EOS contributes to 27J’s triumphant graduation rates

For the fifth year in a row, 27J boasts the highest graduation rate among Adams County peer districts. 27J Schools also tied with Cherry Creek Schools for the third highest rate among the largest districts in the Denver metro area at 90.9%. On top of those successes, 27J also holds the highest Denver metro Hispanic graduation rate. 

The key to 27J’s continued ability to increase student success and graduation rates? A commitment to empowering every student today to take control of their future tomorrow. 

How does the district make sure that they’re empowering every student? By finding where inequities in the system are holding some students back and taking decisive action to solve them.

Across the United States, there’s a problem in Advanced Placement (AP) classrooms. Low-income students and students of color are massively underrepresented in AP enrollment. 27J officials saw this problem and decided the district needed to work on closing this equity gap in their schools.

To erase the gap, 27J engaged with Equal Opportunity Schools (EOS) five years ago at Brighton and Prairie View high schools, followed by Riverdale Ridge High School once it opened. EOS is a company that works with 27J to provide tools, resources, data collection, and initiate conversations around equity and more. 

Through this partnership, EOS takes the profile of students in AP courses and identifies students of color who match the profile but are not enrolled in an AP course–finding students who “should” be in these courses. These students are then encouraged to take higher-level courses and provided the support needed to succeed in the highest levels of learning.

These EOS students identify a trusted adult in their school, and their trusted staff member then supports them in academic conversations like study skills, career choices, and course options. As a result of EOS, our schools are able to make meaningful change through additional support services like office hours, study groups, and a focus on long-term learning and consistent teachers. 

As a result of 27J’s partnership with EOS, the district has served 47% Asian, 31% Black/African American, and 28% Hispanic/Latinx students in the 2022-23 school year. These are students who enrolled in an AP course through EOS outreach efforts.

Thanks to our partnerships with EOS, we are able to give low-income students and students of color the opportunity to succeed at the highest level, and our graduation rates are a reflection of this successful partnership.

Learn more about our partnership with EOS: eoschools.org/