Melanie Asmar

Melanie Asmar covers Denver Public Schools. Asmar previously worked as a reporter for Westword newspaper in Denver and for a daily newspaper in her native New Hampshire. She joined Chalkbeat Colorado in 2015.

Black students in Denver are much more likely to be ticketed or arrested at school

June 11, 2020 at 7:51 a.m.

As Denver school board members make their case for removing police from schools, elected officials and advocates are pointing to strong data that shows Denver鈥檚 Black students are disproportionately funneled...

Denver Public Schools to begin conversation about role of police in schools

June 3, 2020 at 8:11 a.m.

The Denver school district is expected to begin a conversation about the role of police officers in Denver schools -- with some leaders pushing to remove them entirely.

Legacy High School grad, Ryen Hilton ...

“It was so special”: Colorado high schools host creative graduations during the pandemic

May 26, 2020 at 11:25 a.m.

Graduation comes at a tenuous time in the public battle to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Many people are pent up after weeks of tight restrictions, and families are...

Eight-year-old and gymnast Allie Vanderploeg, left, ...

A majority of students in Denver and Jeffco are engaging in online learning, districts say

May 7, 2020 at 5:39 p.m.

Most students in Colorado鈥檚 two largest school districts are participating in remote learning, according to data from the districts. But statewide, it抖阴ap harder to tell how many Colorado children are...

Facing “dire” budget shortfall, Denver school board may consider pay freezes, school mergers

April 20, 2020 at 8:30 a.m.

The Denver school district is bracing for a 鈥渄ire financial situation鈥� next year, in the likely case that a coronavirus-induced economic downturn decimates Colorado education funding.

Denver high school students can now choose to earn letter grades 鈥� or not

April 17, 2020 at 9:08 a.m.

Students will now have a choice: For each class, they can decide whether they want to receive a letter grade or would prefer their transcript to show that they earned...

Memes and multitasking: How Denver teachers prepared for launch of remote learning

April 7, 2020 at 7:56 a.m.

Denver Public Schools makes the monumental shift to remote learning Tuesday after a three-week 鈥渆xtended spring break鈥� during which classes were canceled. The district announced Friday that online learning will...

Two Denver students under quarantine after contact with family friend with coronavirus

March 9, 2020 at 5:54 a.m.

Two students at Denver鈥檚 East High School who were exposed to a man who tested presumptive positive for the new coronavirus are under self-quarantine, according to a letter sent to...

Colorado schools are “investigating themselves” when it comes to restraining, secluding students

February 26, 2020 at 8:26 a.m.

Nearly every day, Brenna Wann saw staff members take young students, sometimes kicking and screaming, to the 鈥渜uiet room鈥� of her Colorado elementary school.

Denver鈥檚 Lincoln and Manual high schools ordered to follow improvement plans

February 14, 2020 at 10:28 a.m.

For the first time ever, two Denver schools faced state action Thursday after years of low performance. But rather than close the schools or convert them to charters, the State...

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