Denver Public Schools is beginning the process of evaluating potential changes to school boundaries and zones for all schools in the district, including Slavens. These changes will be determined by October 2026 and go into effect in the 2027-2028 school year. At this stage, DPS is soliciting community input. All readers of this newsletter are members of the community and are encouraged to participate!

Read on to learn about how this process might impact Southern Hills and Wellshire.

Just want the short version? DPS might change school boundaries and priorities, disrupting the tight-knit, valuable community built around Slavens. Jump to information about the community survey and meetings.

Slavens Elementary is a boundary school. Specifically, the Slavens Elementary boundaries are South University Boulevard, East Yale Avenue, South Colorado Boulevard, and East Hampden Avenue. There is also a section to the west of University, approximately bounded by South Downing Street, East Yale Avenue, East Dartmouth Avenue, and South University Boulevard.

Slavens Elementary primarily enrolls students from this boundary area. Many students are also accepted via SchoolChoice.

Slavens Middle School is a 100% choice Middle School. All students must complete a SchoolChoice application to attend.

Returning Slavens 5th graders and above are guaranteed enrollment to Slavens Middle School under the current scheme. A number of other students are also enrolled via SchoolChoice.

Explore Slavens Enrollment Practices

Everything. As described by the district, "DPS is reviewing all school levels including elementary, middle and high school."

Given the location of Slavens on the southern border of the city, adjusting the school's boundaries might prove difficult. Instead, the two most likely possible outcomes that Slavens is facing in this process are:

In this scenario, DPS might create a new enrollment zone that includes Slavens Elementary. The zone would include multiple elementary schools, some high-demand and high-performing, like Slavens, and others less so. There will no longer be a guarantee that all residents of Wellshire get to attend Slavens. Instead, residents will only be guaranteed a seat to one of the schools in the zone. Someone living across the street from Slavens might find they have to drive a mile or more to attend school.

Currently, 5th graders at Slavens are granted automatic admission to Slavens Middle School before other SchoolChoice applicants are considered. This scheme creates consistency for those 90ish students and for the school because the same cohort moves through grades K-8.

In this scenario, DPS might change who is given the best chance to attend Slavens Middle School. Slavens 5th graders might no longer be the top priority, or might be given no priority at all. This would drastically alter who attends, diminishing cohesion and consistency between Slavens Elementary and Slavens Middle School.

Any changes to how Slavens enrolls its students would fundamentally alter what it means to live in Wellshire. Some changes might include:

🛝 Damage to Community Cohesion: Wellshire is a great neighborhood because it is tight-knit and Slavens is at the center of that weave. Most of the children in the neighborhood attend the same school where they build and maintain friendships with their immediate neighbors. Families share close bonds geographically and across age groups as children grow, play, and take care of one another.

If Slavens is put in an enrollment zone or if changes are made to how students are admitted to Middle School, that fabric might fray. Many more students will attend from miles away and friendships with immediate neighbors might not come as naturally and be harder to maintain.

🏠 Challenges for Slavens as Neighbor: Drawing the bulk of Slavens students from the neighborhood and keeping them consistent through Middle School is also part of what makes Slavens a great partner and neighbor to Wellshire (even if it's not perfect). When families attend school in their own neighborhood, they take pride in the place and its surroundings.

If Slavens is put in an enrollment zone or changes are made to how students are admitted to Middle School, many families who attend will no longer have a geographic home in Wellshire. Those families might not necessarily feel the need to consider the neighborhood around Slavens as they cross it every day.

📉 Reduced Home Values: Slavens is the major driver of high home values in Wellshire. Slavens is one of the most desirable schools in DPS because of its cohesive K-8 setup and clear boundary. Home values in the neighborhood are some of the highest around because homes in the Slavens boundary are guaranteed admission to this desirable, well-run school.

If Slavens is put in an enrollment zone or changes are made to how students are admitted to Middle School, it will make Wellshire much less desirable. The value of the boundary and K-8 continuity will be lost. This will drastically reduce the value of being a resident in the neighborhood, thus reducing the value of homes in the neighborhood and discouraging future buyers.

Be sure to visit the DPS page about the redrawing. Then, please consider the following actions:

Let DPS know your thoughts about school boundaries and enrollment zones in Denver, particularly as they relate to any potential changes to the Slavens boundaries and Middle School SchoolChoice. All community members are welcome to complete this survey, whether or not they have students in DPS.

Thursday, May 21 at 5 p.m. (virtual) - Session Zoom Link

Friday, May 22 at 7:30 a.m. (virtual) - Session Zoom Link

For additional comments or questions beyond the survey, reach out to:

Superintendent Dr. Alex Marrero: [email protected]

District 1 Director Kimberlee Sia: [email protected]

Director At Large John Youngquist: [email protected]

Director At Large Amy Klein Molk: [email protected]

DPS Enrollment Campus and Planning Department: [email protected]

Cover your ride with festive decoration and join us at the field at Slavens School for a bike/scoot/walk around the neighborhood behind a fire truck!

Details to come. Must be a paid Member to vote. Please consider paying your dues in advance if you live in the Membership area.

Join us on the field and playgrounds at Slavens School for a chance to hunt for eggs and visit with your neighbors! Details to come.

We can’t do it without you! Find this email useful? Enjoy attending our events? Want to see us do even more? Please consider joining the SHCA and paying your annual dues if you live in the neighborhood. If you don’t, please consider a contribution anyway! All are welcome at our public events.

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