Denver Public Schools Superintendent Jerry Wartgow and Mayor John Hickenlooper will hold a news conference at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 7 at West High School, 951 Elati St.

Superintendent Wartgow and Mayor Hickenlooper will announce a shared goal of boosting citywide attendance on the first day of school, which is Monday, Aug. 18 for most students in Denver.

Other speakers include Mary Romero, Colfax Elementary School Principal; and Aaron Gray, Denver Public Schools Community Relations Director.

Some middle schools will start with sixth-graders only on the first day; some high schools start with ninth-graders only.

Monday, July 28 was the first day of school for students attending the following 19 elementary schools on a continuous year calendar: Amesse, Barrett, Bryant-Webster, Cheltenham, Colfax, Columbian, Del Pueblo, Eagleton, Fairmont, Ford, Harrington, Johnson, Maxwell, McGlone, Mitchell, Smedley, Smith, Valdez and Wyman elementary schools.

Contact the Public Information Office with questions, 720-423-3414.