Officials on Tuesday broke ground on a high school in north Stapleton that eventually could serve 2,400 students who will all funnel into an International Baccalaureate program.
A few blocks away, educators are putting final touches on preparations for a new elementary and middle school that will open next month.
The Stapleton neighborhood is the fastest-growing in Denver, with Denver Public Schools forecasting 6,800 new residential units in Stapleton by 2018, meaning about 1,900 new students.
In the near northeast region, defined to include Stapleton, the district expects to be serving 2,419 new students by 2018.
Northfield High School, as it’s being called until it’s officially named, was paid for through the 2012 bond approved by Denver voters.
It is expected to open to about 325 ninth-graders in August 2015, growing by one grade level per year.
The 2012 dollars will fund only one phase of the project, and officials said another bond may be required in 2016 to build out the campus for full capacity.
The school will guarantee seats for neighborhood students wishing to attend but is designed to be a regional school drawing students from across the city for its International Baccalaureate program.
The school will be one of three high schools in the district to offer the advanced curriculum but will be different because the curriculum will be used for all juniors and seniors.
“This is an inclusive school where we really build community,” said principal Avi Tropper. “Every single student is part of this community.”
At other high schools, students must choose to be part of the IB classes and apply for admission into the program.
Even honors classes will be inclusive, said Tropper, who envisions every teacher in every class being able to provide advanced course work to students who need it or are interested.
The school also will provide opportunities for college credit through academic pathways, or concentrations, in areas such as engineering, computer science and creative writing.
“The idea is we’re offering opportunities for choice,” Tropper said. “There are lots of opportunities for different pathways for academic success.”
Yesenia Robles: 303-954-1372, yrobles @denverpost.com or twitter.com/yeseniarobles
