Posted June 12, 2025
Dear Parents, Guardians, and Community Partners,
As we close out another incredible school year at Robert F. Smith STEAM Academy, I want to pause to thank you for your continued trust, partnership, and belief in the mission we are building together. This year has been a powerful chapter in our journey to reimagine high school for students of color through a culturally grounded, academically rigorous, and future-focused learning experience.
I am thrilled to share that the 2024–2025 school year marked some of the most significant growth we’ve seen since our founding. With your support, our scholars, educators, and staff delivered results that reflect our unwavering commitment to excellence, equity, and opportunity:
• Attendance improved dramatically—from 79.52% in 2024 to 85.67% in 2025, making us the #1 school in DPS for decreasing chronic absenteeism, with a reduction of – 37.61%!
• Discipline permissibility rose from 80% to 91%, indicating a stronger, more restorative learning environment where students feel safe and supported.
• Our PSAT Literacy scores grew by +13%, and Math scores increased by +12%, underscoring the academic progress we’re seeing across content areas.
• 86% of our students are on track to earn credits—a reflection of both their hard work and the dedication of our instructional team.
• We are especially proud to celebrate that one-fourth of the Class of 2025 earned both their high school diploma and an Associate’s Degree in the same week. That’s true dual success!
At the heart of our work is a promise to prepare students for lives of purpose and leadership. This year, we fulfilled a major piece of that promise by continuing to cultivate a direct pipeline to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Several of our scholars have already committed to outstanding institutions such as South Carolina State University, Southern University, Alabama State University and Xavier University, with more on the way.
We also successfully launched our full STEAM Pathway, giving students access to real-world industry experience through internships and externships taking place this summer across Colorado and beyond. In alignment with our Innovation Plan’s commitment to Global Citizenship, we took 16 scholars to Costa Rica, where they explored STEM careers and sustainability initiatives—an experience that changed lives and perspectives. We’re already planning our next global experience: Italy in 2026!
Looking ahead, the 2025–2026 school year promises to be even more exciting. We will introduce five new Advanced Placement (AP) courses and a new Concurrent Enrollment course in Crime Scene Investigation, expanding our college- and career-readiness offerings for all students.
We are also preparing to welcome a new cohort of 40 freshmen in August—a 52% increase in enrollment from 2023! This milestone is a testament to the energy, integrity, and momentum our community is building together.
None of this progress would be possible without our phenomenal staff, who have dug deep this year—embracing new systems, innovating instruction, and showing up every day with love and leadership. They are the backbone of everything we’ve accomplished.
While we’re excited about what’s to come, I also want to acknowledge the importance of this summer break. Please take time to rest, reconnect, and recharge with your families. You’ve earned it—and we’ll be back in touch this July to gear up for another powerful school year.
Thank you for believing in our mission. Thank you for lifting up our scholars. And thank you for helping us build something bold, brilliant, and lasting.
With gratitude and pride,
Dr. Fernando M. Branch
Principal, Robert F. Smith STEAM Academy