Serving 2,359 students in grades 9-12, East High School ranks in the top 10% of all schools in Colorado for overall test scores (math proficiency is top 20%, and reading proficiency is top 20%).
The percentage of students achieving proficiency in math is 53% (which is higher than the Colorado state average of 32%). The percentage of students achieving proficiency in reading/language arts is 78% (which is higher than the Colorado state average of 45%).
The student:teacher ratio of 19:1 is higher than the Colorado state level of 15:1.
Minority enrollment is 48% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is lower than the Colorado state average of 50% (majority Hispanic).
Quick Stats (2025)
Grades: 9-12
Enrollment: 2,359 students
Student:Teacher Ratio: 19:1
Minority Enrollment: 48%
Graduation Rate
: 95% (Top 20% in CO)
Overall Testing Rank
: Top 10%
Math Proficiency
: 53% (Top 20%)
Reading Proficiency
: 78% (Top 5%)
Science Proficiency
: 47% (Top 30%)
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), CO Dept. of Education
East High School ranks within the top 10% of all 1,779 schools in Colorado (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data).
The diversity score of East High School is 0.66, which is more than the diversity score at state average of 0.62. The school's diversity has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
East High School is a High School located in Denver, Colorado. It
is part of the Denver Public Schools System.
History: East opened in 1875 at 1731 Arapahoe Street and was
the first high school in Denver. The first graduating class was in
1877. In 1889 it moved to 19th and Stout because of a need for more
room. This location is now referred to as "Old East." The school
featured a gracious flight of stairs leading to the entrance, which
was notable for its sculpture of the face of a young girl, sculpted
as an Angel. School architect Robert S. Roeschlaub and the school
board decided to use a local childhood beauty instead of a Greek
face to symbolize the school's "dedication to youth." The sculptor
was Preston Powers, famous for his statue of the Indian on the
grounds of the state capitol. Five thousand girls across the city
were visited as part of a campaign to find the model for the face
and six-year-old Ella Catherine Matty was selected. The statue was
so lovely that East High students have since been East Angels. When
"Old East" was demolished in 1925, this keystone was removed and
placed in a rock garden at the current location of East, 1545
Detroit St. The architect was Denver native George Hebard
Williamson, an 1893 graduate of East High. He won national
recognition for his design of the "new" East, which has a clock
tower modeled after Independence Hall in Philadelphia. East is the
largest school In early 1991, the East High building was declared
an official Denver Historic Landmark by the Denver Landmark
Commission and the Denver City Council. In July 2005 a music video
for the song Over My Head (Cable Car), The Fray (band) was filmed
in East High. East is also a Colorado 5A sports powerhouse in
several sports including basketball (State Champions in 2004)
soccer, lacrosse, rugby (state champions in 1997, 2002, and 2004)
and football (In 2006 the Angels made it to the 5A playoffs for the
first time in 12 years). The East men's basketball was recentley
named the best basketball team in the state according to RISE
Magazine and Sports Illustrated.
Alumni: Beat icon Neal Cassady attended East for a short
time.
Don Cheadle.
Judy Collins.
Three members of Earth, Wind & Fire who were East Alumni were
inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: Philip Bailey, Andrew
Woolfolk, Larry Dunn.
Douglas Fairbanks, who was expelled from East High went on to
become one of the most famous silent movie stars of all time.
Pam Grier.
General Robert T. Herres, first Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs
of Staff.
Harold Lloyd.
Hattie McDaniel (the first African American to win an Oscar for her
performance in Gone with the Wind).
Ron Miles.
Antoinette Perry (the namesake of the Tony Awards).
Dianne Reeves.
Marilyn VanDerBar (1958 Miss America).
Paul Whiteman.
George Hebard Williamson architect of East High.
Bill Frisell jazz guitarist.
Adam Cayton-Holland writer at the Westword newspaper.
Golda Mier attended though did not graduate from East High School.
East High School is ranked #112 out of 1,779 schools, which ranks it among the top 10% of public schools in Colorado.
What schools are East High School often compared to?
East High Schoolis often viewed alongside schools like South High School by visitors of our site.
What percent of students have achieved state testing proficiency in math and reading?
53% of students have achieved math proficiency (compared to the 32% CO state average), while 78% of students have achieved reading proficiency (compared to the 45% CO state average).
What is the graduation rate of East High School?
The graduation rate of East High School is 95%, which is higher than the Colorado state average of 82%.
How many students attend East High School?
2,359 students attend East High School.
What is the racial composition of the student body?
52% of East High School students are White, 23% of students are Hispanic, 14% of students are Black, 8% of students are Two or more races, and 3% of students are Asian.
What is the student:teacher ratio of East High School?
East High School has a student ration of 19:1, which is higher than the Colorado state average of 15:1.
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Quick Stats (2025)
Grades: 9-12
Enrollment: 2,359 students
Student:Teacher Ratio: 19:1
Minority Enrollment: 48%
Graduation Rate
: 95% (Top 20%)
Overall Testing Rank
: Top 10%
Math Proficiency
: 53% (Top 20%)
Reading Proficiency
: 78% (Top 5%)
Science Proficiency
: 47% (Top 30%)
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), CO Dept. of Education
