Denver School of The Arts

What Denver School of The Arts does

Denver School of the Arts (DSA) is a public secondary arts magnet school within the Denver Public Schools (DPS) district, serving more than 1,000 students in grades 6 through 12 at a single campus at 7111 Montview Blvd in Denver, Colorado. Founded in 1991 and relocated to its current purpose-built facility (the former University of Denver Lamont School of Music building) in 2003, the school pairs a college-preparatory academic curriculum — including Advanced Placement and Concurrent Enrollment coursework — with intensive daily instruction in eleven arts majors: Band, Creative Writing, Dance, Guitar, Orchestra, Piano, Stagecraft & Design, Theatre, Video Cinema Arts, Visual Arts, and Vocal Music. Operations are supported by a faculty of approximately 40 arts instructors and standard district-wide educational technology, including the Schoology learning management system, the Infinite Campus student information system, and Google Workspace. Facility features include a 550-seat multi-purpose theatre, a 320-seat recital hall, a 120-seat dance theatre, a black box theatre, and a film-video sound stage.

DSA is tuition-free and admits students through the centralized DPS SchoolChoice enrollment system, which routes applicants through an audition-and-lottery process; admissions are constrained by facility capacity rather than price. Revenue is primarily per-pupil funding from Denver Public Schools, supplemented by a $1,500-per-student voluntary "Fill the Gap" fundraising campaign, the affiliated DSA Friends Foundation (501(c)(3)) gala and donor programs, and tiered ticket sales for public performances ($10 student / $25 adult). Programmatic gaps not covered by district funding — including guest artists, the Student Success Fund, and capital improvements — are financed through the Foundation.

The school's competitive position rests on the depth of its eleven-arts curriculum, a roster of professional-performing-artist faculty (including mentors from the Colorado Symphony and Colorado Ballet Orchestra), and an externally validated track record: two national championships at the ASTA National Orchestra Festival, the 2020 American Prize in Orchestral Performance (High School Division), selection as one of three full orchestras at the 2022 Midwest Clinic, and four consecutive Best-in-State honors for its literary magazine. Near-100% of graduates matriculate to post-secondary institutions, including conservatories and competitive four-year programs.

Name

Denver School of The Arts

Legal name

Denver School of the Arts

Website

https://dsa.dpsk12.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Denver School of the Arts is a tuition-free DPS public magnet secondary school in Denver, Colorado, serving 1,000+ students in grades 6–12 across eleven arts majors alongside a college-preparatory academic curriculum at a single purpose-built campus.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Secondary Arts Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Fine Arts Schools (611610)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Charter Arts & Performing Arts Schools (EDAJACAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Performing Arts Programs (Band, Choir, Orchestra, Theater) (EDAJAJAE), Music Schools & Conservatory Prep (Pre-College) (EDAMANAE)

Keywords

• Arts magnet school
• Secondary arts education
• College preparatory program
• Performing arts curriculum
• Visual arts education

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, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Per-Pupil Funding from Denver Public Schools: DSA receives per-pupil funding from Denver Public Schools as a public magnet school. However, this funding falls short of the actual cost of providing the arts and academic program.
2. Fill the Gap Campaign Donations: Annual fundraising campaign launched in 2017 requesting $1500 per student to bridge the funding gap between district allocation and actual program costs. Funds support arts and academic programs, capital improvements, financial assistance for low-income students, and DEI programming.
3. Performance Ticket Sales: The school generates revenue through ticket sales for performances including theatre productions, concerts, dance recitals, and film screenings. Ticket prices range from $10 for students to $25 for adults.
4. DSA Friends Foundation Fundraising: The nonprofit foundation conducts annual galas and other fundraising events to support DSA programming, guest artists, and the Student Success Fund.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Denver School of the Arts is a public magnet secondary school that delivers tuition-free arts and academic education to more than 1,000 students in grades 6-12 through eleven specialized arts majors (Band, Creative Writing, Dance, Guitar, Orchestra, Piano, Stagecraft & Design, Theatre, Video Cinema Arts, Visual Arts, and Vocal Music) combined with a rigorous college-preparatory academic curriculum including AP and Concurrent Enrollment coursework. Students are admitted via the DPS SchoolChoice application and audition process, and graduates achieve near-100% placement into colleges, universities, and conservatory programs.

Product overview

Denver School of the Arts (DSA) is a public magnet arts school offering a comprehensive arts and academic education program for middle and high school students (grades 6-12). The school provides intensive daily involvement in eleven specialized arts programs: Band, Creative Writing, Dance, Guitar, Orchestra, Piano, Stagecraft & Design, Theatre, Video Cinema Arts, Visual Arts, and Vocal Music. These arts majors form the core educational products, each providing discipline-specific training in state-of-the-art facilities including a 550-seat theatre, 320-seat recital hall, and 120-seat dance theatre. In addition to arts education, DSA offers academic programs including Advanced Placement (AP) courses and Concurrent Enrollment opportunities. The school also provides student support services including college counseling, the Student Success Fund for financial assistance, and National Honor Society membership. DSA's architecture is centered around these arts majors, with rigorous academics supporting the creative curriculum, and nearly 100% of graduates pursuing post-secondary education in colleges, universities, or conservatory programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• DSA Friends Foundation: The school's fundraising arm that supports DSA's vision through enhancing programming, inclusiveness, and diversity initiatives. Raises funds for aspects not funded by Denver Public Schools.

Products and services

• Band Program Comprehensive band program offering wind ensemble, concert band, and jazz workshop orchestra instruction for students in grades 6-12.
• Creative Writing Program Intensive creative writing program covering fiction, poetry, scriptwriting, and creative nonfiction with emphasis on developing individual voices and literary craft.
• Dance Program Classical and contemporary pre-professional dance program offering training in ballet, modern, jazz, dance history, composition, and dance conditioning for middle and high school students.
• Guitar Program In-depth classical and jazz guitar performance program for students in grades 6-12, covering technique, music theory, composition, and ensemble performance.
• Orchestra Program

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 100% of graduates placed into post-secondary colleges, universities, or conservatory programs
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Denver Public SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDSA operates as a magnet school within Denver Public Schools. DPS provides per-pupil funding, administrative support, HR services, transportation, and access to district-wide programs including concurrent enrollment, Schoology LMS, and the SchoolChoice enrollment system. DSA is governed by DPS policies while maintaining autonomy over its arts curriculum.
• DSA Friends FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe DSA Friends Foundation is a nonprofit organization that supports the school's vision by enhancing programming, inclusiveness, and diversity. The foundation funds aspects not covered by district funding including the Guest Artist Program, Student Success Fund, and capital improvements. It organizes the annual Brilliance Gala and manages the Fill the Gap Campaign asking families for $1500 per student.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Houston High School for the Performing and Visual Arts (HSPVA): Public magnet secondary school in Houston, TX serving grades 9-12 with audition-based admission and conservatory-style arts training; directly comparable to DSA in scale, model, and outcomes.
• New World School of the Arts: Public magnet arts school in Miami jointly operated with Miami Dade College and University of Florida, offering pre-college arts majors; directly comparable to DSA's dual arts/academic structure and college-placement focus.
• Frank Sinatra School of the Arts: Public magnet secondary school in Queens, NY operated as a NYC DOE school with audition-based admission and multiple arts majors; closely comparable to DSA in structure and mission.
• Duke Ellington School of the Arts: Public magnet high school in Washington, DC serving grades 9-12 with audition-based admission and multiple arts majors; nearest direct comparable to DSA in mission, governance, and program structure.
• Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts: Public magnet high school in Dallas, TX (part of DISD) offering four arts disciplines with audition-based admission; comparable to DSA's magnet-arts model and college-preparatory mission.
• Las Vegas Academy of the Arts: Public magnet high school in Las Vegas (CCSD) offering intensive arts majors within a college-prep framework; directly comparable to DSA in audition-based admissions and professional facility standards.
• Baltimore School for the Arts: Public magnet high school in Baltimore offering pre-professional arts training alongside college-prep academics; comparable to DSA's audition-based admission and dual arts/academic model.
• Los Angeles County High School for the Arts (LACHSA): Public magnet secondary school in Los Angeles offering conservatory-style training across multiple arts disciplines; directly comparable to DSA as a free, audition-based public arts magnet for grades 6-12.

Emerging players

• Idyllwild Arts Academy: Private boarding arts high school in California serving grades 9-12 with pre-professional arts majors; comparable to DSA's 11-major structure and college-prep focus, though operating under a private tuition model.
• Interlochen Arts Academy: Private boarding arts high school in Michigan offering pre-professional training across all of DSA's disciplines; comparable in curriculum and outcomes but operates as a private (tuition-based) institution rather than a public magnet.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/dsaschool
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCO3N5L-EUbcG3V2zVJpZ8xA
• Facebookfacebook.com/DenverSchooloftheArts
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/denver-school-of-the-arts-04
• Instagraminstagram.com/denverschoolofthearts

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 School of The Arts