Denver Academy

Denver Academy is an independent, private day school serving grades 2-12 in Denver, Colorado.

Denver Academy
Denver Academy Historic Library from the Quad
Address
4400 E. Iliff Ave. Denver, Colorado 80222 United States
Coordinates	39°40′25″N 104°56′12″W
Information
Type	Independent
Established	1972 (1972)
CEEB code	060396
Dean	Mark Wood (High School) and Lori Hull (Lower School | Grades 1-8)
Head of school	Mark Twarogowski
Grades	1-12
Enrollment	458
Average class size	8-15 Students
Student to teacher ratio	1:7
Campus size	21 acres (8.5 ha)
Campus type	suburb
Color(s)
Athletics	Mile High League
Athletics conference	CHSSA 3A, 2A
Mascot	Mustang
Affiliation	Association of Colorado Independent Schools / National Association of Independent Schools
Website	www.denveracademy.org

Denver Academy is a registered 501(c)(3).

School History

Denver Academy was founded in 1972, and occupied a schoolhouse in the Washington Park area of Denver until relocating to a 22-acre (8.9 ha) historic property in southeast Denver in 2001. It started out as a schoolhouse with only 36 students and 5 teachers. The headmaster, headmaster Knott, oversaw the school for 20 years, before Jim Loan took over in 1992. In 1984, Denver Academy purchased an elementary school near Washington Park, being the first time a private school purchased a DPS facility. The school saw a steady growth in enrollment, reaching 300 in 1996. In 2000, the school purchased Bethesda campus and transitioned the school to the new campus in 2001. In 2004, Richardson Hall was built, and in 2008, Kevin Smith became headmaster, serving only 5 years until Mark Twarogowski became headmater in 2013. In 2018, the James E. Loan Athletic Center was built, and in 2023, the Louise McCabe Performing Arts Center was built.

Campus History

The campus upon which Denver Academy resides has been both a mental and Tuberculosis hospital. The first building, the Administration Building, was built in 1910, making it over a hundred years old. It started as a Tuberculosis hospital, originally named Bethesda. In 1925, the Chapel for which the school is renowned for, was constructed. a little under $20,000 was provided to build the Chapel. According to Landmark Ordinance, the Chapel and Gateway Structures (which were built in the 1930's) has prominent Dutch architecture, as seen in its stair-step design and red tile roofs. The Chapel was recognised as a landmark in 2000. Over the years, more buildings were added, and in 1948, the hospital transitioned from treating tuberculosis to aiding mental health. Denver Academy then took over the campus in 2000/2001. Since then some new buildings have been added, most recently being the new Theatre that finished construction in 2023. due to a long history with being a sanitorium, many of the school's buildings are rumord to be haunted with ghosts. the majority of them have been spotted in the Chapel and Middle School Upstairs. All in all, the school's campus has a rich history full of all kinds of secrets.

Divisions

The school is organized into four different divisions, each according to grade level

• Lower School (grades 1-5)
• 6th Grade
• Middle School (grades 7-8)
• High School (grades 9-12)

Athletics

Denver Academy is in CHSAA 3A and 2A divisions and is the Mile High League.

Middle school	High school
Boys Baseball	Boys Baseball
Boys Basketball	Boys Basketball
Coed Cross Country	Coed Golf
Coed Recreational Golf	Boys Soccer
Coed Soccer	Coed Cross Country
Coed Track	Coed Track
Girls Basketball	Girls Basketball
Girls Volleyball	Girls Volleyball
	Coed Knowledge Bowl
	Coed Mtn Biking	−	Coed Rock Climbing