Summary:
Zip code 80239 in Denver is served by four public high schools — Montbello High School, DSST: Elevate Northeast High School, Northeast Early College, and Montbello Career and Technical High School — all serving grades 9 through 12 within School District No. 1, a district ranked in the 38th percentile statewide.
Combined enrollment is 2,322 students, with Montbello High the largest at 1,112 and Montbello CTE the smallest at 158. Poverty levels are high everywhere, with free/reduced-price lunch rates between 74% and 87%, yet outcomes vary sharply. DSST: Elevate is the clear standout, ranking in the 39th percentile (2 stars) with a 93.5% graduation rate, a 1.1% dropout rate, and math proficiency that exceeds district and state averages on every 2025–2026 assessment. Montbello High shows encouraging momentum: science proficiency tripled from 6.3% to 20.5%, SAT math doubled to 16%, and its 85.5% graduation rate is essentially even with the state. However, Northeast Early College ranks in the 5th percentile (0 stars) and saw SAT reading/writing proficiency collapse from 41% to 22%. Montbello CTE is the most concerning, with a 58.6% graduation rate, a 19.6% dropout rate, and 79.9% chronic absenteeism, plus no current test score data.
The biggest systemic issue across the zip code is chronic absenteeism, which ranges from 43.5% at Montbello High to 79.9% at Montbello CTE — all far above the state rate of 28.4%. Even with DSST: Elevate's strong performance, the area as a whole trails Colorado on most academic measures, and the gap between DSST and the other three schools demonstrates that school model and supports matter greatly regardless of poverty. For parents, DSST: Elevate is the clearest choice for strong academics and graduation outcomes; Montbello High offers a large, improving environment; while Northeast Early College and Montbello CTE carry significant risks around achievement, attendance, and graduation.
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