Ten Colorado High Schools That Send the Most Low-Income Students to Good Colleges

"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...

By Michael Roberts

November 19, 2014

[
        {
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Inline Content - Mobile Display Size",
          "component": "12017618",
          "insertPoint": "2",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "2"
        },{
          "name": "Editor Picks",
          "component": "17242653",
          "insertPoint": "4",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "1"
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "18838239",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "17261320",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "18838239",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - Leaderboard Tower - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "17261321",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        }
      ]

"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.

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: <16

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.

Become A Member

BEFORE YOU GO...
Can you help us continue to share our stories? Since the beginning, Westword has been defined as the free, independent voice of Denver — and we'd like to keep it that way. Our members allow us to continue offering readers access to our incisive coverage of local news, food, and culture with no paywalls.

Michael Roberts began his career with Westword in 1990 as music editor. In 1999, he took on a new role, full-time media reporter, as author of a column called The Message. In 2008, he became the lead writer for Westword's news blog, The Latest Word, a position he held until January 2023. Michael continues to freelance for Westword, covering everything from business to sports and the media; he also contributes to Jazziz, a national music magazine. He holds a bachelor's degree from what is now Colorado Mesa University and master's degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles, and Northwestern University.

Contact: Michael Roberts

Follow:

Facebook: 111180895657427

Twitter: @mikerobertscolo