Denver Public Schools - Manual Renewal

Manual Renewal Process

Renewal Process Overview

In February 2006, the Denver Public School Board made the difficult decision to close Manual High School for one year. This decision was made due to low academic achievement, declining enrollment, high attrition rates, and lack of available resources for students. The Board felt that starting over was the only way to offer future students from the Manual neighborhood an excellent high school that prepared them for college and future career success.

After the closing, district administration and the School Board made clear that its top priority is to ensure that all former Manual students make a successful transition into their new high schools. You can read about the ongoing efforts to support former Manual students by clicking on the Supporting Manual Students link to the left. The district and Board also committed to work in partnership with the community to conduct a thorough and authentic community engagement effort to solicit ideas for an ideal neighborhood school.

The district is working with the community to reopen Manual High School as a 'premier' school, which reflects the needs and priorities of the northeast Denver community and enhances the broader educational landscape of DPS. An Advisory Committee of community leaders is overseeing this process and chose a group of Manual Renewal Team members to help lead and manage this renewal process.

The renewal work is grounded in a Manual Community Council, a 32-member volunteer committee of various representatives of the Manual community including students, parents, alumni, teachers, educators, business leaders, faith, and other community members. This Council was charged with gathering community input and research based best practices to help:

Create a shared vision for a high-performing high school that serves the Manual community;
Identify the qualities and preferred attributes of the new school leadership and staff; and,
Articulate the elements/principles of a school program that is aligned with the Denver Plan.

The Council's Final Report (presented to the School Board at the November 2006 Board Meeting) Can Be Viewed Here:

» Council's Final Report [pdf]

The Council's Final Report to the community can be viewed here:

» Council's Final Report [pdf]

In May 2006, DPS published an RFQ to solicit proposals from interested contractors to help lead and manage the community renewal process for the redesign of Manual High School. The district plans to design a new 'premier' high school that reflects the needs and priorities of the northeast Denver community and enhances the broader education landscape of DPS. The Manual Advisory Committee has selected a team to lead and manage the community renewal process for the new school. More information about the selected team can be viewed in the July 18th News Release. For questions about the project, contact Tim Harp at 720-423-6441/ Timothy_Harp@dpsk12.org.

» Download the RFQ for the Manual High School Renewal Project [pdf]