How Denver North High School Became One of the Best

Denver North High School, one of the original four high schools in the city, is experiencing a renaissance. In a recent poll, Colorado Biz named North the best high school in Denver, even above Denver East and Cherry Creek High School. 

Once plagued by a revolving door of principals and the looming threat of closure, North has doubled its enrollment in the last decade and now boasts a 93% graduation rate—the third highest in Denver. This Title One school, which remains predominantly Hispanic in a rapidly gentrifying neighborhood, has become a beacon of inclusive education.

In the past few decades, North has had a negative reputation. “The principal wasn’t the type of authority that was needed in our school,” wrote a former North student about the school’s leadership on niche.com in 2013. “She didn’t know how to handle certain things, and she would let certain things go so her reputation wouldn’t be on the line.” 

Rebecca Caldwell, the head of marketing and communications, alum, and mother of two North High students, was candid about North’s past struggles. “There was definitely a dark period,” Caldwell said. “The main issue is that we had seven principles in ten years at one point. The foundation of any good school is solid leadership.” 

In 2013, Excel High School, under the leadership of Rocky Mountain Prep (formerly STRIVE Prep), opened in the same building as North High. Some believe that Denver Public Schools planned to close North during this time due to a decrease in enrollment. However, Excel High was short-lived, shutting its doors in 2019. 

“Honestly, they couldn’t compete with us,” Caldwell said. “The kids just wanted to come over here. We had all the fun stuff: sports, more class options, extracurriculars. They just had the four basic classes and maybe one elective.” 

Though North Denver/Highland has traditionally been a predominantly Hispanic community, Census data show that in the last decade, the Highland neighborhood has decreased from 37% Hispanic or Latino to 16%. Despite the widespread gentrification of Denver, particularly North Denver, North High enrollment has steadily increased over the last decade. 

As the community recognized this shift, they sought to make sure the school would remain a neighborhood school. “Even though many families are having to move out of the area because they just can’t afford it anymore, they’re choosing to stay here at North,” Caldwell said. “Students build connections and immerse in our programs and don’t want to leave their friends.”

With solid leadership, the implementation of inclusive programs accessible to all students, and Excel High shutting its doors in 2019, North High was on the up and up. Despite the demographic shift of the community to more white and affluent families, the student body of North High remains predominantly Hispanic. According to a U.S. News educational assessment of North High, the total minority enrollment is roughly 78%, and 64% of students are economically disadvantaged. 

Despite being a Title One school, North’s 93% graduation rate demonstrates how well their students are supported, as low-income student graduation rates are often lower nationally since students frequently have more responsibilities than more affluent students. 

The school also has multiple guidance counselors, college counselors and a transitional counselor who starts working with seniors who are planning on attending a community college and continues to counsel them throughout their first year of college. Their office can be found in the library, the biggest library in all of Denver Public Schools, where students are found socializing and doing work during the day. 

North also offers a program called Career Connect Pathways (CTE) that provides relevant courses that connect students with industry partner companies and universities for hands-on workplace experience. These are significant benefits for these students, as many North students are first-generation college students. 

“I took Principles of Biomedical Science and Human Body Systems,” said Maya Ford-Pineada, a 2023 North graduate, about the CTE program. “I was able to apply everything I’ve learned to my everyday life and see it in real-world situations. These classes are really hands-on, and there’s a lab every week where we can apply what we have learned.” 

North also has a very strong alumni network which has helped build the school’s endowment to over $1.8 million. This money goes directly to graduating students via the North Side High School Alumni Scholarship Foundation, ranging from $2,000 to $9,000. 

“I would say we have one of the strongest alumni networks in the state, maybe even the country,” Caldwell said. “It’s not common that endowment money goes directly to students and not back to the school.” 

This year alone, North High welcomed 225 new migrant students, mostly from Venezuela. To accommodate these students, core classes such as math and science are now taught entirely in Spanish. North is also a magnet school for Indigenous students. They have a Native American specialist, and they teach the Lakota language as one of four core language classes. 

The school’s success story goes beyond mere numbers. It’s about creating an environment in which students of all backgrounds can find their way, whether through specialized language courses, career-related learning, or culturally responsive programs. North High’s ability to adapt and grow in the face of change—whether by accommodating migrant students or maintaining strong ties with families who have moved away—demonstrates the school’s deep commitment to its community.

“During my time at North, I noticed that they provided the students with a lot of opportunities. Opportunities being in schoolwork support, college support, job opportunities, small minority programs, etc,” said a former North student on niche.com in 2024. “They did a good job in recognizing school spirit, acknowledging the history of the land we stand on, celebrating different cultures, involving students in school activities, and offering acknowledgment of present things that are occurring and celebrations of the months.”