Meanwhile, the district employs 262 fewer teachers compared to 5 years ago

Denver Public Schools (DPS) has operated with thousands fewer students than its peak enrollment in 2019 but it has grown its administrative ranks back to nearly their pre-pandemic level, a Denver Gazette analysis of state staffing data shows.

This finding mirrors a statewide trend identified in a report by the Common Sense Institute (CSI) that found Colorado school districts continued to grow their administrative staff despite declining student enrollment.

In the past five years, districts across the state have added more than 250 administrators, a 13.1% increase, according to CSI.

State data shows Colorado has lost more than 15,000 students over the same time period, prompting school closures, layoffs and budget cuts.

The picture at DPS is very similar.

The state’s largest school district has closed at least 10 schools and restructured three others, while adding 78 administrator positions, a 15.8% increase over the same period.

The recent influx of immigrant students — whose families arrived in metro Denver after illegally crossing the border — temporarily buoyed Denver’s enrollment with a modest 0.2% increase at 89,210 students this school year. But the trend has been creeping downward since the 2019 peak when DPS had 92,112 students and 586 administrators.

After reducing its administrative workforce during the pandemic, the district began growing back those ranks in the 2023-24 school year under Superintendent Alex Marrero. State data shows DPS now employs 571 administrators, approaching the 586 it reported at its 2019 enrollment peak.

The Colorado Department of Education (CDE) defines staff category positions. An administrator can be an education supervisor (not principals), manager, director or superintendent.

Scott Pribble, a DPS spokesperson, noted that local titles could be categorized differently.

“This could be someone in a building-level leadership role or at the Central Office,” Pribble said in an email.

While acknowledging the growth in administrative positions, Pribble also said that, since 2024, Marrero has cut 149 central office jobs — including 50 this past spring — generating $21.5 million in budget savings.

CDE’s reporting, Pribble said, occurred on Dec. 1, before the latest central office cuts were made.

“All of the cuts can be attributed to DPS responding to declining enrollment and, thus, a decreasing budget,” Pribble said.

As DPS grew back its administrative staff, the number of classroom teachers has continued on a downward trend. State data shows the district employs 262 fewer teachers, a 4% decline, than it did five years ago.

Teacher pay and administrative bloat is what prompted the 2019 teachers strike, said Katie Allen, vice president of the Denver Classroom Teachers Association (DCTA).

“It does seem like we’re regressing from the work we did in 2019,” said Allen, a third-grade math and science teacher.

DCTA represents about 4,200 teachers.

Allen suspects that bureaucratic growth will be an issue, in addition to classroom sizes, in the next round of bargaining.

The staffing trend also intersects with broader questions about the district’s finances.

Lisi Owen, an attorney representing Mamás de DPS in litigation challenging the school closures, said adding administrators while citing financial pressures sends a mixed message.

“It’s very concerning to see administrative staff growing because it suggests a lack of fiscal responsibility,” Owen said. “In the face of their own stated financial crisis, you don’t add administrative staff in such a crisis.”

Earlier this year, Mamás de DPS escalated its claims, alleging the district engaged in racketeering through its bond and lease-financing structures.

The pattern reflects concerns raised in a recent CSI report, which found administrative staffing has outpaced student enrollment trends across Colorado.

The CSI report also found rising per-pupil funding across the state did not improve student performance, citing fewer than four in 10 high school students met or exceeded state standards. This occurred while state spending has increased 27% since the 2021-22 school year.

“More money has not necessarily equaled better outcomes for K through 12 students,” said DJ Summers, a CSI spokesperson.