DSST: Montview High School

2000 Valentia Street

School District

Denver County 1
Grade

9-12
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:15
Type

charter

School Map for Denver County 1 School District

GreatSchools Rating

The school rating calculation is based on four ratings: the Student Progress Rating or Academic Progress Rating, College Readiness Rating, Equity Rating, and Test Score Rating each designed to show different facets of school success. Learn more about GreatSchools Ratings

Reviews

Submitted by parent on December 15, 2023

My student has been at this school 4 yrs. 3 grades middle school and now 9th. He was put in Advanced Math in 8th grade and he flunked. He begged the teachers and staff to take him out of there because he didn't understand it. This school sets your child up for failure. High school teachers don't care about the kids that are behind. They bring in teachers who refuse to actually teach these kids. They give them work and expect them to already know what to do. Don't send your student to this school unless they are an A student.
Submitted by parent on September 02, 2023

I could not choose a better school for my children, I currently have one in grade 12 and I am very satisfied with the great help they give us to know how to apply to the university, there is always a lot of communication between teachers and us parents, the best of this school is that they manage groups of students with low numbers which means better attention to students ... this is why I recommend DSST MONTVIEW
Submitted by parent on November 21, 2017

I love that DSST is a small school. I don't think my son would've done as well if he went to the local "traditional" school. My son is in his 1st year of college and one of his professors told him "You must've gone to a really good high school". He was prepared for college.. and his friends are too.
Submitted by other on November 18, 2016

DSST does not prepare kids for college. The kids are hand-held through assignments and very few know how to read and teach themselves from a textbook, a skill needed for college! Furthermore, they group all students on the same level for most subjects, preventing the advanced from being challenged and the strugglers from getting the help they need. They are also too obsessed with test scores and ratings and have teachers and students who are constantly stressed out.
Submitted by other on November 07, 2016

I'm a student at DSST here in Stapleton and I can tell you that this is a hard school, backed by supportive caring teachers and a real want for you to succeed in life. The one thing that I don't understand is why we don't have more honors or AP classes. I am only able to take 1 AP class this year, and I know my friends at other schools (East) can take 4 AP classes, and honors for every normal class. DSST fails in this department, and I am challenged in few classes.
Submitted by other on October 22, 2015

Clealry the reason DSST rates highly is they drive students out who do not fit their hard-driving mold. They are rigid and do not care about their student's emotional needs. If you have an extremely studious child who does not like to do anything outside of school, this is the perfect school for you. If you do not, avoid it at all costs.
Submitted by other on June 17, 2015

Where do I start. This school is absolutely terrible. They give you way more work than necessary and all it does is bogs down your GPA. If I had the option to go to a different school I would go to a different school because it would be so much easier. They boast about how they "prepare you for college" but, honestly, how will you get into college if the school lowers your GPA with such a difficult curriculum? And even with that, you're still going to struggle in college. It's not like they're going to make college easy. So, essentially, there's no point. Only a few kids would be fit for this school as long as they start off with all A's and don't have any social interactions for the rest of the 4 years. 1/10
Submitted by parent on January 20, 2014

As a parent, I love this school. I love the way my child is so ecstatic about going to DSST. My kid is a 15 year old in 9th grade and he is always telling me something new everyday. I could say that his grades have improved so much from the past. The teachers are great, understanding, and compassionate. This school does have very high expectations and I can assure you that it will make your child a better person in the future. I can see my boy improving, everyday. Becoming more mature, smarter, and making great decision and he is only 15. I would recommend this school a lot. People make it seem very strict but, it isn't as strict as you think. Yes, there are high expectations such as being respectful, not having your phones out during class, being a responsible student, staying focused, doing homework, etc. but these are all the expectations a GOOD school should have. Many schools advertise that they have those expectations but you cannot see them impacting the child, and at DSST they do. You will not regret going to this school..it's great for the student and parents. Your child will be happy. The learning environment is amazing, everyone is like a family.
Submitted by student on December 16, 2013

While DSST features a great math and science program, 100% graduation rate, etc., it isn't the school for everyone. I transferred out of the high school. The administrative team in the Stapleton high school has a very negative and nasty attitude, and does their best to scare students rather that helping them. There is very little choice and selection in terms of classes, which is great if you are planning to be a doctor or engineer, but not great if you plan on going down a different career path. There's little to no grade inflation as well, even if freshman/sophomores are in higher math and science classes. I'm not a student who received terrible grades-- I had almost all A's, so the rigor wasn't an issue for me, it was the stressful and negative energy that circulated its environment. The school is completely obsessed with control of their students and it forgets to recognize the in order for teenagers to thrive, you can't hold their hands and make them do community service for chewing gum or wearing the wrong dress shoes. It's not a terrible school, just wasn't the right environment for me or my family.
Submitted by other on November 19, 2013

My grandchild attends this school. I have heard that this is a great academic school, however the great emphasive on 'physical education classes' in this school are frowned upon by many of the students. Is it necessary to have this in the curriculum? An emphasis on 'Music and Arts and Sciences' might be a better choice than 'physical education.' The students can join recreation groups of their choice in the community they live in. How do other parents/grandparents feel about this ?
Submitted by parent on November 18, 2013

This fall, I sent my daughter to sixth grade at DSST Stapleton full of apprehension. DSST had a reputation for being rigorous and structured and I was worried that it would school the fun right out of learning. Here is what I have discovered: Yes, it is rigorous. The amount of time spent in the core subjects at DSST is greater than that of other middle schools in my area and yes, my child does have homework. I also discovered that she is learning, thriving, and enjoying her school experience more than ever. I am so impressed with the teachers. They use all the current best practices in education. They develop creative, engaging lessons (like building rockets in science class and paddling down the Nile River in social studies), use data to drive their instruction, differentiate instruction within the classroom, and most importantly, genuinely care about the success of their students. Yes, it is structured. My sixth grader has to be silent in the hallways, be accountable for her homework on a daily basis, and follow the school s rules and core values, but she is LOVING this respectful learning environment where she is valued and challenged.
Submitted by parent on December 20, 2012

My son is attending DDST: College View for his 6th grade year this year. My son has previously attended a Core Curriculum charter as well as a Montessori and came to DSST straight from the Montessori. Starting with summer school (that all incoming 6th graders must attend) I saw a different child emerging that loved the environment as well as the staff. The curriculum is challenging but the support is also very high for every child. We couldn't be more pleased to be at DSST: College View. Go Wolves!!
Submitted by parent on August 27, 2012

Our child is entering the 7th grade at DSST -Stapleton and we could not be more pleased with her development and growth. The rigorous academic program and social expectations were just what she needs. I can see that DSST would not fit every personality, however, I think it would be the rare circumstance where a child would not benefit from this approach. My daughter has thrived and says that she enjoys middle school much more than her elementary school. The teachers have been responsive to us and the administration is dedicated.
Submitted by parent on August 04, 2012

My daughter just finished mandatory summer school for incoming 6th graders. She won t admit it to her friends that did not have summer school, but she repeatedly told me that she really enjoyed it. She was proud of her test improvements during the three week days, she definitely bonded with the teachers and her advisor (somewhat like your camp counselor), and enjoyed learning without the teachers being distracted from disruptive students. We feel very lucky to have gotten into DSST!
Submitted by other on May 27, 2012

DSST is an incredible school, I graduated last year and am glad that I made the choice to attend dsst instead of a less rigorous, larger, neighborhood school. All of the teachers are phenomenal, they really care about all of the students and strive to make personal connections with them. The Denver school of science and technology, as expected, does not have much in the way of art programs. Students that are artistically inclined are celebrated, but it s not a space for them to grow in as an artist. Dsst is renowned for it's ability to take underprivileged underrepresented minority students and make them into true scholars prepared to attend any university in the country (or beyond). My freshman class, for example, has 140 students from 51 middle schools across the metro area. For this reason , most students are required to attend a summer school session in English, math, or both to be prepared for the coming school year. The community is very tight knit, students become proficient with technology, and are ready to take on the world when they graduate. Th school also prides itself on development of character through the schools core values. Finally a place where school is cool.