Wyatt Academy, one among Denver’s oldest constitution faculties, will possible shut on the finish of this college yr, the most recent casualty of declining enrollment and fewer per-pupil {dollars}. Wyatt has advised households to seek out new faculties for his or her youngsters, however its board hasn’t but taken a ultimate vote to shut.
The possible closure of Wyatt follows a sample of single-site constitution faculties shutting their doorways in Denver Public Faculties, as soon as probably the most charter-friendly districts within the nation.
However as an alternative of merely going darkish, Wyatt leaders say they’ve discovered a approach to proceed the 25-year-old elementary college’s legacy in northeast Denver. Wyatt’s board of administrators has signed a singular authorized settlement to associate with College Prep, a small homegrown constitution community with two elementary faculties in the identical a part of town.
UPrep will get no matter cash is left in Wyatt’s checking account. It’s going to additionally get a primary shot at hiring Wyatt’s workers and alternatives to pitch its faculties to Wyatt households, who can select to enroll or not. Wyatt will get a promise that a few of its distinctive group programming, comparable to its free clothes boutique, meals pantry, and laundromat, may proceed at UPrep.
“Wyatt is greater than only a college,” Amy Younggren, vice chair of the Wyatt board of administrators and a former Wyatt instructor, mentioned in an interview. “We’ve got intensive household providers obtainable. A part of what was essential to us was that these providers additionally stick with and in the neighborhood.”
Not everyone seems to be pleased with the plan. Tim Lewis is a fifth-grade instructor at Wyatt. He mentioned workers was blindsided final week once they have been known as into an emergency assembly in a classroom after college and advised Wyatt would shut within the spring.
The varsity, he mentioned, is prospering. Its scholar check scores have earned it the highest state ranking, signified by the colour inexperienced. Simply final yr, DPS renewed Wyatt’s constitution for an additional 5 years — the longest time interval doable, reserved just for the highest-performing constitution faculties. Plus, he mentioned, enrollment at Wyatt is barely up this yr.
“Wyatt is a household,” he mentioned. “We’re not only a college. I don’t have any children of my very own. However at any time when anyone asks, I say I’ve 26 children. It’s the scholars in my class.”
Learn the total report from our companions at Chalkbeat Colorado.
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