Issues and challenges
Each year, Colorado ranks top in the nation with the greatest number of college degree holders per capita. Yet the college-bound rate among our native population – especially among low-income and minority students – consistently ranks in the bottom quarter nationwide.
The Denver Scholarship Foundation (DSF) believes that correcting this disparity should be an urgent community priority and will have a profound effect on the future growth of Denver and Colorado.
Simply put, the new global marketplace demands that our native population be equipped to succeed in the 21st century. A strong economy begins with a well-educated workforce. The cost of a student not attending college far outweighs the cost of college.
Our current challenges include:
- Colorado ranks 48th in the nation in college access for minorities – and 20% of our state’s high school minority population lives in Denver
- Fewer than one in three of Colorado’s young adults (ages 18-24) pursue a postsecondary education
- In Denver Public Schools, the most recent academic research shows only 9% of ninth graders completed college within ten years
The good news is that we’re already hard at work in Denver Public Schools and have begun to see positive results from our efforts. See how we’re already supporting students and why we’re different from basic college access and scholarship organizations.