Our Impact

Our Impact

Demography is not destiny. All kids can achieve at the highest levels.

While less than 30% of children from low-income households in our state are going on to earn post-secondary degrees, more than 90% of U Prep alumni are on that trajectory. Our schools prove that a family’s zip code and socioeconomic status do not dictate their academic achievement or future life opportunities. (Source)

Student Trajectory to Post-Secondary Degrees

In Colorado, 95% of Tier 1 jobs, that provide a family-sustaining income, 
require post-secondary education completion.

28.6%

Students from low-income households across Colorado on track to earning a post-secondary certificate/degree

90%+

U Prep Founding Class on track to earning a post-secondary certificate/degree

Source

Highest Performing Band

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Class of 2027
U Prep Founders

Listen to the voices of our founding scholars as they become true outliers in our city and state. Learn about their experiences at U Prep that stick with them into adulthood, and the incredible aspirations they are pursuing.

Schools where our founding scholars have enrolled

Post-Secondary School Pennants

University Pennants

Schools where our founding scholars have enrolled

 

  • Belmont University
  • Case Western Reserve University
  • Clark Atlanta University
  • Colorado School of Mines
  • Colorado State University
  • CU Boulder
  • Florida Agriculture & Mechanical University
  • Howard University
  • Langston University
  • Louisiana State University
  • Metro State University
  • Oregon State University
  • Regis University
  • Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design
  • South Carolina State University
  • University of Florida
  • University of Oregon
  • University of Northern Colorado
  • Xavier University
  • Xavier University of Louisiana
Post-Secondary School Pennants

U Prep’s Current Performance

U Prep Continuum Ceremony

2023–24 5th Grade Outcomes

5th graders at our Steele St. campus were absolute outliers in their end of school year outcomes. In Math, for example, they performed above the state average for all children and more than 20% ahead of similar student demographics from across Colorado. In ELA, they were nearly 10% ahead of similar student demographics.

20%

 ahead of similar student
demographics in Colorado
arrow-pink
U Prep Student Reading

2023-24 Early Literacy (K–2) Outcomes

U Prep drove tremendous growth in its youngest learners across K–2nd grade. From the start of the year to the end, Arapahoe St. scholars rocketed by 26%, closing the year with more than 60% of children reading at or above grade level. At Steele St., scholars jumped by 24%, closing the year with 74% of children reading at or above grade level.

% of Scholars At or Above Benchmark for
Foundational Reading Skills (DIBELS)

K–2 Arapahoe St. (2023–2024)

K–2 Steele St. (2023–2024)

Scholars-At-or-Above-Benchmark-Steele-Street

U Prep has instilled a mentality of never giving up even when things get hard. Being consistent and disciplined in the school environment has helped me develop very good habits such as being punctual, stimulating great conversations, and maintaining strong critical thinking skills.

Schuylar, U Prep Alumni

A History of Game Changing Results Since Opening

U Prep 5th Graders – 2017–18

U Prep scholars dramatically outperformed their peer group across the city, scoring 3x greater in the percentage of children meeting or exceeding expectations on the state assessment in Math and English Language Arts.

3xDifference

Strongest Turnaround School
in the History of CO – 2016–17

In 2016-17, U Prep’s Steele St. campus achieved what had never been done before. After being the lowest performing school in Denver Public Schools (in 2015–16), it skyrocketed to the top 10% of schools in the city. Out of nearly 1,500 elementary schools in the state, the campus had the #1 growth in mathematics and 8th highest growth in English Language Arts.

*Through 2015-16, the school was operated as Pioneer Charter School. U Prep took over operations in the 2016-17 school year.

#1Growth

Arapahoe Street Proves
What’s Possible – 2015–16

In their final year (5th grade), original U Prep founders reversed our state’s historic achievement gap. Our scholars, nearly 90% living in poverty, outperformed kids from non-impoverished households across CO. In doing so, they obliterated the state proficiency averages by more than 15%. In doing so, they obliterated the state proficiency averages by more than 15%, and earned the districts’ highest performance rating—Distinguished.

Distinguished
Rating

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