In February 2006, the Denver Public Schools (DPS) District made the difficult decision to close Manual High School after recognizing that it suffered from low academic achievement, declining enrollment, and lack of available resources for students. DPS is in the process of conducting a year-long planning effort with the outcome of creating a new Manual High School that has the commitment and support from the community and the District.

For the past few months (August 2006 – October 2006), a Community Council of over 30 students, teachers, parents, alums, business, and community leaders convened to recommend a vision for the new Manual High School, attributes and qualities for a new school leader and staff, and core elements of a new academic program for the new school. As part of the Manual renewal process, the Council heard from thousands of community members and researched characteristics of high-performing, urban high schools across the nation. The report below details the community’s recommendations to the Superintendent and Board for the new Manual High School.

Click here for a pdf version of the full report.

Next steps include conducting a nation-wide search for the best-qualified principal to lead the new Manual and hiring outstanding faculty who embrace the vision of an academically rigorous school where graduation is expected for all of its students.

Through the Manual renewal effort, DPS and the community will create an outstanding high school in the Manual neighborhood – a high school that reflects and serves the community and a high school with outstanding student academic performance, high rates of graduation, and high rates of college and career success.

For additional information, please go to http://www.reportcardcolorado.org/.

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