Editor’s note: The SHIFT Chronicles is a new monthly feature dedicated to amplifying student voices, where those most impacted by the public education system share their thoughts, reflections, and experiences. In collaboration with FaithBridge SHIFT fellows, these commentaries offer a genuine glimpse into the challenges students are facing within our city’s schools. These students represent a diverse range of schools across the city, each with distinct cultures and expectations, yet all united under the DPS banner. A special thank you to all the student writers who contributed their entries.
This month’s articles respond to the following prompt:
We live in a great city and our mayor and city leaders can work with our schools to improve our living and learning experiences.
After reviewing the 2025 Denver city budget, how can the city and the schools work together to improve the experiences for students?
Think about what you learned the state is doing and how that relates to the city level?
Is the city doing enough? How are parks and recreation centers supporting students? How is the office of social equity and innovation helpful?
Zoe Cooperman, sophomore, Thomas Jefferson High School
We are so lucky to be living in a city as great as Denver, where a lot of us are concerned about making our communities improve.
I believe that the mayor and the city authorities can work together with Denver Public Schools (DPS) to ensure better learning conditions for students like me. Once I learned about the city budget in 2025, I knew that the city already has some programs running that help children, but there are so many more that the city and schools can collaborate on to help us—especially when it comes to recreation and safety.
The Denver Parks and Recreation Department is one of the best resources the city has, especially for students. It runs 30 recreation centers and 32 pools within the city and has all types of activities for people of all ages.
For the kids, they have youth sports, swim lessons, and fitness programs that allow us to stay healthy and in shape. These rec centers are open from Monday to Thursday from 6:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., on Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., and on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. That leaves us with plenty of time outside of school to get involved, hang out with friends, and avoid “getting into trouble.”
In 2023, more than 90,000 kids signed up for programs, and students used their My Denver Card more than 415,000 times to get these services free. That’s just how important these centers are to students.
But it all isn’t perfect. Budget cuts have fallen on janitorial and maintenance at several of the centers, and regional leaders in communities like Montbello fear the changes will only make it harder for students in low-income neighborhoods to access these important facilities. If rec centers start closing up early or are unable to stay clean and safe, then hundreds of students would no longer be able to use a facility they count on.
This is where the rec centers and schools must work better together. The schools could partner with rec centers and share their facilities or build after-school activities that take place in the school. Then even after the school day is completed, kids have somewhere to be where they can learn, exercise, or even just hang around.
Another city department that isn’t doing nearly enough for students is the Office of Social Equity and Innovation. This office exists to make certain that city programs are fair and offer equal access to all, especially to individuals who live in neighborhoods that receive little attention or funding.
The office has some big plans, although recently it was reported that it lacks clear goals or measures of success. Nevertheless, it is supervising the new Office of Neighborhood Safety, which was given over $11 million in the 2025 budget. If these organizations can work with DPS, they could possibly make the schools safer and help families through community resources or violence prevention conflict resolution programs that build stronger relationships.
Statewide, Colorado is attempting to improve schools through increased funding, teacher pay raises, and education reform. It is important that the city supports the same initiatives.
Today, about 80% of the DPS budget is allocated to teachers. That sounds like a good figure, but perhaps it is not enough in a city like Denver, where the cost of living and housing is high. The city can improve by offering teachers options for lower-cost housing or offering incentives to teachers who teach in schools of greatest need.
Keeping our good teachers in our schools is one of the best methods of improving learning for everyone.
Overall, I think Denver is doing a lot of good things especially for students but there’s still more work to be done. The schools and the city must continue building stronger partnerships, specifically in sharing spaces like rec centers, making safer communities, and supporting teachers and students.
With effective collaboration and a focus on equity, our city can be one where every student possesses the resources, tools, and opportunities needed to thrive—within the classroom and outside in the community.
Josee McKinnis, sophomore, DSST Montview
In the heart of Denver, our vibrant city pulses with the energy of its youth.
Every day, thousands of students walk the halls of our schools, each carrying dreams, challenges, and the hope for a brighter future. As we look toward the 2025 city budget, it’s clear that our mayor and city leaders have a unique opportunity to work hand-in-hand with schools to transform the living and learning experiences for these young minds.
The city and the school district can work together to ensure support around academic success. On average students are in school 175 days out of the year. This leaves 190 days that students are out of school. This doesn’t include the time after school that students are not in school.
There are many days and hours that students are not in school and they are not getting the academic support they need. Students who are behind or need extra support often look for it after school or during out-of-school time. A student who is struggling could find themselves at home, unable to access the extra help they need.
The city should increase funding for educational programs like after-school tutoring and summer learning camps. These initiatives can be a lifeline for students, offering them the support they need to excel academically and pursue their passions. If the city works with the district to provide support for students who need it most it could help close the achievement gaps.
To serve students, community collaboration is key. The Denver Youth Employment Program matches students with jobs where professionals from various fields guide students through career exploration. This is not just about academics; it’s about building relationships and opening doors.
When city leaders facilitate these partnerships, they empower students to envision a future filled with possibilities, just by helping students find their passion through summer internship programs. DYEP is a great resource but there are few students who know about it and take advantage of it. The city should put more money into the program so they can support more students in need.
Parks and recreation centers play a crucial role in supporting students by offering safe spaces for physical activity, social interaction, and community engagement. The city can enhance these facilities by providing free or reduced-cost access to students for sports, arts, and recreational programs.
By promoting physical health and well-being, these centers can contribute to a more balanced and fulfilling student experience. My Denver Card is a great resource for students. The city could approve the recreation centers by pushing for quality across all recreation centers regardless of geographical region.
In a city as diverse as Denver, the Office of Social Equity and Innovation plays a crucial role in ensuring that every student has access to the resources they need. This office can identify disparities in educational access and develop targeted initiatives to support underrepresented students.
As we reflect on the potential for collaboration between city leaders and schools, it’s clear that we have the power to create a brighter future for our students. By investing in education, building partnerships, enhancing community resources, and championing inclusivity, we can ensure that every child in Denver has the opportunity to thrive.
Together, let’s work to create an environment where dreams are nurtured, challenges are met with support, and every student feels valued and empowered to succeed.In the end, it’s not just about policies and budgets; it’s about the lives we touch and the futures we shape.
Let’s make Denver a city where every student can shine.
Lily Becker, sophomore, George Washington High School
It’s a beautiful spring day as I stroll through a park. I can feel the wind brushing against my face, blooming flowers engulfing my senses, I can feel the sun gradually warm my skin. I’m able to pause, to reflect, able to escape the suffocation of school life.
When I look in the eyes of my fellow students, when I peer into their souls, I see people overrun with anxiety and stress. They have their whole lives ahead of them, they work vigorously for the fate they desire; never catching a break.
However, from time to time we need breaks, whether it is just walking outside or just going to the rec center to let off some steam.
That’s why it’s so important for Denver Parks and Recreation (DPR) to put effort into creating these spaces for students. Whether Denver Parks and Recreation realizes it or not, they do leave a significant impact. Students who live in different regions experience very different recreation centers.
The 2025 Denver city budget allotted 19% of the capital improvement funding to parks and recreation. I hope this money is spent on improving the quality of recreation centers in underserved neighborhoods. Along with capital improvements they need to ensure that program quality is good. Students need breaks, to reflect on their purpose outside of school. Denver Parks and Recreation helps create those breaks.
Denver Parks and Recreation runs youth programs, such as My Denver Card. But a program that could have a real lasting impact on the youth, specifically students, would be a mentorship program. Students need someone to help guide them through the struggles that come when walking down the path of life, someone other than their parents.
Students need insight from different perspectives to help shape them into more complete individuals. The city should partner with organizations like FaithBridge to make this happen.
The Denver Youth Employment Program is a great concept but it is not well known to students. The city, The school district and community partners need to work together to support students in need. Students are influenced from all different areas: school, home and community. All three must be aligned. Youth violence prevention is needed but there could be more preventative efforts that are framed around hope not despair.
Many students are struggling with mental health issues and violence results from that. The city should be partnering with the district and community to address the mental health crisis, which increases during out-of-school times.
It makes me question whether $8.5 million is enough for key programs that support our youth.
I would like to see more funding from the city going into programs that mentor young people at a high quality. That is the best youth violence prevention you could invest in.
