About DDES

Two young children, a girl with long dark hair in a pink jacket and a boy with short black hair in a light hoodie, smiling and posing playfully in a colorful playground setting.

An Expeditionary Learning Education

Downtown Denver Expeditionary School, or DDES for short, is a tuition-free charter school and the only public elementary school located in downtown Denver.

Enrolling a diverse group of learners from across metro-Denver, we are open to students from kindergarten through fifth-grade and offer a hands-on Expeditionary Learning education.

mission & vision

The DDES Experience

The City is Our Campus

DDES utilizes the rich resources of our Denver urban community to support students in achieving academic and personal excellence. Students explore, discover and grow through hands-on, real-world experiences.

The DDes Experience
Two children sitting on the floor in a classroom, smiling and embracing each other, surrounded by bookshelves and educational materials.