Latino and low-income parents in Denver rank the quality of Denver Public Schools higher than affluent, white or black parents, a survey released Wednesday said.
Denver parents also prefer charter schools over traditional schools. They like elementary schools more than secondary schools. And very few find “boutique” schools, like those specializing in arts or science, the reason to attend there.
The survey, presented to an independent panel studying school closures for DPS, polled about 750 Denver parents. Of those, half have children who attend DPS traditional schools and half have children in an out-of-district school, including private and charter schools.
The poll, done in cooperation with the University of Colorado at Denver, found that parents choose schools for the education offered, not for a school’s grade configuration or special programs.
“Parents don’t give a flip if it’s an expeditionary learning or arts school,” said Brad Jupp, DPS senior policy adviser. “It’s not that we don’t need those things … but the most important work we’re doing is laying the foundation for quality schools across the city.”
Parent Hatton Littman agrees that quality is key. Still, she said she finds that schools with a theme or special program are appealing. “The attractive schools seem to have something going on in addition to being a (regular) school,” said Littman, who has a kindergartner in DPS and was surveyed.
Academic quality is the primary reason parents leave DPS, the survey found. About 43 percent choose schools because the kids are “like your own.”
The survey found that lower-income and Latino parents liked DPS more than other groups did. Thirty-four percent of Latino parents gave DPS an A or a B grade. Only 25 percent of black parents and 23 percent of white parents gave DPS that high a grade.
Middle-class parents – those making between $35,000 and $100,000 – were the least committed to the city’s schools.
Parents earning between $15,000 and $25,000 a year, as well as those making more than $100,000 annually, were the most committed.
Perceptions about school quality will help the committee know what parents want, said John Huggins, committee chair.
Staff writer Allison Sherry can be reached at 303-954-1377 or asherry@denverpost.com.
