East High School is a historical public high school located in the City Park neighborhood on the east side of Denver, Colorado, United States. It is part of the Denver Public Schools system, and is one of four original high schools in Denver. The other three are West, North, and South.
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
Top Rankings
East High School ranks among the top 20% of public schools in Colorado for:
Category
Attribute
Overall Rank
Math Proficiency
Reading/Language Arts Proficiency
Graduation Rate
Diversity
School Overview
East High School's student population of 2,359 students has declined by 9% over five school years.
The teacher population of 125 teachers has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
Grades Offered
Grades 9-12
(No virtual instruction)
(No virtual instruction)
Total Students
2,359 students
Gender %
Total Classroom Teachers
125 teachers
Year Founded
1875
School Calendar
School Rankings
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.
Overall Testing Rank
#112 out of 1779 schools
(Top 10%)
(Top 10%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
53%
32%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
78%
45%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
(20-21)47%
29%
Student : Teacher Ratio
19:1
15:1
American Indian
n/a
1%
Asian
3%
3%
Hispanic
23%
36%
Black
14%
5%
White
52%
50%
Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
Two or more races
8%
5%
All Ethnic Groups
Graduation Rate
95%
82%
Eligible for Free Lunch
27%
39%
Eligible for Reduced Lunch
5%
6%
School Statewide Testing
School District Name
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), CO Dept. of Education
School Notes
- 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.
Profile last updated: 02/09/2025
Frequently Asked Questions
What is East High School's ranking?
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.
What grades does East High School offer ?
East High School offers enrollment in grades 9-12 (No virtual instruction).
What school district is East High School part of?
East High School is part of School District No. 1 In The County Of Denver And State Of C.
In what neighborhood is East High School located?
East High School is located in the City Park neighborhood of Denver, CO.
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