About AUL

Mission: The mission of the Academy of Urban Learning is to empower young people to become self-sufficient adults by providing a rigorous and individualized high school diploma program to youth who need extensive wrap-around services to succeed academically and socially.

AUL Fast Facts

Opened August 2005
Current Student Enrollment: 73
Current Full-Time Staff: 9

Vision: The Academy of Urban Learning envisions a society where all youth have equal access to resources, can earn a high school diploma, and feel empowered to make a positive impact in the communities.

Core Values: The Academy of Urban Learning believes in fostering a strong sense of community and does so by encouraging all students and staff to uphold the schools Core Values on a daily basis.

C Community
A Academics
R Relationships
E Empowerment

S Safety
T Trust
A Accountability
A Acknowledgement
R Respect

Academy of Urban Learning (AUL) was founded by the Jared Polis Foundation and Urban Peak Denver in the fall 2005. Both organizations recognized the need for a small public charter high school in Denver that would focus on providing essential wraparound services to youth who are homeless, experiencing unstable living conditions or have other at-risk factors. The Jared Polis Foundation and Urban Peak Denver understood the importance of staff and students knowing each other well and creating a caring, academic environment that pushes each student to succeed.

...focuses on individuals who failed to thrive...because of homelessness, unstable living conditions...

AUL, a charter school in the Denver Public Schools (DPS) district, focuses on individuals who failed to thrive in a traditional classroom environment because of homlessness, unstable living conditions, personal problems and other issues that hinder academic performance. AUL's educational strategy is structured around a competency-based curriculum, where each student is encouraged to develop an individualized learning plan. Case managers, advisors, guardians and teachers work collaboratively to ensure that students reach acceptable levels of competency in core subject areas like Reading and Writing, Math, Lifeskills, Social Studies and Science. In addition to academic competencies, AUL is committed to helping students graduate from the program and develop the skills necessary for economic self-sufficiency.

Above: AUL students challenged during the Risks & Adventures class, 2006-07 school year.