DSST: Cedar High School

DSST: Cedar High School in Denver, CO, is a public high school serving 546 students in grades 9–12, and it consistently ranks among the strongest high schools in the region despite its central Denver location and a student body where 57.1% qualify for free/reduced lunch. The school has earned 4-star statewide ratings for six consecutive years, placing it in the 77th–85th percentile of Colorado high schools—a stark contrast to the School District No. 1 district, which ranks in the 38th percentile.

Academically, DSST stands out dramatically, especially in math. On the 2025–2026 SAT, 74% of students were proficient in reading/writing (vs. 52% district and 60% state) and 66% were proficient in math (vs. 33% district and 32% state). Similar margins appear on PSAT9 and PSAT10 math, where DSST essentially doubles district proficiency. Compared to nearby South High School, the closest comparable 4-star school, DSST still leads in SAT math (66% vs. 53%) and PSAT9 math (68% vs. 52%). The gaps versus other area schools are enormous: KIPP Denver Collegiate High School posts 27% SAT math proficiency, West High School is at 7%, and 5280 High School reaches only 40% on SAT reading/writing.

Beyond test scores, DSST boasts exceptional graduation and dropout metrics, with graduation rates consistently above 94% and a dropout rate of just 0.7%—far better than the district's 3.2% and state's 1.6%. The school also ranks near the top statewide for African American, English Learner, and low-income students. However, a few challenges are emerging: science proficiency has dropped from 58.4% to 27.1% over four years, chronic absenteeism rose to 36.3% (though still better than most nearby schools, like Denver Justice High School at 89.8% and Contemporary Learning Academy at 90.6%), and gifted-and-talented subgroup performance slipped in the latest year. Overall, DSST remains a clear academic anchor in central Denver.