Denver Green School

What Denver Green School does

Denver Green School (DGS) is a public K-8 neighborhood innovation school located at 6700 E Virginia Ave in the Virginia Vale neighborhood of Denver, Colorado, operating within Denver Public Schools (DPS). Founded around 2010-2011, the school was inspired by Andrew Post's vision of connecting environmental and educational principles, and today serves students from kindergarten through 8th grade across a two-classrooms-per-grade structure. It is part of the Luminary Learning Network, Denver's first Innovation Zone, which grants the school board-approved autonomy to implement its own program design.

The school's core educational offering is built around a "hands-on, brains-on" project-based approach, supported by distinctive physical infrastructure: a one-acre farm operated by Sprout City Farms (established 2011) that supplies the school cafeteria and runs a CSA program and neighborhood farm stand, and a 20,000 sq ft learning garden (Andrew's Garden) with class gardens, an amphitheater, compost bins, and a fruit orchard. Curriculum uses CKLA and Orton-Gillingham for reading, a problem-based math curriculum in K-5, and integrates sustainability themes across grades. Specialized programs include Gifted and Talented "Challenge Programming" at double the standard DPS staffing level, full-time reading and math interventionists, special education services (including Autism Center programs), English Language Development, and Transitional Native Language Programming (TNLI) in Spanish launching in Fall 2025. The school day runs 8:50am-4:20pm Mon-Thu, 45 minutes longer than standard DPS.

DGS is funded primarily through DPS per-pupil operational allocations, supplemented by student activity fees ($75 K-3, $100 4-8) paid via MySchoolBucks and federal meal funding tied to free/reduced lunch applications. Go-to-market is community-led: prospective families enroll through the DPS School Choice centralized process, with guaranteed seats for residents in the Central East Elementary Zone and open enrollment for grades 6-8. Awareness is driven through the school's website, Instagram and Facebook presence, and spring tours. Governance follows an unusual shared-leadership model with three Lead Partners (Jessica Krichbaum, Prudence Daniels, Jose Piza). Technology integrations are limited to standard K-12 administrative platforms (Infinite Campus, Google Workspace, MySchoolBucks, Schoolcafe, Team360Sports, Parent Portal), with no disclosed AI/ML capabilities.

Name

Denver Green School

Legal name

Denver Green School

Website

https://denvergreenschool.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Denver Green School is a public K-8 neighborhood innovation school in Denver, Colorado, within Denver Public Schools and the Luminary Learning Network, serving Virginia Vale families through project-based, sustainability-focused education supported by an on-site farm and 20,000 sq ft learning garden.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Denver

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Per-Pupil Funding: As a public school within Denver Public Schools, DGS receives per-pupil operational funding from DPS based on enrollment. This is the primary funding mechanism.
2. Student Activity Fees: Annual student activity fees of $75 for K-3rd grade and $100 for 4th-8th grade, paid through MySchoolBucks. These fees support classroom excursions and learning materials.
3. Lunch Applications and Federal Meal Funding: All families complete the free/reduced lunch application (via myschoolapps.com), which determines school meal eligibility and can generate additional per-pupil funding for the school based on the number of qualifying students.
4. Innovation Zone Grant Funding: As part of the Luminary Learning Network (Innovation Zone), DGS receives greater flexibility and autonomy in implementing its program design, which may include access to innovation-focused grant funding.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Denver Green School is a public K-8 Neighborhood Innovation School that delivers a project-based, sustainability-focused educational program to students from Kindergarten through 8th grade in the Virginia Vale neighborhood of Denver. Its core offering is the K-8 educational program — a tuition-free public school service funded by Denver Public Schools per-pupil allocations, supplemented by an on-site one-acre farm (Sprout City Farms), a 20,000 sq ft learning garden (Andrew's Garden), specialized programs in reading (CKLA, Orton-Gillingham), math, Gifted and Talented, Special Education, Multilingual/ELD, Transitional Native Language Instruction, arts, and middle school athletics.

Product overview

Denver Green School operates as a K-8 Neighborhood Innovation School within the Luminary Learning Network, offering a comprehensive educational program built around sustainability, project-based learning, and shared leadership. The core K-8 Educational Program is supplemented by specialized offerings including the on-site Sprout City Farms (1-acre farm), Andrew's Garden (20,000 sq ft learning laboratory), Gifted and Talented Challenge Programming, Special Education Services, English Language Development/Multilingual Programs, and Reading/Math Intervention. The school offers two reading programs (CKLA and Orton-Gillingham) and problem-based math curriculum. Additional programs include Performing and Visual Arts, Middle School Athletics (Cross Country, Soccer, Volleyball, Basketball, Flag Football), an Excursion Program, and Transitional Native Language Programming (TNLI) for Spanish-speaking students. Student activity fees ($75 for K-3rd, $100 for 4th-8th) fund excursions and learning materials. The school partners with external platforms including MySchoolBucks for payments, Infinite Campus for student information, Schoolcafe for lunch menus, and DPS Transportation Services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• K-8 Educational Program Comprehensive K-8 public school program for students in the Virginia Vale neighborhood and broader Denver community via DPS School Choice. Features project-based learning, sustainability-focused curriculum, two classrooms per grade level, and a shared leadership model with emphasis on hands-on, brains-on learning experiences.
• On-Site Farm (Sprout City Farms) One-acre farm operated by Sprout City Farms on DGS school grounds. Provides fresh vegetables and herbs to the school cafeteria, a CSA program for the neighborhood, a farm stand, food and farm education programs for youth and adults, a summer internship program, and produce donations to local food banks.
• Transitional Native Language Programming (TNLI) Spanish literacy instruction program offered in elementary grades starting Fall 2025. Spanish-speaking licensed staff support students toward a goal of biliteracy. Available for families whose students already speak Spanish at home.
• Andrew's Garden 20,000 square foot learning laboratory named for founder Andrew Post. Includes class gardens, community gardens, amphitheater, compost bins, and fruit orchard. Students participate in every aspect of garden development.
• Middle School Athletics Program Athletics program in partnership with DPS Prep League offering: Cross Country and Boys Soccer (Early Fall), Volleyball and Flag Football (Late Fall), Basketball (Winter), Girls Soccer (Spring).
• Performing and Visual Arts Program Programs integrating visual arts, performing arts, and digital art. Staff includes Jordan Dwyer (Music), Aleaha Harkins (Music/Dean of Instruction), Jessie Byrnes (Visual Arts), and Barbara Javors (Theater and Dance).

Quantifiable outcome

• 2022 Whole Child Distinguished School award — recognizing equitable, inclusive environments where students are healthy, supported, engaged, challenged, safe, and socially and emotionally intelligent

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Sprout City FarmscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSprout City Farms established and maintains a one-acre farm on the DGS school grounds in spring 2011, in collaboration with DGS and Denver Urban Gardens. The farm provides fresh veggies and herbs to the school cafeteria, runs a CSA program and school farm stand for the neighborhood, offers food- and farm-related education programs for youth and adults, a summer internship program, hands-on volunteer opportunities, and produce donations to local food banks and qualifying families. Contact: [email protected]; Meg Caley at 720-319-8126.
• Denver Urban GardenscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDenver Urban Gardens collaborated with Sprout City Farms and DGS to establish the one-acre farm on the school grounds. DGS also maintains a 20,000 square foot learning garden (Andrew's Garden) with support from Denver Urban Gardens. Contact: 303-292-9900.
• Luminary Learning NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDGS is part of the Luminary Learning Network (LLN), Denver's first Innovation Zone, which allows DGS greater flexibility and autonomy to implement its Mission and Vision. The LLN provides a governance structure and innovation plan framework. DGS is updating its innovation plan for 2026.
• Denver Public Schools Prep LeaguecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDGS partners with the DPS Prep League to offer middle school athletics including Cross Country, Boys Soccer, Volleyball, Flag Football, Basketball, and Girls Soccer throughout the school year.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Highline Academy Charter School: Highline Academy is a Denver charter school serving K-8 students with a focus on character and community, recruiting through DPS School Choice. Comparable grade span, urban Denver footprint, and reliance on per-pupil public funding.
• Rocky Mountain Prep: Rocky Mountain Prep is a Denver-area charter network operating multiple K-5 and K-8 campuses that compete with DGS for School Choice applicants. Comparable grade levels, public-funding model, and Denver geography.
• Place Bridge Academy: Place Bridge Academy is a K-8 DPS innovation school serving a similarly diverse southeast Denver community through School Choice. Comparable in grade span, public-school funding model, and reliance on DPS infrastructure for transportation and choice enrollment.
• STRIVE Prep: STRIVE Prep is a Denver charter network serving K-12 scholars through DPS School Choice, with comparable college-prep and community-focused programming. Competes directly for School Choice families in similar Denver neighborhoods.
• Denver School of Innovation and Sustainable Design (DSISD): DSISD is another DPS innovation school focused on sustainable design and project-based learning in Denver, mirroring DGS's Innovation Zone status and sustainability theme. Both operate within DPS with board-approved autonomy and compete for similar School Choice families.

Broad incumbents

• DSST Public Schools: DSST is a large Denver-area charter network operating multiple 6-12 campuses that compete with DGS for middle-school families through DPS School Choice. Overlaps in STEM- and college-prep-oriented offerings but does not specialize in the K-8 sustainability niche DGS occupies.
• KIPP Colorado Public Schools: KIPP Colorado is part of the national KIPP charter network and operates multiple K-12 campuses in the Denver area competing for School Choice families. Overlaps in extended-day model and college-prep focus but operates at a broader network scale rather than a single innovation-themed campus.

Emerging players

• Escuela Bilingüe Pioneer: Escuela Bilingüe Pioneer is a Denver dual-language charter elementary school that overlaps with DGS's growing TNLI/ELD programming for Spanish-speaking families. Comparable in focus on multilingual education and DPS School Choice recruitment.

Others

• Sprout City Farms: Sprout City Farms is a core strategic partner of DGS, operating the on-site one-acre farm and providing food-and-farm education programming. Not a peer school, but a critical ecosystem partner that co-creates DGS's sustainability differentiation.
• Luminary Learning Network (Innovation Zone Schools): Luminary Learning Network is Denver's first Innovation Zone, of which DGS is a member school. Other LLN schools share DGS's board-approved autonomy and Innovation Plan framework, making them natural peer institutions even though they are governed collectively rather than competitively.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/denvergreenschool
• Facebookfacebook.com/denvergreenschool
• Instagraminstagram.com/denvergreenschool
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/denver-green-school

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Denver Green School