Contemporary Learning Academy

School District No. 1 in the county of Denver and State of C

cla.dpsk12.org

135 Students

High School 9th - 12th

School Overview

Contemporary Learning Academy (CLA) is an alternative high school within the Denver Public Schools system, specifically designed to serve students who may not thrive in a traditional classroom environment. Located in the Capitol Hill neighborhood, the school focuses on providing a flexible, supportive, and personalized educational experience. By prioritizing smaller class sizes and individualized instruction, CLA aims to re-engage students and help them overcome academic or personal barriers to graduation.

Beyond standard academics, the school places a strong emphasis on social-emotional learning and workforce readiness. CLA creates a tight-knit community atmosphere where students have access to credit recovery programs and accelerated learning pathways tailored to their unique pace. Ultimately, the academy is committed to fostering a culture of mutual respect and high expectations, ensuring that all students—regardless of their previous schooling experiences—are equipped with the skills and confidence necessary to transition into post-secondary education or the professional workforce.

135

Total Students

15.5

Full-Time Teachers

8.7

Student/Teacher Ratio

76.3%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Contemporary Learning Academy
Demographic	Student Count
White	13
Hispanic	74
Black	40
Two or More	7
American Indian	1

Hispanic
74 (54.8 %)
Black
40 (29.6 %)
White
13 (9.6 %)
Two or More
7 (5.2 %)
American Indian
1 (0.7 %)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	High School
School Type:	Alternative School
Charter Status:*	Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction:	No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status:	No
District:	School District No. 1 in the county of Denver and State of C
Phone:	(720)423-6900
Website:	http://cla.dpsk12.org
Grade Range:	9th - 12th
Total Students:	135
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	15.5
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	8.7
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Qualified Free Lunch:	98
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	5

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Grade 9 39

Grade 10 36

Grade 11 34

Grade 12 26