The Center for High School Success is proud to announce our newest Demonstration School, Montbello High School in Denver, Colorado. CHSS Demonstration Schools are chosen for their sustained improvement, consistently high 9th Grade On-Track Rates, and exemplary implementation of the CHSS Roadmap. Demonstration Schools partner with CHSS to showcase 9th Grade Success Work for our national network of high schools and to introduce the work to new schools and districts interested in engaging in 9th Grade Success Work.
Demonstration Schools partner with CHSS to showcase the exemplary 9th Grade Success Work to support deep learning for the current national network of high schools and to recruit new schools and districts to engage in 9th Grade Success Work.
Since partnering with CHSS, Montbello High School’s 9th Grade On-Track Rates have improved from 65%-82%!
CHSS Director of Partnerships, Gina Yacovetta, shared, “Montbello’s collaboration with CHSS has been transformative. By focusing on ninth-grade success, they have not only strengthened student outcomes but also have built a culture of support and achievement that sets the foundation for long-term growth. I couldn’t be prouder of them.”
Meet Montbello high school in Denver, Colorado
Assistant Principal Jeronimo Alvarez shared more about Montbello High School.
Tell us a little about your school community.
Montbello High School (MHS) is a comprehensive, non-charter high school serving both the Montbello and Green Valley Ranch communities of the Far Northeast (FNE) region of Denver Public Schools (DPS). During its initial year (2022-2023), MHS welcomed students from three merging High Schools: Collegiate Prep Academy, DCIS Montbello, and Noel Community of Arts School (NCAS). This reunification was a clamor from the community and the result of years of dialogue between school-district leaders, community leaders, and other stakeholders. The school moved into its new campus for the 2024-2025 school year. As a result of the reunification, MHS has been working diligently in creating collective efficacy around systems and structures to foster a comprehensive unification of the three campuses that encompasses high academic expectations, school culture and climate, community and family engagement.
Tell us a little about your school’s history with 9th Grade Success Work?
Montbello High School has been partnering with the Center for High School Success since its reunification in the 2022-2023 school year. This partnership was carried over as a result of the work that one of the merging schools started 7 years ago. Through this work, our school has been able to establish systems and wraparound resources with the purpose of tracking and ensuring the academic success of our 9th Graders. Thanks to this partnership, our school has expanded its definition of what 9th Grade support really is, including shifting teachers’ mindsets, restructuring academic offerings, increasing student voice, becoming more data-driven, and fostering a collaborative environment where we talk about our students from an asset-based solutions-oriented stance. This has resulted in a significant increase in our 9th Grade On-track to graduate, an attendance rate that has been meeting or surpassing our district’s goals, and a grade level culture that is student-centered, joyful and fun. In every step of the way, The Center for High School Success has been a supportive partner providing us with multiple research-based practices and resources that inform, supplement, and expand our school systems.
What are you most proud of?
Montbello Pride runs in the soul of Montbello High School and the Montbello Community and we take pride in everything we do. We are especially proud of the work our 9th grade Success team has done, specifically our kid talks. We have come a long way when it comes to how we speak about our students and the way we come together as a team to craft a plan that is supportive, targeted, acknowledges student voice, and partners with our families. Our success team is the beating heart of what we do for our freshman and we are very proud of the intentionality that has been put behind how the team is composed, the data analysis that informs their decisions, and the asset-based mindset that leads their hearts.
What has been an obstacle you’ve been able to overcome?
Our first two years were very challenging as we were operating from the basement of one of the merging schools. This limited our ability to offer fun electives and school-wide activities. In addition to this, we faced the challenge of merging three different schools, their cultures, their approach to programming and their challenges into 1 Montbello High School. In spite of this monumental challenge, the resilience of our students and staff took us from good to great every year, showing consistent improvement in our on-track to graduate, state benchmarks, and effectively shaping the spirit of a true Montbello Warrior.
Finish this sentence. “9th Grade On-Track Work/9th Grade Success Work has been transformational at our school…”
9th Grade On-Track Work/9th Grade Success Work has been transformational at our school…leading to improved student attendance, engagement and a significant increase in our graduation rates. Our partnership with CHSS has transformed our school’s culture and shifted our mindset around how we approach supporting our 9th graders.
How has partnering with CHSS been transformative?
Thanks to our partnership with the Center for High School Success, Montbello High School has been able to improve our student outcomes as evidenced by our on-track to graduate rates as well as our attendance trends. We were able to surpass challenges such as poor academic performance and engagement during our founding year to now exhibit attendance rates that meet our district goals and on-track to graduate rates that are around 90%. In addition, our students are experiencing learning opportunities that are more equitable and engaging thanks to the professional development opportunities offered by CHSS. This has transformed our school community and culture in a positive way, fostering collaborative and supportive environments that mirror the work our 9th Grade Success team has done.
Anything else you’d like to share?
We want to shoutout our 9th Grade Success team for always being student-centered, solutions-oriented, and asset-based. There is no doubt that our team supports our goals and has been instrumental in our success. They live our core values everyday by having integrity, being student-first, collaborating on what’s best for kids, modeling what it looks like to be a true Warrior through equity and fun!
