Northwest Working Group
Pros and Cons: Boundaries
This document is a verbatim compilation of all pros and cons received from the members of the
Northwest Working Group through Sunday, May 17. This document reflects the individual opinions of those on the
working group.
» Option A: Skinner boundary is unchanged, Strive absorbs Trevista boundary.
Pros
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Cons
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Provides clarity to families about what is their one boundary school.
Maintains lines that segregate the middle schools based on FRL percentages.
Options A-D for middle school are illegal under state law. Need to have seats reserved for all
students in a non-charter school. Under supremacy clause, state law supersedes city/ school
district policy. Would mire DPS in lawsuits from the neighborhood. Outrage will ensue. Options
A-D have collectively bonded and united NW Denver in distrust and dislike of DPS (pro and con).
Continues to segregate the FRL population
Strive is not appropriate as a sole boundary school. It is a charter with non-traditional
educational goals.
» Option B: Individual boundaries for Skinner and STRIVE, changed boundary line is shifted to Zuni.
Pros
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Cons
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Provides clarity with a neater boundary line to families about what is their one boundary middle
school.
Creates a new line which segregates the middle schools based on FRL percentages; redraws lines
that change the boundary school for many families.
Options A-D for middle school are illegal under state law. Need to have seats reserved for all
students in a non-charter school. Under supremacy clause, state law supersedes city/ school
district policy. Would mire DPS in lawsuits from the neighborhood. Outrage will ensue. Options
A-D have collectively bonded and united NW Denver in distrust and dislike of DPS (pro and con).
Continues to segregate the FRL population
Strive is not appropriate as a sole boundary school. It is a charter with non-traditional
educational goals.
» Option C: Individual boundaries for Skinner and STRIVE, changed boundary line is shifted diagonal
stair step.
Pros
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Cons
Provides clarity to families about what is their one boundary middle school.
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Creates a new, just as arbitrary line which segregates the middle schools based on FRL
percentages; redraws lines that change the boundary school for many families.
Options A-D for middle school are illegal under state law. Need to have seats reserved for all
students in a non-charter school. Under supremacy clause, state law supersedes city/ school
district policy. Would mire DPS in lawsuits from the neighborhood. Outrage will ensue. Options
A-D have collectively bonded and united NW Denver in distrust and dislike of DPS (pro and con).
Continues to segregate the FRL population
Strive is not appropriate as a sole boundary school. It is a charter with non-traditional
educational goals.
» Option D: Create Shared Zone with Skinner and Strive – Sunnyside serving former Skinner and
Trevista boundary areas.
Pros
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Cons
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Engages families through the choice process when selecting a MS, which helps schools for
planning and programming purposes.
100% of students who qualify for FRL are included in both schools’ potential enrollment
populations.
Can work for neighborhood if another middle school is added
Pro of option D, desegregates the FRL population and is supported by the principals of both
schools.
Both principals seemed supportive of option D plus an additional third middle school.
This is the option Strive supports. Strive is positioned as a choice. This option is the best but it
requires an additional middle school in NW Denver to alleviate pressure on Skinner.
This is the option Skinner supports. Let's support option D and revisit in 2 years when DPS data
catches up with student growth projections in NW Denver. 30 students by 2020 is off by an
exponential factor.
Confusion and uncertainty is created for families who no longer have a guaranteed spot in their
designated middle school.
Options A-D for middle school are illegal under state law. Need to have seats reserved for all
students in a non-charter school. Under supremacy clause, state law supersedes city/ school
district policy. Would mire DPS in lawsuits from the neighborhood. Outrage will ensue. Options
A-D have collectively bonded and united NW Denver in distrust and dislike of DPS (pro and con).