Established in October of 2023, the Black Student Success Team (BSS) aims to significantly advance Black student academic achievement and foster a culture of Black Excellence within Denver Public Schools by providing professional learning to a cohort of schools, cultivating community partnerships, and scaling research-based best practices across the district.

Our students come to us WHOLE and eager with gifts of brilliance and rich experiences that deserve to be honored in their learning environment(s). It is our collective responsibility to build systems that develop, reinforce, and hold each other accountable to asset-based mindsets and practices. By empowering the learning lab schools, we will prioritize and implement strategies that promote Black student intellectual engagement and achievement. We will actualize our commitment from the Black Excellence Resolution and be equitable by design. We will co-create joyful experiences where the excellence of our Black students shine and their brilliance knows no bounds. 

The Black Student Success Team honors the past by grounding our work in the history and experiences of Black educators, students, and families, as well as the Dr. Bailey Report and the Black Excellence Resolution, continuing the work of the visionary pioneers who came before us.

Recently, the Black Student Success (BSS) Director, Michael Atkins, and Team have been actively visiting the BSS Learning Lab Schools for Instructional Rounds, including Lowry Elementary School and Columbine Elementary School. During these visits, we engaged in meaningful conversations with staff and students about fostering joy in the classroom.

A core part of the BSS Purpose Statement is to “co-create joyful experiences where the excellence of our Black students shines and their brilliance knows no bounds.” In alignment with the BSS Purpose Statement, BSS asked educators how they cultivate joy in their classrooms and invited students to share what brings them joy at school. View this video to hear their thoughtful responses!

In fall 2023, five schools were selected to participate in the inaugural cohort based on their Black student enrollment rates, academic achievement and growth on assessments, and the school leader’s commitment to participating in the cohort. Our inaugural cohort of learning lab schools for the 2024-25 school year are: 

• Columbine Elementary

• Green Valley Elementary

• Joe Shoemaker School

• Lowry Elementary

• Oakland Elementary

Our cohort of Learning Lab Schools will receive ongoing professional learning opportunities throughout the 2024-25 and 2025-26 school years focused on culturally sustaining early literacy instruction.

Our Learning Lab schools are supported by a Core Change Team which includes representatives from DPS Academics, Office of Schools, School Transformation, Mental Health, and Special Education. Our key partners include the University of Virginia-PLE and the University of Denver.