Students in Denver County schools were truant 6.3% of the time in the 2023-24 school year, the Colorado Department of Education reported. This rate was lower than in the previous school year.
Overall, there were 88,694 students enrolled in Denver County in the 2023-24 school year, of whom 5,564 were marked truant.
Statewide, Denver County schools suffered the most truancy issues (6.3%) in the 2023-24 school year. Meanwhile, Dolores County schools successfully recorded the lowest truancy rate in the region (0%).
Students are generally considered chronically truant if they miss 5% or more of the total number of school days in a year without acceptable excuses.
Colorado’s teacher workforce faces persistent shortages and pay challenges. In the 2023–24 school year, nearly 7,000 teaching positions were vacant statewide at some point. Districts managed to fill only about 75% of those openings with fully qualified hires, leaving many to be filled by short-term substitutes, retirees, or emergency credentials for the rest, while 9% remained unfilled for the entire school year.
Colorado’s K–12 enrollment has gradually declined each year since the pandemic, with about 3–4% fewer students in 2024 than the state’s peak enrollment in 2019.
The declines are concentrated in the early grades and certain rural areas, while some metro districts are holding steady or growing. Lower birth rates and pandemic disruptions are driving the trend. Colorado’s public schools are now serving the smallest number of students in a decade, a shift that has implications for funding and planning even as per-pupil resources increase to compensate.
Denver County Chronic Truancy Rates Over 4 Years
Denver County Chronic Truancy Rates by School in 2023-24 School Year
| Schools | No. of Students Enrolled | Chronic Truancy Rates | Attendance Daily Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park Hill School | 667 | 0.2% | 94.5% |
| Denver Language School | 924 | 0.4% | 97.6% |
| Rocky Mountain School of Expeditionary Learning | 379 | 0.5% | 93.5% |
| Slavens K-8 School | 750 | 0.6% | 95.8% |
| French American School of Denver | 189 | 0.7% | 94.1% |
| University Prep – Steele St. | 333 | 1.1% | 97.5% |
| McKinley-Thatcher Elementary School | 276 | 1.2% | 94% |
| Bromwell Elementary School | 290 | 1.3% | 93.9% |
| Creativity Challenge Community | 295 | 1.3% | 94.2% |
| Denver School of the Arts | 1,039 | 1.5% | 94.2% |
| Swigert International School | 653 | 1.5% | 94.1% |
| Rocky Mountain Prep: Berkeley | 327 | 1.6% | 92.6% |
| McAuliffe International School | 1,371 | 1.7% | 92.4% |
| William (Bill) Roberts ECE-8 School | 851 | 1.7% | 95.2% |
| Morey Middle School | 481 | 1.9% | 94.5% |
| Stephen Knight Center for Early Education | 303 | 1.9% | 90.1% |
| Compass Academy | 200 | 10% | 84.6% |
| Center for Talent Development at Greenlee | 261 | 10.1% | 86.2% |
| Garden Place Academy | 378 | 10.1% | 86.2% |
| Pascual Ledoux Academy | 215 | 10.1% | 86% |
| Legacy Options High School | 152 | 10.2% | 83% |
| Girls Athletic Leadership School High School | 93 | 10.3% | 81.6% |
| John H. Amesse Elementary | 370 | 10.3% | 87.4% |
| Abraham Lincoln High School | 992 | 10.5% | 85.1% |
| University Prep – Arapahoe St. | 285 | 10.5% | 88.1% |
| McMeen Elementary School | 630 | 10.7% | 86.5% |
| Ashley Elementary School | 347 | 10.9% | 84.5% |
| Cole Arts and Science Academy | 268 | 10.9% | 86.2% |
| Summit Academy | 238 | 11.2% | 84.5% |
| Smith Elementary School | 466 | 11.6% | 86.6% |
| Kaiser Elementary School | 224 | 11.7% | 84.6% |
| Ellis Elementary School | 380 | 12% | 85% |
| Denver Center for 21st-Century Learning at Wyman | 143 | 12.9% | 81.7% |
| John F. Kennedy High School | 707 | 13.1% | 82.4% |
| Compassion Road Academy | 89 | 13.5% | 80.4% |
| 5280 High School | 92 | 13.7% | 81.4% |
| Montbello Career and Technical High School | 133 | 18.6% | 75.7% |
| North High School Engagement Center | 104 | 18.6% | 75.2% |
| Prep Academy | 41 | 18.7% | 70% |
| Delta High School | 105 | 19.6% | 74.7% |
| Inspire Elementary | 629 | 2% | 94.3% |
| Isabella Bird Community School | 420 | 2% | 92.9% |
| DSST: Byers Middle School | 479 | 2.1% | 93.4% |
| Asbury Elementary School | 280 | 2.2% | 93.8% |
| Centennial A School for Expeditionary Learning | 444 | 2.3% | 93.5% |
| Cory Elementary School | 412 | 2.3% | 94.7% |
| Highline Academy Southeast | 535 | 2.3% | 93.4% |
| Polaris Elementary School | 339 | 2.3% | 95.2% |
| Teller Elementary School | 558 | 2.3% | 94.1% |
| DSST: Green Valley Ranch Middle School | 480 | 2.4% | 93.1% |
| Bradley International School | 577 | 2.5% | 91% |
| Lincoln Elementary School | 315 | 2.5% | 94.1% |
| Merrill Middle School | 604 | 2.6% | 92.6% |
| South High School | 1,846 | 2.6% | 92.7% |
| Edison Elementary School | 553 | 2.7% | 94.3% |
| Girls Athletic Leadership School Middle School | 203 | 2.7% | 92.4% |
| Lake Middle School | 603 | 2.7% | 95.1% |
| Odyssey School of Denver | 307 | 2.7% | 92% |
| Steele Elementary School | 444 | 2.7% | 93.8% |
| Carson Elementary School | 415 | 2.9% | 93.6% |
| Steck Elementary School | 306 | 2.9% | 93.7% |
| Westerly Creek Elementary | 673 | 2.9% | 94.2% |
| RiseUp Community School | 111 | 20% | 74.1% |
| Colorado High School Charter | 203 | 22.1% | 74% |
| Colorado High School Charter – GES | 189 | 25.2% | 72.5% |
| Contemporary Learning Academy | 132 | 26.5% | 67.2% |
| AUL Denver | 151 | 26.6% | 67.8% |
| Vista Academy | 273 | 27.1% | 66.1% |
| Excel Academy | 264 | 28.7% | 65.8% |
| Respect Academy | 106 | 29.1% | 64.3% |
| Denver Justice High School | 107 | 29.2% | 63% |
| DSST: Montview High School | 566 | 3% | 92.2% |
| Brown International Academy | 518 | 3.2% | 92% |
| Palmer Elementary School | 196 | 3.2% | 90.1% |
| University Park Elementary School | 393 | 3.2% | 93.8% |
| Northfield High School | 2,066 | 3.3% | 91.7% |
| Academia Ana Marie Sandoval | 385 | 3.4% | 92.4% |
| STRIVE Prep – Ruby Hill | 388 | 3.4% | 93.9% |
| Denver Green School Northfield | 540 | 3.5% | 93.7% |
| Columbine Elementary School | 321 | 3.6% | 91.1% |
| Stedman Elementary School | 432 | 3.6% | 92% |
| Willow Elementary School | 565 | 3.6% | 92.9% |
| Marrama Elementary School | 506 | 3.7% | 89.7% |
| Southmoor Elementary School | 394 | 3.7% | 93.1% |
| Downtown Denver Expeditionary School | 243 | 3.8% | 91.5% |
| Denver Online | 611 | 30.6% | 67.9% |
| Beach Court Elementary School | 253 | 4% | 88.6% |
| Denison Montessori School | 349 | 4% | 90.7% |
| Rocky Mountain Prep: Creekside | 599 | 4% | 95.6% |
| Grant Beacon Middle School | 335 | 4.1% | 89.7% |
| Holm Elementary School | 484 | 4.2% | 90.5% |
| STRIVE Prep – Smart Academy | 565 | 4.2% | 92% |
| Vanguard Classical School – West | 365 | 4.2% | 91.4% |
| KIPP Sunshine Peak Elementary | 158 | 4.3% | 90.2% |
| STRIVE Prep – Federal | 380 | 4.3% | 91.1% |
| DSST: Conservatory Green Middle School | 463 | 4.4% | 91.3% |
| KIPP Northeast Elementary | 477 | 4.4% | 90.9% |
| Lowry Elementary School | 392 | 4.4% | 89.6% |
| STRIVE Prep – Green Valley Ranch | 361 | 4.4% | 91.7% |
| Lena Archuleta Elementary School | 497 | 4.5% | 90.8% |
| DSST: Conservatory Green High School | 562 | 4.6% | 90.8% |
| DSST: Montview Middle School | 459 | 4.6% | 90.6% |
| Charles M. Schenck (CMS) Community School | 332 | 4.7% | 90.5% |
| International Academy of Denver at Harrington | 161 | 4.7% | 85.3% |
| DSST: College View Middle School | 460 | 4.8% | 89.7% |
| KIPP Northeast Denver Middle School | 471 | 4.8% | 90.9% |
| Denver Center for International Studies at Fairmon | 355 | 4.9% | 89.8% |
| DSST: Byers High School | 548 | 4.9% | 90.5% |
| Green Valley Elementary School | 719 | 4.9% | 89.6% |
| SOAR at Green Valley Ranch | 492 | 4.9% | 90.9% |
| Florence Crittenton High School | 97 | 43.5% | 45.2% |
| DSST: Green Valley Ranch High School | 565 | 5% | 89.6% |
| East High School | 2,359 | 5% | 90.2% |
| Bruce Randolph School | 653 | 5.1% | 88% |
| Wyatt Academy | 208 | 5.1% | 89.1% |
| Career Education Center Early College | 467 | 5.2% | 90% |
| Grant Ranch ECE-8 School | 296 | 5.2% | 90.6% |
| Gust Elementary School | 560 | 5.2% | 90.6% |
| Florida Pitt-Waller ECE-8 School | 912 | 5.5% | 88.7% |
| Newlon Elementary School | 273 | 5.7% | 91.1% |
| Omar D. Blair Charter School | 748 | 5.7% | 90% |
| Skinner Middle School | 656 | 5.7% | 90.7% |
| STRIVE Prep – Montbello | 258 | 5.7% | 90.5% |
| Thomas Jefferson High School | 1,375 | 5.7% | 89.5% |
| Bryant Webster Dual Language ECE-8 School | 426 | 5.8% | 89.3% |
| Valverde Elementary School | 347 | 5.8% | 89.3% |
| Denver Green School Southeast | 549 | 5.9% | 90.2% |
| Godsman Elementary School | 325 | 5.9% | 88.7% |
| Highline Academy Northeast | 593 | 5.9% | 89.7% |
| Trevista at Horace Mann | 447 | 5.9% | 90.9% |
| Emily Griffith High School | 371 | 50.8% | 45.6% |
| Castro Elementary School | 231 | 6% | 91.4% |
| Joe Shoemaker School | 439 | 6% | 89.1% |
| Robert F. Smith STEAM Academy | 44 | 6.2% | 83.3% |
| Monarch Montessori | 247 | 6.3% | 88.7% |
| Traylor Academy | 307 | 6.3% | 88.5% |
| Barnum Elementary School | 324 | 6.4% | 89.8% |
| Force Elementary School | 306 | 6.5% | 88.3% |
| Place Bridge Academy | 816 | 6.5% | 89.9% |
| Montclair School of Academics and Enrichment | 342 | 6.6% | 88.8% |
| North High School | 1,635 | 6.6% | 89.3% |
| STRIVE Prep – Westwood | 380 | 6.6% | 92.2% |
| College View Elementary School | 317 | 6.8% | 87.4% |
| DSST: College View High School | 543 | 6.8% | 89.1% |
| STRIVE Prep – Rise | 565 | 6.8% | 87.5% |
| Bear Valley International School | 374 | 6.9% | 87.9% |
| DSST: Elevate Northeast High School | 447 | 6.9% | 89.1% |
| Kunsmiller Creative Arts Academy | 789 | 6.9% | 87.2% |
| Colfax Elementary School | 257 | 7% | 91.4% |
| Cowell Elementary School | 270 | 7% | 89.6% |
| Sabin World School | 555 | 7% | 90.7% |
| DCIS at Ford | 464 | 7.1% | 89.6% |
| Kepner Beacon Middle School | 462 | 7.1% | 88.4% |
| KIPP Sunshine Peak Academy | 364 | 7.1% | 88.5% |
| Oakland Elementary | 301 | 7.2% | 87.2% |
| Schmitt Elementary School | 182 | 7.2% | 91.9% |
| Hallett Academy | 266 | 7.3% | 89.8% |
| Hamilton Middle School | 700 | 7.3% | 87.6% |
| Northeast Early College | 572 | 7.3% | 87.3% |
| Denver Center for International Studies | 454 | 7.4% | 89.1% |
| Farrell B. Howell ECE-8 School | 597 | 7.4% | 87.5% |
| Swansea Elementary School | 384 | 7.4% | 88.4% |
| DCIS at Montbello | 1,095 | 7.5% | 87.7% |
| DSST Middle School @ Noel Campus | 452 | 7.5% | 89.2% |
| KIPP Northeast Denver Leadership Academy | 559 | 7.5% | 86.7% |
| Samuels Elementary School | 477 | 7.5% | 87.9% |
| Columbian Elementary School | 171 | 7.6% | 85.7% |
| Dora Moore ECE-8 School | 317 | 7.6% | 88% |
| Eagleton Elementary School | 241 | 7.6% | 86.4% |
| Rocky Mountain Prep: Southwest | 431 | 7.6% | 91.2% |
| Goldrick Elementary School | 328 | 7.7% | 89% |
| Hill Campus of Arts and Sciences | 612 | 7.7% | 86.9% |
| Marie L. Greenwood Academy | 601 | 7.7% | 88.1% |
| Sandra Todd-Williams Academy | 120 | 7.7% | 84.3% |
| STRIVE Prep – Sunnyside | 168 | 7.7% | 87.1% |
| Academy 360 | 231 | 7.8% | 87.6% |
| Escalante-Biggs Academy | 304 | 7.8% | 86.9% |
| Denver Montessori Junior/Senior High School | 178 | 7.9% | 85.9% |
| George Washington High School | 1,272 | 7.9% | 85.9% |
| Doull Elementary School | 348 | 8% | 91.2% |
| Johnson Elementary School | 286 | 8% | 89.5% |
| Maxwell Elementary School | 637 | 8% | 88.7% |
| Knapp Elementary School | 362 | 8.2% | 87.9% |
| Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Early College | 1,022 | 8.5% | 86.1% |
| Munroe Elementary School | 330 | 8.5% | 88% |
| DSST: Cole Middle School | 268 | 8.6% | 87.4% |
| Denver School of Innovation and Sustainable Design | 94 | 8.7% | 83.7% |
| DSST: Cole High School | 308 | 8.8% | 87.2% |
| Manual High School | 362 | 8.8% | 86.1% |
| West Middle School | 225 | 8.8% | 85.5% |
| Whittier ECE-8 School | 214 | 8.8% | 87.4% |
| McGlone Academy | 835 | 9% | 87.5% |
| West High School | 563 | 9.3% | 86% |
| Cheltenham Elementary School | 386 | 9.4% | 86.2% |
| Valdez Elementary School | 412 | 9.4% | 88.1% |
| KIPP Denver Collegiate High School | 471 | 9.5% | 85.6% |
| McAuliffe Manual Middle School | 235 | 9.9% | 84.1% |
| County | 88,694 | 6.3% | 89.3% |
| State | 866,824 | 3.4% | 91.5% |
Information in this story was obtained from the Colorado Department of Education. The source data can be found here.
