DSST: Cole Middle School

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

Charter School 274 Students

Middle School 6th - 8th

School Overview

DSST: Cole Middle School is a high-performing public charter school located in the Cole neighborhood of Denver, Colorado. As part of the DSST Public Schools network—a system widely recognized for its rigorous academic model and focus on college readiness—the school operates with a mission to prepare students from diverse backgrounds for success in four-year universities. The school emphasizes a strong STEM-based curriculum, blending traditional instruction with critical thinking and character development to ensure students are well-equipped for the demands of high school and beyond.

The school community at DSST: Cole is defined by its core values, which include respect, responsibility, integrity, courage, curiosity, and doing your best. By maintaining a structured, supportive environment, the school seeks to close the opportunity gap by fostering a culture of high expectations and shared accountability. With its strategic focus on personalized learning and a college-going identity, DSST: Cole serves as a critical educational hub for families in Denver seeking a pathway to higher education and long-term professional success.

274

Total Students

18.7

Full-Time Teachers

14.6

Student/Teacher Ratio

88.7%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for DSST: Cole Middle School
Demographic	Student Count
White	5
Hispanic	202
Black	56
Asian	2
Two or More	4
American Indian	1
Pacific Islander	4

Hispanic
202 (73.7 %)
Black
56 (20.4 %)
White
5 (1.8 %)
Two or More
4 (1.5 %)
Pacific Islander
4 (1.5 %)
Asian
2 (0.7 %)
American Indian
1 (0.4 %)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	Middle School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Charter School
Virtual Instruction:	No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status:	No
District:	School District No. 1 in the county of Denver and State of C
Phone:	(303)524-6354
Website:	http://dsstpublicschools.org
Grade Range:	6th - 8th
Total Students:	274
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	18.7
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	14.6
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Qualified Free Lunch:	222
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	21

* 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 6 95

Grade 7 81

Grade 8 98