Denver School of Science & Technology has a one-in-three shot at getting President Barack Obama to speak at its graduation ceremony later this month.
The Stapleton charter school was one of the top three vote-getters among six U.S. high schools competing in the online Race to the Top Commencement Challenge. Voting at ended Thursday.
On Tuesday, Obama will announce where he plans to deliver a commencement address.
An estimated 170,000 people voted in the poll, with “all of the schools finishing within half a point of one another,” the White House said.
Kalamazoo Central High School in Michigan and Clark Montessori High School in Cincinnati are the other schools in the running.
Schools that don’t get Obama for graduation will get a senior member of his Cabinet.
So what is the tale of the tape among the three remaining schools?
• The Denver school is the only charter among the three. Of its 431 students, 40 percent are white, 31 percent black and 26 percent Latino. Thirty-four percent are eligible for federal meal benefits. For three years starting in 2006, the school reported the highest median student growth in Colorado and was the highest-rated school in Denver.
Most likely to succeed because all of its seniors have been accepted to four-year colleges and half of those will be the first in their families to go. Also, the school focuses on science, math and technology — key components of Obama’s education platform.
• Kalamazoo Central, founded 150 years ago, was the first high school in Michigan. Of its 1,544 students, 52 percent are black and 39 percent white. Forty-nine percent are eligible for federal meal benefits.
Most likely to succeed because it has sent 91 percent of its seniors to college since 2006. Enrollment in Advanced Placement classes increased by 221 percent, and the boys basketball team won this year’s state championship.
• Clark Montessori was the first public Montessori high school in the country. Of its 447 students, 46 percent black and 44 percent white. Thirty-three percent are eligible for federal meal benefits.
Most likely to succeed because every member of the class of 2010 is expected to go to college, with a third of those being the first in their families to do so. Also, all students must complete 200 hours of community service.
Jeremy P. Meyer: 303-954-1367 or jpmeyer@denverpost.com
