Students at Denver Academy are bright individuals with varied learning profiles who choose us because our approach to education is as distinctive as each child. DA’s mission is to inspire and empower diverse learners through student-centered, differentiated, and transformative education.
In three years of being the manager and two of covering Denver Academy basketball as a writer, the 2024-25 season opener was a first. The game was tied at 34 at the end of regulation time, and thus, for the first time since I started following the team, the Denver Academy Mustangs Varsity Boys Basketball team played overtime basketball. Unfortunately for the Mustangs, the game ended up being decided by a single layup and they ultimately fell, losing by a score of 36-35.
We're thrilled to share that, thanks to your vote, Denver Academy has won the Favorite Tutoring Program reader’s choice award in Colorado Parent Magazine’s 2024 Family Favorites competition. DA’s tutoring program, under the leadership of Director of Tutoring Services Tammy Curran, provides year-round tutoring and academic coaching services to both DA students and those attending other schools. DA was also a runner-up in the Family Favorites categories of private elementary school and principal, private middle school, and private high school.
Your support has helped us achieve this amazing recognition, and we're deeply appreciative of your contribution to our success. Thank you!Learn more about tutoring at DA here.
In August, the DA Library was awarded the Highly Effective Schools Through Libraries (HESTL) designation from the Colorado Department of Education and Colorado State Library after two years of collecting and submitting evidence. DA Librarian Jolene Gutiérrez earned the five HESTL Teacher Librarian credentials (Planning, Instruction, Leadership, Environment and Management), which allowed our DA Library to achieve the Highly Effective School Library Program designation. For his support of the DA Library Program and for submitting evidence with each of our credentials, DA Head of School Mark Twarogowski was awarded the HESTL Principal Collaboration Credential.
We are very pleased to announce that Denver Academy has fulfilled the requirements set forth by the ADL Mountain States Region and is now officially designated as a No Place for Hate® School! No Place for Hate (NPFH) is a student-led school climate initiative for K-12 schools committed to creating sustainable change that leads to improved school culture.
The entire DA community is extremely proud of achieving this designation for the FIRST YEAR in 2023-24! An especially loud shoutout to those Mustangs on the No Place for Hate Coalition — students and staff — who put their hearts, minds, and actions into earning this designation.
DA’s last strategic plan, Vision 2022, was adopted by the Board in 2015 and completed at the end of the 2021-22 school year. In the fall of 2022, the Strategic Planning Committee began work on the next plan. This is the first strategic plan that DA has developed since COVID-19 disrupted our normal operations.
As the world emerges from the pandemic, many schools and not-for-profits are intentionally creating shorter and more focused plans. DA agrees with this trend; therefore, our new strategic plan covers the next three years, up to June 30, 2026. Download DA’s Strategic Plan 2023-2026 here.
Congrats to former DA Board Member John Farnam who won the 2024 9News Leader of Year Award, sponsored in part by the Denver Metro Chamber Leadership Foundation. Farnam is the managing director of the Morgridge Family Foundation. He is the second DA Board Member to have won this award; current DA Board Member Vanecia Kerr was last year's winner!
In late April, DA held its seventh annual DA Juried Art Show for parents, students, and faculty. Featuring artwork by our middle and high school students, the show attendees could listen to an artist talkback and get a caricature drawn by a student artist. Congrats to Emma W. for winning Best in Show and Zoie B. for winning Viewer's Choice. Also, congrats to students who won additional Best of Awards: Amelia T., Willow E., Zoie B., Lilia T., Emma W., Ben S., Hayden H., Gia G.P., Ben H., Charlie H., and Elliot O.
DA's arts program supports a strength that many of our students possess: the ability to express and communicate through artistic creativity. Within our Arts & Media Program, students are encouraged in an area that complements their own unique abilities and are asked to explore and discover.
Thank you to everyone who contributed time and resources to this year's annual DA Denim & Diamonds Gala. The in-person event was attended by more than 200 people and featured alumni success stories and an amazing panel of DA students. Through sponsorships, ticket sales, auctions, and a paddle raiser we raised more than $350,000 for DA's Tuition Assistance Program!
DA values our children’s differences and strengths - their superpowers - as much as we do.
Find Us
4400 E. Iliff Ave. Denver, CO 80222 Main/Attendance: 303.777.5870 Admissions: 303.777.5161 General: info@denveracademy.org
About
Denver Academy is an independent private school for grades 2-12 located in Denver, CO. DAinspires and empowers a diverse group of learners through student-centered, differentiated, and transformative education.