Press Release
March 12, 2008
West High School Receives $77,000 School Innovation Grant
School Will Use Funds to Become a New Math, Science and Tech Magnet School
West High School, a Denver Public Schools (DPS) high school, recently received a $77,000 School Innovation Grant. West High School plans to use the money, in collaboration with Emily Griffith Opportunity School, to develop a comprehensive three-year plan to become a magnet high school with a focus on Math, Engineering, Technology, Arts, and Science (METAS).
The METAS program will be based on the nationally renowned concept of STEM (Science, Technology, and Engineering Math). The concept of STEM is based on a common-sense approach to education that includes student choice, applied learning, and character education. There are fewer than 200 STEM high schools in the United States.
“We are proud of the work that West is doing,” said DPS Superintendent Michael Bennet. “The METAS program is increasing the number of options available to high school students in Denver and giving them what they want and need - instruction and skills in their field of interest as well as a seamless transition into higher education and the workforce.”
“West is developing four small ‘Thematic Academies’ that fall under the areas of engineering, technology, arts, and science,” said West High School Principal Pat Sanchez. “Each of these areas will directly align with one of the colleges of study at Emily Griffith.”
Incoming freshmen at West High School will choose a major area of focus that aligns to their personal strengths and vision and will be able to pursue that vision by selecting a sequence of electives for the entire time they spend in high school.
West High School will leverage its local partnerships with organizations like Denver Health, University of Colorado-Denver (UCD), Community College of Denver (CCD), and the Santa Fe Arts District to offer students internships as well as the opportunity to find jobs while they are still in high school and after they graduate.
The West High School academies will align to a college of study at Emily Griffith, CCD, or UCD for a complete grade nine through sixteen plan, which is inclusive of four years of college. Emily Griffith will provide instructors for the METAS program.
“We have known for years that people learn 90 percent of what they know by doing. Now, in collaboration with West High School, we plan to leverage this concept to help West students become invested in their own education through individual choice and applied academics,” remarked Les Lindauer, Executive Director of Emily Griffith Opportunity School.
“We are very excited about our partnership with West. In years past, many of the apprenticeship classes from Emily Griffith were held in the evenings at West. We have re-established this partnership and are looking at how to maximize our shared space at West, and serve student goals at the same time,” finished Lindauer.
The School Innovation Grant is a planning grant that will result in the completion of a Beacon/School Innovation implementation proposal. DPS awards these types of grants to schools that are showing promise as a catalyst to accelerate school reform efforts. The first year of the grant, 2008-2009, will be a planning year for METAS in which school officials will visit other similar programs across the country. The ninth grade core academy will be available to students starting in fall 2008.
The goal of West High School is simple and challenging: to stimulate the intellect, humanity and character of all students by helping them to implement their own plan based on their own strengths.
“The days of forcing students to choose between college or career education are archaic; ourstudents need both skill sets in today’s global society. We believe that this program will serve as a launch pad for students to not just get accepted to college, but to excel in college both academically and financially,” commented Sanchez.
West High School has begun to see improvement on Colorado Student Assessment Program (CSAP) scores and is beginning to close the achievement gap of students of Hispanic or Latino heritage. Approximately 97 percent of West students are of Hispanic or Latino heritage, and 85 percent qualify for the free or reduced lunch program.
“We have made significant strides in re-engaging the community and changing the culture and climate to become more student and parent oriented,” finished Sanchez.
For more information on this or other programs at West High School, contact the school at 720-423-5300 or visit http://west.dpsk12.org/.