George Washington High School

655 South Monaco Street Parkway

School District

Denver County 1
Grade

9-12
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:18
Type

public

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 June 08, 2021

My daughter attended for four years. She graduated this year and they did a wonderful job through COVID.GW was a great school for my daughter: it has advanced and AP classes as well as the typical Public School option of a "regular" class.While this sometimes leads students to feel as though there are two schools in one, leadership does a great job of making the school feel like a unified whole, with the best intentions for students and parents alike to feel part of an open and welcoming community.DPS has great opportunities for students to excel, and allows students to take college classes at Metro State University at low cost to help get a jump start on higher education.I could not feel like my daughter is more prepared to go to college next fall, and GW did that for her and for our family.Special shout out to the English and Spanish teachers--we loved meeting with every single one of you!
Submitted by student on June 01, 2018

I got to graduate but didn't have to attend classes or learn much. I did play basketball here but failed out of college.
Submitted by other on March 24, 2018

Nice traditional high school, similar to what I had growing up.
Submitted by student on June 11, 2017

I would rate this school as great. The teachers are very supportive, the social aspect of the school is great, the IB program is amazing, sports are fun and an astounding basketball team.
Submitted by other on August 29, 2016

George Washington is the premier school in DPS, and provides a world of opportunity for all who attend there. They have rigorous AP and IB coursework, many extracurricular / athletic offerings, and they have a passionate community who wants a unified, safe, and thriving school. The students who attend George from the surrounding neighborhoods are caring, intelligent, and generous leaders -- the most outstanding examples of DPS students. George's IB program is the longest running IB program in the state of Colorado, and now that all can access it, there is more reason to further support the school. I hope that households zoned for George take another look at this brilliant school, and choose to keep this neighborhood school going strong. Let's make George the #1 student choice in all DPS.
Submitted by parent on May 22, 2016

My 9th grade son is thriving academically, athletically and socially at GW. There is a wide array of extracurricular activities from which to choose. The Speech and Debate program, offered as a class, is phenomenal. The coaches of the sports in which he has been involved have a solid understanding of their sport while also focusing on respect and sportsmanship. He has been challenged academically and has found the homework load to be very manageable. The transition to GWHS has been very smooth.
Submitted by other on March 29, 2015

I went to this school my 9th grade year (2 years ago) and the teachers are absolutely amazing and great with teaching. But some of the students are absolutely horrible. I don't believe in "this school is two schools in one" because I had friends that were in IB and they were some of the nicest people ever. I also had friends in traditional and they were super nice as well. This is honestly a good school but they need to control the students better.
Submitted by parent on June 22, 2014

I am also unimpressed by the current principal. But I blame DPS Superintendent Tom Boasberg and his rubber-stamp school board for the destructive changes at GW. This is "school reform" politics, pure and simple.
Submitted by parent on May 13, 2014

I agree with last post. Administration 1 star and IB program 5 star. Yes, there is a clear division between IB and traditional, but I believe the biggest rift is caused by the lack of rules. It is no wonder students are leaving this school for other schools; there is a serious discipline problem here. My son will not even dare walk into the cafeteria for plastic ware if he forgets to pack a fork for his lunch. There is obscene language, obscene music, at every turn. Another issue, the new principal will destroy a 30 year tradition of Colorado s best and most rigorous IB program in the next couple years. Last year, I would have given it a 5 star review, but moving forward, with this principal, I can only give this school, as a whole, 2 stars. Our second child will NOT be attending this school. Why stay if the great teachers will leave? Such a shame what one man can do.
Submitted by parent on May 07, 2014

GW really is 2 schools in one, although there is a lot of overlap in sports and some of the activities. There are pockets of a great community in sports and on the debate team, but otherwise it is fairly fragmented. I have had 2 kids in the IB program, one is still there. It is a great program for the right kid, but it is not right for everyone. My older child struggled with the rigidity of the program. My younger child fits right in. I would rank it higher, but for the second time, DPS has chosen a principal who is authoritarian, unresponsive to parents, and teachers. Many of the faculty are leaving because of his management style. He is making radical changes to the IB program, and never once consulted with the IB parents association or the IB representatives on the Collaborative School Committee. He didn't even discuss it with IB staff until the last moment. I give the IB program 5 stars for the right student, but the administration 1 star at best.
Submitted by student on March 20, 2014

As a student at GW, particularly in the IB program, I believe the school is great. There are many claims that it is "two schools in one," yet there are going to be different programs in any school, and are not unique to GW. If students are feeling that they are completely segregated by program, it is their own fault. I am great friends with people in and out of the IB program, showing that it does not limit students' ability to co-mingle. Although some students in the IB program are seemingly pretentious and uptight, they make up a minuscule percent of the population. There was a period of time where the school had a transitional principle who was trying to assimilate the school in a disastrous way, but the current administration is doing an excellent job at breaking down the barriers between the programs. Overall, the learning atmosphere is embracing and allows students to thrive, giving the best possible results. The school is great and has many bad rumors giving it a bad rep, but as a student, I can discount them by saying it is a great school with a nurturing environment full of assimilation. Hope this Helps!!
Submitted by parent on January 23, 2014

My daughter is a hard working freshman in the IB program. This is a good fit for her. She has met wonderful students that share a common interest in academics, sports and speech and debate. Her friends are ethnically diverse. My daughter and her friends appears to be thriving here.
Submitted by parent on April 10, 2013

Unfortunately, it really is two schools. I have two children currently attending, one in IB the other in traditional but doing AP/honors courses. The IB program is good academically but according to the IB child, most students are almost actively demeaning/dismissive of traditional students. On occasions when parents of the IB students are together, many of the parents, too, have the same demeaning/dismissive attitude. I think many other IB parents were hoping for a well balanced progressive education experience that the students could benefit from a diverse environment...I truly think that, as it is now, you might be doing the opposite. In addition, the traditional school AP and Honors courses are *not* up to par relative to other DPS high schools....a real problem, for obvious reasons. In all, the school is dysfunctional and the traditional program is likely below average for the district.
Submitted by student on May 27, 2011

I'm not sure why a parent has to diss on a student's opinion and call it a shame and wonder why s/he is bitter, but as a student in the IB program, i can say that the student saying that many, *not all* of the IB students being pretentious is absolutely correct. I have claimed heard quite a few conversations from my classmates talking about how dumb tradition kids are, how they don't work as hard as them, and other derogatory things. Having a brother and many good friends in the traditional program, this hit close to home. I feel like many of the problems dealing with the school happens to be the segregation between both programs and it needs to be dealt with before they lose a majority of their students to other schools. Also, many of the teachers here, especially in the traditional program from what i have heard, are extremely unsatisfactory, especially in the core subjects like science, math, and english. They need to get their teachers checked out in both programs.
Submitted by student on November 12, 2010

George Washington in an amazing school that presents many opportunities unavailable in most high schools. GW have an amazing academic program with both IB and AP classes as well as 5A athletics. Another great aspect of George is the multitude of clubs and extracurricular activities. The Speech and Debate team recently sent 13 people to nationals and won an award that only 17 of the over 350 schools won. Furthermore, a team recently won first place at the Tournament of Champions, one of the hardest competitions of the year. in addition, there are many clubs aimed at diversity such as Asian Culture Club and IB Black Organization. In refutation of the division between the traditional and IB programs, i must point out that often the clubs are very diverse, and one easily makes friends in different programs. The teachers are very informed, with some, like Dr. More, who stopped teaching college classes in order to teacher chemistry at GW. Overall, George Washington presents a diverse group of students that have many opportunities and are prepared for college when they leave.