Compass Academy

School District No. 1 in the county of Denver and State of C

www.compassacademy.org

Charter School 200 Students

Middle School 6th - 8th

School Overview

Compass Academy, located in the Westwood neighborhood of Denver, is a public charter middle school (serving grades 6–8) that operates under the Denver Public Schools district. The school is built on a "personalized learning" model, designed to meet students where they are academically while fostering independence and self-advocacy. By utilizing a competency-based framework, Compass Academy allows students to progress at their own pace, ensuring they master core concepts before moving forward, rather than simply advancing based on age or grade level.

The school emphasizes a "whole-child" approach, integrating rigorous academics with significant social-emotional support to prepare students for high school and beyond. A hallmark of the Compass experience is its focus on "advisory," where students work closely with a consistent mentor to set personal goals, reflect on their progress, and develop critical life skills. By maintaining a smaller school environment and prioritizing individualized pathways, Compass Academy aims to bridge equity gaps and create a community-focused learning space that empowers students to take ownership of their education.

200

Total Students

18.1

Full-Time Teachers

11.0

Student/Teacher Ratio

91.5%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Compass Academy
Demographic	Student Count
White	6
Hispanic	184
Black	5
Asian	3
American Indian	1
Pacific Islander	1

Hispanic
184 (92.0%)
White
6 (3.0%)
Black
5 (2.5%)
Asian
3 (1.5%)
American Indian
1 (0.5%)
Pacific Islander
1 (0.5%)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	Middle School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Charter School
Virtual Instruction:	No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status:	No
District:	School District No. 1 in the county of Denver and State of C
Phone:	(720)424-0096
Website:	http://www.compassacademy.org
Grade Range:	6th - 8th
Total Students:	200
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	18.1
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	11.0
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Qualified Free Lunch:	170
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	13

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Grade 6 40

Grade 7 77

Grade 8 83