More than 30 public schools in Denver without air conditioning are releasing students early this week or closing entirely due to the record-breaking heat wave sweeping through Colorado.
Godsman Elementary was closed Tuesday, but administrators expect to “implement heating mitigation systems that will allow the building to receive the ventilation needed” to reopen Wednesday, according to a message to parents.
Barrett, Columbine and Knapp elementary schools will be closed Wednesday and Thursday due to high temperatures, Denver Public Schools announced.
Additionally, 28 schools will let students out early on Wednesday and Thursday, DPS officials said. Those schools will communicate their early dismissal times to familiies, the district said.
The schools letting out early Wednesday and Thursday include:
Asbury Elementary
Cory Elementary
Cowell Elementary
Park Hill Elementary
Skinner Middle School
Stedman Elementary
University Park Elementary
Ellis Elementary
Bradley Elementary
Sabin World School
Thomas Jefferson High School
Carson Elementary
Denison Montessori
Steele Elementary
Bryant Webster Dual Language
McMeen Elementary
Lake Middle School
Polaris Elementary
Traylor Academy
Manual High School
Math and Science Leadership Academy — Rishel
Goldrick Elementary
Doull Elementary
Denver Montessori (Only Thursday)
Whittier ECE-8
George Washington High School
West Middle School
West High School
Some of these schools were supposed to have cooling systems installed this summer, Denver Public Schools spokesman Scott Pribble said, but supply chain issues stalled the project. DPS hopes to have some of them completed by the end of September.
“Mitigation strategies in place aren’t expected to work like we hoped,” Pribble said, noting that the district has portable air conditioning units and large fans. “Because of that, we’re making the decision to shut down early.”
McAuliffe International School will be on early release Tuesday through Friday. The school said on its website “temperatures in our third floor and east-facing classrooms can reach over 90 degrees.”
School officials said if buses aren’t able to be provided at the early release time, staff will provide supervision and activities for students needing to remain at school until the normal bus time.
Denison Montessori Principal Natalie Fickes said on the school’s website that they are working with DPS Transportation on a modified bus route so that students will be dropped off at their normal locations.
Parents who do not wish for their students to ride the bus home earlier in the day will have the option of picking up their students at the school building and need to notify the school office by 11:30 a.m.
Denver voters in 2020 passed a bond measure to fund millions of dollars in school upgrades, including $128.5 million to put cooling and air conditioning systems in 24 schools.
The school district hopes to have those schools completed by next summer, Pribble said.
