DENVER EDUCATION ATTAINMENT NETWORK
CLEAR PATHS. BRIGHT FUTURES.The Denver Education Attainment Network (DEAN) is a collective impact initiative focused on increasing educational attainment and closing the attainment gap for students in Denver.
Colorado has one of the largest postsecondary attainment gaps in the country. Almost all high-growth, high-demand jobs that pay a living wage for a family of three require some type of postsecondary education. Low-income, minority
DEAN works in the space between institutions and organizations, connecting work and driving systems change to increase educational attainment, erase equity gaps and increase workforce opportunities.
Almost all high-growth, high-demand jobs that pay a living wage for a family of three require some type of postsecondary education.



+ 14% COLLEGE ENROLLMENT
Increase college enrollment of students from Denver Public Schools (DPS) to 60 percent compared to 46 percent baseline in 2014-2015 (by 2025)

+ 5% DPS PERSISTENCE AT THE AURARIA CAMPUS
69 percent of DPS graduates at the Auraria Campus will persist from year-one to year-two compared to 64 percent baseline in 2014-2015 (3-year goal)

+ 9% AURARIA CAMPUS COMPLETION RATES
15 percent of DPS graduates on the Auraria Campus will earn a certificate, associate’s degree or baccalaureate degree within four years compared to 6 percent baseline in 2014-2015 (4-year goal)

+ 6% EMILY GRIFFITH TECHNICAL COLLEGE COMPLETION RATES
50 percent of DPS students who enroll in an Emily Griffith Technical College certificate program will earn a certificate compared to 44 percent baseline in 2014-2015 (4-year goal)

The district’s largest minority demographic groups are the two most negatively impacted by Colorado’s attainment gap – Latino (55.5 percent) and African-American students (13.4 percent).

DEAN partners with Denver Public Schools, the Auraria Campus (Community College of Denver, Metropolitan State University of Denver and University of Colorado Denver), Emily Griffith Technical College, the City and County of Denver as well as non-profit and corporate partners, to develop an enrollment, persistence and completion strategy to serve our most vulnerable students.
Denver is 1 of 17 regions across the country designated as a Talent Hub by Lumina Foundation.
DEAN is leading the Denver Talent Hub strategy: Denver Direct Pathways. This collaborative effort by DEAN partners Denver Public Schools, Community College of Denver, Metropolitan State University of Denver, University of Colorado Denver, Emily Griffith Technical College and others will make a complex college system more easily navigable. By aligning and smoothing out education and training pathways, more students will complete college and gain access to good jobs, providing Denver and Colorado the work-ready talent needed to meet the demands of the 21st century.
