DSST: Cole Middle and High School

Grades

• 6-12

From the School - Sponsored

DSST: Cole Middle and High School is a public, tuition-free, STEM-focused charter school located in Denver’s historic Cole neighborhood. Our Core Values, respect, responsibility, integrity, curiosity, courage and doing your best, are foundational to all we do.

We believe that by holding our students to a high standard, and through offering them high support, they will thrive academically. Our small school setting allows teachers and students to develop and nurture close relationships to create an inclusive, strong community and a culture where every student is valued for who they are and their successes.

Close, caring relationships are at the heart of our approach and our school culture intentionally fosters strong relationships. We prepare students for college, with an emphasis on developing students through liberal arts learning (reading, writing, mathematics, and science). Students succeed through classroom environments that are structured for success with clear academic and behavioral expectations, and flourish in our many extracurricular activities and athletic programs. Ultimately our goal is to ensure that our students are prepared for college, career and life.

Highlights of our STEM Program
Starting in 6th grade, all students engage in a variety of courses in STEM & Creative Core, including music, and integrated computer science & engineering. Starting in 9th grade, students have additional options in the three specialty areas at DSST: Cole High School.

· In high school, in addition to our specialty areas, each student has the option to pursue additional AP courses, including: AP Calculus, AP Chemistry, AP Biology, and AP US History.

· We have a robust offering of clubs within the school day that students opt-into and meet weekly.

· Our school building has a brand new makerspace for students to use computer-aided design and fabrication tools through high-resolution 3D printers and laser cutters.

Athletics
DSST provides a program that fosters participation and enjoyment of interscholastic team competition, as well as non-competitive fitness activities. The athletic program emphasizes high level skill and strategies, teamwork, good sportsmanship, school spirit, character building and fun. The goal is to provide each student with a sense of affiliation, motivation, and accomplishment by balancing a challenging experience with support and encouragement. The athletic program is an integral part of DSST’s curriculum and emphasizes living the school’s Core Values. In middle school basketball, flag football, soccer, volleyball and cheer are offered.

DSST: Cole High School offers a co-ed Ultimate Frisbee team and has a partnership with Manual High School to offer football, volleyball, soccer, basketball, baseball, track and field and cheer.

Professional Internships
In the 11th grade year, all DSST students participate in a 10-week long internship. The intention of the internship program is to give students an opportunity to explore different career paths and apply the learning they’ve done in classes to a real-world job. Each school has an Internship Coordinator, who is responsible for finding organizations and matching them with student interns based on the student’s interest. Students have been placed at organizations like the Denver Zoo, Atlas Physical Therapy, Mike Johnston for Colorado, and Teach for America, among others