A charter elementary school will open this fall in Park Hill’s Holly Square, an area long known for its gang activity, which has seen an influx of youth-oriented organizations recently.
, a brand new charter school, and the Urban Land Conservancy announced earlier this month that the school would open in August and the two organizations are looking to design and build a new school building in the square by 2016. Denver Public Schools approved Roots’ charter last year.
The school is already fully enrolled and fully staffed. It will open Aug. 10 with 100 kindergarten and first-grade students in its temporary home at the Hope Center, 3475 Holly St. The school will expand by one grade each year until it reaches fifth grade. At full capacity, the school will hold 500 students.
The school will join other youth-serving organizations now populating the square, including the Vickers Boys and Girls Club, Pauline Robinson Library and Hiawatha Davis Recreation Center.
“We’re excited to be part of the renaissance happening there,” Roots Elementary founder and executive director Jon Hanover said.
Urban Land Conservancy vice president of site development Tony Pickett said the community was involved in selecting the school for Holly Square, which beat out several other possibilities, including a grocery store and health clinic. ULC bought the in 2008.
Pickett said the school made the most sense because of the partnership opportunities with the library, rec center and Boys and Girls Club.
“Everyone understands this campus for children makes logical sense in supporting kids in that area,” Pickett said.
Hope Center executive director Geri Grimes agreed and said it complements all of the support systems available in the square to both children and adults.
“I think it’s additional support for the children in that area,” Grimes said. “I do think it supports what the Hope Center’s mission is about.”
Hanover said one of the focuses of the school will be to maintain a presence in the community and added that most of the students will be coming from northeast Denver with about half of the students close enough to walk to school.
Joe Vaccarelli: 303-954-2396, jvaccarelli@denverpost.com or twitter.com/joe_vacc
