Northfield High School students prepared for graduation. Photo courtesy of Northfield High School

Northfield High School has reached a milestone graduation rate of 98%, according to a report released in January from the Colorado Department of Education.

Principal Jessica Rodriguez Bracey said the rate, based on the Class of 2025, “represents countless conversations, check-ins, lesson plans, interventions, and follow-through by teachers, counselors, mental health specialists, support staff, deans, and administrators who consistently show up for students. It reinforces that the time spent building relationships, coordinating supports, and holding high expectations matters.”

Northfield’s achievement coincides with a new record for the district: Denver Public Schools’ graduation rate rose for the fourth time in four consecutive years, climbing two percentage points in 2025 to 81.9%—the district’s largest single-year increase since 2007. East High School reached 93.9% in 2025, with George Washington High School at 85.4%.

The CDE calculates graduation rates based on the percentage of students who advance from ninth to twelfth grade within four years, allowing for transfers.

Bracey credited NHS’ success to “The Northfield Way,” an approach centered on knowing the whole child and responding quickly to academic or engagement concerns. “It means that nearly every student—regardless of their background or socioeconomic status—is receiving the tools they need to succeed,” she said.

Some of these tools, said DPS Deputy Superintendent of Schools Tony Smith, EdD, include “expanded opportunities for students to take courses that align with their interests while closely monitoring academic progress and providing timely support both in and out of school.” Support programs, such as Saturday School and Summer School, are designed to move students beyond a setback or encourage them to demonstrate mastery at their own pace. “From coming in early to support students or tutoring after school, teachers and staff help our students find a way,” he said.

Bracey emphasized that equity and rigor go hand in hand at Northfield. All students are enrolled in a minimum number of International Baccalaureate courses, preparing them for higher education if desired, and Advanced Placement and Concurrent Enrollment classes are available.

Alongside a range of college-level courses, Smith noted that DPS’ graduation requirements are among the most rigorous in the state. “Graduating from a Denver Public School is a significant accomplishment,” he said.

The district’s graduation gains are especially significant for historically underserved student groups. DPS reported that the four-year graduation rate increased 3.9 percentage points for Black students and 2.6 points for Hispanic and Latino students.

Postsecondary readiness is foundational to DPS’ strategy to increase graduation rates. At Northfield, 401 current seniors, out of the class of just over 500 students, have applied to college to date.

Still, Smith cautioned against complacency. “We are closely analyzing our data to identify systems that need to be shifted or better aligned as we continue our pursuit of a 100% graduation rate,” he said. “We remain committed to working diligently to ensure that even more students graduate prepared for college, career, service, or whatever path life may bring.”