census)
Population Statistics: Percentage of Population
Between the Ages of 18 and 65
68.4%
63.3%
60.8%
Racial Demographics
Denver
●
●
●
●
●
●
White (22.6%)
African American (13.8%)
Native Americans (0.6%)
Asian/Pacific Islander (3.5%)
Hispanic/Latino (56.1%)
Other (3.4%)
Littleton
●
●
●
●
●
●
White (80.6%)
African American (2.3%)
Native Americans (0.8%)
Asian/Pacific Islander (2.1%)
Hispanic/Latino (12.4%)
Other (1.8%)
Cherry Creek
●
●
●
●
●
●
White (76.1%)
African American (2.3%)
Native Americans (0.3%)
Asian/Pacific Islander (10.2%)
Hispanic/Latino (9.3%)
Other (1.8%)
Economic Demographics: Percentage of
Population Living in Poverty
15.1%
7.5%
5.4%
Degree Attainment: Percentage of Population
with a Bachelor’s Degree or Higher
69.3%
46.5%
47.3%
Student Breakdown: Elementary, Middle, Secondary
Denver
●
●
●
●
Total: 86,887
Elementary School:
41,729
Middle School:
19,977
Secondary School:
25,181
Littleton
●
●
●
●
Total: 14,728
Elementary
School: 6,139
Middle School: 3,403
Secondary School: 5,186
Cherry Creek
●
●
●
●
***Majority of
the parents are
well educated
and pave the
same path for
their children
Total: 52,819
Elementary
School: 22,903
Middle School: 12,594
Secondary School: 17,322
Number of Schools in Each District
Denver: 230
Cherry Creek: 66
Littleton: 21
Racial Demographics Within Each School District
Denver
Cherry Creek
Littleton
Percentage of
Free/Reduced Lunch
Students
71.7%
Denver ~ As of the year 2014, the
percentage of students that qualified
for reduced or free lunch was 71.7%
Littleton ~ As of the year 2014, the
percentage of students that qualified
for reduced or free lunch was 18.8%
Cherry Creek ~ As of the year 2018,
the percentage of students that had a
reduced or free lunch was a low 29%
29%
18.8%
Graduation Rates (2018)
90.3%
70.2%
89.5%
Percentage of English-Learners
37%
12.7%
4.8%
Denver Public Schools
●
●
●
Denver Public Schools is one of the fastest
growing Urban Schools district in the nation
where the amount of students enrolled in this
district between 2013-2014 is 87,398 students
The number of English Language Learners in
Denver has increased 57% since 2000. By 2012,
approximately 30,000 Denver Public School
students were English language learners
Since 2008, the number of third graders
proficient or above in reading has increased 47
percent in Denver Public Schools.
Denver Public Schools: Pros and Cons !
●
●
●
●
Unlike Littleton and Cherry Creek Public Schools Districts,
Denver has a majority of latino students.
Also unlike Littleton and Cherry Creek School Districts,
Denver has the lowest high school graduation rate where it
averages out to 70% compared to 90.3% for Littleton.
Denver has the largest working community compared to
Littleton and Cherry Creek Public Schools Districts
Denver has the largest English Language Learner community
Cherry Creek
●
Cherry Creek stood out as being one of the richest
districts in Denver, Colorado.
●
It had an exceptionally high graduation rate that is
comparable only to Littleton!
●
Cherry Creek is also home to one of the lowest
percentage of English Learners being only 12%
●
Although the majority of the district is white, the
students as a whole were successful across the board
and it was shown through their high test scores.
Cherry Creek
●
●
●
●
●
The similarities between Cherry Creek and Littleton
were hard to miss.
Both are known to be more on the wealthy side and
it is apparent in their education.
Both Districts had an exceptionally high graduation
rate with an almost non existent poverty level
especially in comparison to Denver.
Since those areas are labeled as “rich” then they
receive more school funding which improves the
quality of education.
That proves one of the biggest issues of education
which is the higher funding and focus on wealthier
districts while neglecting the lesser privileged
districts thus limiting the students in those areas!
Cherry Creek
FUN FACTS !!!
●
Schools have some elaborate lunch menus such as chicken tacos
and teriyaki chicken with noodles as early as elementary school !
●
The average salary for a school teacher in Cherry Creek is
$61,000+ making it one of the highest paying districts
●
That higher pay translates into better education for the students.
●
The biggest high school in the district, Cherry Creek High School
is home to 3,499 Students.
●
Although there is about 53% of white students in the district,
there is still a 12.7% of English Learners in the district that the
district must make special accommodations for.
Littleton
●
●
The only Denver metropolitan area school
district that is “Accredited with Distinction”
by the Colorado Department of Education.
○ One of the few schools in the area to
keep this distinction since the beginning
of the rating system as well.
Littleton Public Schools students perform at
high levels, scoring 13 to 21 percentage points
higher at the proficient and advanced levels
than the state average in all grades and all
subjects tested.
○ Typically scores 16 percentage points
above the state average.
Littleton
●
●
●
Highly comparable to Cherry Creek Schools, as both
districts have majority white students at their
schools and are typically more well-funded.
Also highly comparable to Cherry Creek Schools is
the graduation rate from high school, with an
average of ~91% of students graduating from high
school in Littleton Public Schools particularly.
Denver in general has small class sizes with more
intimate student-teacher ratios on average; in all of
Colorado, it is 17:1, and in Littleton, it is 18:1.
○ With smaller classroom sizes comes more
teacher-student one-to-one interaction, which
can eventually help foster more growth in
students academically, especially in those who
are dependent on school to survive.
10pts. Written Individual Analysis. 3-4 pages Each student must write an explanation of
how the data relates to the differences and similarities between the three districts. Students can
use the data from the power point to write an independent analysis describing the similarities and
differences between the three districts and rationalizing why student outcomes vary across the
districts. Students should use 2-3 sources from the class or peer-reviewed outside sources.
______/3 Correct paper formatting: Title, name, page numbers, double-spaced, limited spelling
and grammar errors
______/2 SIMILARITIES. Describe similar student demographics, parental demographics,
neighborhood characteristics, and/ or academic outcomes between two/ three of the districts.
What factors may have contributed to these similarities? (For example- Think about the reasons
why people do and don’t choose urban spaces; district sizes, districts’ finances, family and
community economics, possible types of capital in the district)
______/2 DIFFERENCES. Describe different student academic outcomes between districts. What
factors may have contributed to these differences? (For example- Think about the reasons why
people do and don’t choose urban spaces; district sizes, districts’ finances, family and
community economics, possible types of capital in the district)
______/ 2 STRATEGIES. Based on your knowledge of the districts, and different strategies to
create greater educational equity for low-income students of color, what (1-2) changes can the
central urban district make to improve student outcomes?
______/ 1 SOURCES. Use of 2-3 sources. In text citations: (Last Names, date). Reference page