District profile / Colorado
Denver Public Schools
90,471
Students
2024-25 school year
198
Schools
2024-25 school year
$13,804
Spending per student
FY2020-21 · 18% above the Colorado median
15.1
Students per teacher
2024-25 · Colorado median 15.7
Denver Public Schools is a public school district based in Denver, Colorado, serving 90,471 students in 198 schools. By enrollment it ranks #1 of the 68 Colorado districts with 1,000 or more students, making it the largest in the state. Its schools average 457 students each, more than the Colorado median of 399. It spends about $13,804 per student on day-to-day operations, 18% more than the Colorado median. It has roughly 15.1 students per teacher. We've matched 41 news stories to the district.
How Denver compares
DenverColorado median, districts with 1,000+ students
Spending and staffing
Where the money comes from$1.62 billion in revenue · FY2020-21
Federal 12%State 15%Local 73%
| Measure | Denver | Colorado median | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Current spending per student | $13,804 | $11,673 | FY2020-21 |
| Instruction spending per student | $6,472 | $6,347 | FY2020-21 |
| Total spending | $1.59 billion | n/a | FY2020-21 |
| Total revenue | $1.62 billion | n/a | FY2020-21 |
| Teachers (full-time equivalent) | 6,006 | n/a | 2024-25 |
| Total staff (full-time equivalent) | 15,012 | n/a | 2024-25 |
| Students per teacher | 15.1 | 15.7 | 2024-25 |
| Students per counselor | 455 | 257 | 2024-25 |
Spending: NCES school district finance survey (F-33), FY2020-21. Staffing and enrollment: NCES Common Core of Data, 2024-25. Via the Urban Institute Education Data Portal. The Colorado median compares districts with 1,000 or more students.
Leadership
Moves tracker →In the news
41 stories matchedTeaching & learning
Denver Public Schools piloting new gym class, brings together students with and without disabilities
Teaching & learning
The destination was their art: DPS students get special trip through DIA
Teaching & learning
Denver to close Robert F. Smith STEAM Academy, a tiny HBCU-style high school, after 6 years
Leadership
Denver superintendent says he is not recommending any school boundary changes this year
Infrastructure
Facing an enrollment drop, Denver superintendent says school closures could be coming
Budget & finance
Emily Griffith and Denver Public Schools buy Centennial Hall for $11 million in Denver
Leadership
Denver schools’ leadership needs a reckoning | Jimmy Sengenberger
Leadership
Denver school board censures Monica Hunter after investigation into alleged antisemitic language
Leadership
Report: Allegations that Denver school board member used antisemitic language are ‘she said, he said’
Leadership
Denver school board votes to censure vice president over alleged antisemitic remarks, lawyer's report inconclusive
Leadership
Denver school board censures Monica Hunter over allegations of antisemitism, conflict of interest
Budget & finance
Voter guide 2026: Denver Public Schools Ballot Issue 4A would pay for employee raises, career education
Teaching & learning
Denver Public Schools-owned Balarat Outdoor Education evacuated due to Dry Creek fire
Budget & finance
Denver Ballot Issue 4A asks voters to approve $44 million mill levy override for DPS
Leadership
Denver school board gives investigators just one week to look into antisemitism allegation
Leadership
DJ Torres resigns from Denver school board amid escalating tension and accusations
Leadership
Denver school board approves agreement with outside law firm that could cost up to $1,000 an hour
Leadership
Denver school board authorizes investigation into alleged use of antisemitic language
Leadership
Documents reveal details about Denver school board antisemitic language allegations
Leadership
Two Denver school board members accused of policy violations call for an independent investigation
Leadership
Denver school board discusses alleged use of antisemitic language, other accusations
Leadership
Denver school board president accuses members of policy violations, including antisemitic language
Budget & finance
Emily Griffith Technical College to buy $11 million building for move out of DPS headquarters
Policy & legislation
Four Denver schools are safe from closure under a new district policy because they boosted their ratings
Leadership
Denver Superintendent Alex Marrero reveals his favorite DPS school on first day of class
Teaching & learning
Denver’s test scores are up, but not high enough to meet all of the superintendent’s strategic plan goals
Leadership
At retreat, Denver school board members discuss trust, agenda setting, ‘convoluted’ governance framework
Leadership
Denver school board hires outside law firm to represent it in superintendent contract, employment matters
Budget & finance
Denver voters will consider $44 million tax increase to raise school employee pay, fund student services
Policy & legislation
Education Department investigates Denver Public Schools over teacher accused of making students kiss
Peer districts in Colorado
Compare side by side →| District | Students | Schools | Spending per student | Students per teacher | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denver Public SchoolsDenver · this district | 90,471 | 198 | $13,804 | 15.1 | #1 |
| Jeffco Public SchoolsGolden | 73,532 | 144 | $11,419 | 16.7 | #2 |
| Douglas County School District No. Re 1Castle Rock | 61,243 | 88 | $10,792 | 17.4 | #3 |
| Cherry Creek School District No. 5Greenwood Village | 51,980 | 69 | $12,711 | 16.2 | #4 |
| Aurora Public SchoolsAurora | 38,702 | 58 | $14,853 | 16.6 | #5 |
Similar-size districts nationally
| District | Students | Spending per student | Students per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| DeKalb CountyStone Mountain, GA | 91,752 | $13,668 | 13.6 |
| Prince William County Public SchoolsManassas, VA | 90,242 | $13,020 | 15.2 |
| Pinellas County SchoolsLargo, FL | 87,876 | $11,039 | 15.9 |
| Fulton CountyAtlanta, GA | 87,019 | $12,506 | 14.1 |
Peers are the districts closest in enrollment, so they can still differ in many other ways. Enrollment, school counts and phone numbers are from the NCES Common Core of Data, 2024-25.
Printed from Superintendent's Corner: https://superintendentscorner.com/district-co-denver-public-schools