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“Missing the Bus: Colorado’s Elite College Access Gap,” a new report from A+ Denver, suggests that equal educational opportunities for all students in the state remains a distant goal. Among the findings: “Even though 42 percent of students in Colorado qualify as low-income, a non-low-income student is more than 12 times as likely to go to a top-tier college — a list that includes several Colorado colleges.”
Which high schools send the most low-income students to good colleges? We’ve got the top ten below, featuring photos and A+ Denver data — and you’ll note that the figures leave a lot to be desired for most of the schools on this roster. We’ve also included the complete report. See it all below.
See also: Photos: Ten Best Colorado High Schools According to U.S. News & World Report
Number 10: East High School
Percentage of Free-and-Reduced-Lunch Students of Total FRL Graduates Enrolled in a Top-Tier School: 4.02 percent
Total FRL Graduates Enrolled in a Top-Tier School: 26
Percentage of Non-FRL Students of Total Non-FRL Graduates Enrolled in a Top-Tier School: 25.02 percent
Total Non-FRL Graduates Enrolled in a Top-Tier School: 329
Number 9: Overland High School
Percentage of Free-and-Reduced-Lunch Students of Total FRL Graduates Enrolled in a Top-Tier School: 4.25 percent
Total FRL Graduates Enrolled in a Top-Tier School: 25
Percentage of Non-FRL Students of Total Non-FRL Graduates Enrolled in a Top-Tier School: 6.42 percent
Total Non-FRL Graduates Enrolled in a Top-Tier School: 48
Continue to keep counting down the ten Colorado high schools that send the most low-income students to good colleges.
Number 8: Westminster High School
Percentage of Free-and-Reduced-Lunch Students of Total FRL Graduates Enrolled in a Top-Tier School: 5.36 percent
Total FRL Graduates Enrolled in a Top-Tier School: 31
Percentage of Non-FRL Students of Total Non-FRL Graduates Enrolled in a Top-Tier School: 5.75 percent
Total Non-FRL Graduates Enrolled in a Top-Tier School: 21
Number 7: Gateway High School
Percentage of Free-and-Reduced-Lunch Students of Total FRL Graduates Enrolled in a Top-Tier School: 5.43 percent
Total FRL Graduates Enrolled in a Top-Tier School: 21
Percentage of Non-FRL Students of Total Non-FRL Graduates Enrolled in a Top-Tier School: 3.52 percent
Total Non-FRL Graduates Enrolled in a Top-Tier School: 20
Continue to keep counting down the ten Colorado high schools that send the most low-income students to good colleges.
Number 6: Palmer High School
Percentage of Free-and-Reduced-Lunch Students of Total FRL Graduates Enrolled in a Top-Tier School: 6.46 percent
Total FRL Graduates Enrolled in a Top-Tier School: 19
Percentage of Non-FRL Students of Total Non-FRL Graduates Enrolled in a Top-Tier School: 13.85 percent
Total Non-FRL Graduates Enrolled in a Top-Tier School: 147
Number 5: Smoky Hill High School
Percentage of Free-and-Reduced-Lunch Students of Total FRL Graduates Enrolled in a Top-Tier School: 7.17 percent
Total FRL Graduates Enrolled in a Top-Tier School: 23
Percentage of Non-FRL Students of Total Non-FRL Graduates Enrolled in a Top-Tier School: 13.33 percent
Total Non-FRL Graduates Enrolled in a Top-Tier School: 179
Continue to keep counting down the ten Colorado high schools that send the most low-income students to good colleges.
Number 4: Cherokee Trail High School
Percentage of Free-and-Reduced-Lunch Students of Total FRL Graduates Enrolled in a Top-Tier School: 12.17 percent
Total FRL Graduates Enrolled in a Top-Tier School: 23
Percentage of Non-FRL Students of Total Non-FRL Graduates Enrolled in a Top-Tier School: 11.55 percent
Total Non-FRL Graduates Enrolled in a Top-Tier School: 162
Number 3: Boulder High School
Percentage of Free-and-Reduced-Lunch Students of Total FRL Graduates Enrolled in a Top-Tier School: 15.38 percent
Total FRL Graduates Enrolled in a Top-Tier School: 24
Percentage of Non-FRL Students of Total Non-FRL Graduates Enrolled in a Top-Tier School: 34.74 percent
Total Non-FRL Graduates Enrolled in a Top-Tier School: 387
Continue to keep counting down the ten Colorado high schools that send the most low-income students to good colleges.
Number 2: Denver School of Science and Technology
Percentage of Free-and-Reduced-Lunch Students of Total FRL Graduates Enrolled in a Top-Tier School: 24.72 percent
Total FRL Graduates Enrolled in a Top-Tier School: 22
Percentage of Non-FRL Students of Total Non-FRL Graduates Enrolled in a Top-Tier School: 29.27 percent
Total Non-FRL Graduates Enrolled in a Top-Tier School: 48
Number 1: George Washington High School, IB (International Baccalaureate)
Percentage of Free-and-Reduced-Lunch Students of Total FRL Graduates Enrolled in a Top-Tier School:
Total FRL Graduates Enrolled in a Top-Tier School:
Percentage of Non-FRL Students of Total Non-FRL Graduates Enrolled in a Top-Tier School:
Total Non-FRL Graduates Enrolled in a Top-Tier School:
George Washington High School, Non-IB (International Baccalaureate)
Total FRL Graduates Enrolled in a Top-Tier School: 16
Percentage of Non-FRL Students of Total Non-FRL Graduates Enrolled in a Top-Tier School: N/A
Total Non-FRL Graduates Enrolled in a Top-Tier School:
Here’s the complete A+ Denver report:
Missing the Bus: Colorado’s Elite College Access Gap
Send your story tips to the author, Michael Roberts.
