Yes. Edison Elementary at 3350 Quitman Street in West Highland is one of five schools in Denver Public Schools’ Northwest Elementary School Enrollment Zone, which guarantees zone residents a seat at one of the zone’s schools, not a specific one. DPS has recommended no zone changes this fall.
For decades, a West Highland address near Edison Elementary meant a seat at Edison. That changed after the Denver Public Schools board voted in November 2024 to close Columbian Elementary in Sunnyside and fold its boundary into a new shared enrollment zone covering much of northwest Denver.
Shared zones work differently from traditional boundaries. Families who live in the zone are guaranteed a seat at one of several schools and rank their preferences through SchoolChoice. That makes it worth checking how a specific address is assigned before relying on a listing description or a neighbor’s experience from a few years ago.
Jason Sirois is a Denver Realtor with FORM at Compass, with an office at 1900 W 32nd Ave in Northwest Denver. Here is how the zone works, which schools are in it, what DPS said about boundaries this month, and what to do if school assignment is part of your home search.
Which schools are in the Northwest Elementary Enrollment Zone?
When DPS announced the board’s vote on November 22, 2024, it said Columbian would close at the end of the 2024-25 school year and that a new “Far Northwest Enrollment Zone” would be created with Beach Court, Centennial, Edison and Trevista. The district’s 2025-26 zone guide calls it the Northwest Elementary School Enrollment Zone and lists five schools:
| School | Address | Grades | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beach Court Elementary | 4950 Beach Ct. | ECE-3 to 5 | District-managed innovation school |
| Centennial, A School for Expeditionary Learning | 4665 Raleigh St. | ECE-3 to 5 | District-managed innovation school |
| Edison Elementary | 3350 Quitman St. | ECE-4 to 5 | District-managed school |
| Rocky Mountain Prep Berkeley | 3752 Tennyson St. | ECE-3 to 5 | Charter school |
| Trevista at Horace Mann | 4130 Navajo St. | ECE-3 to 5 | District-managed innovation school |
Source: DPS 2025-26 Northwest Elementary Zone Guide. Early childhood education is offered at each school but not guaranteed. We did not find a published zone guide for 2026-27 or later, so confirm the current list with DPS.
How the shared enrollment zone works
In a traditional boundary, an address is assigned to one school. In a shared enrollment zone, the guide explains, a student who lives in the zone is guaranteed a seat at one of several schools rather than one particular school. The practical steps:
- Look up the address in the DPS School Finder to confirm whether it is inside the zone.
- Rank the zone schools, and any other DPS schools, in the SchoolChoice application.
- Receive a placement at one zone school. A first choice is not guaranteed.
Families can still apply to any school in the district through SchoolChoice. The zone only changes what is guaranteed. When DPS proposed the zone in 2024, Chalkbeat reported that elementary students living more than a mile from their zone school would be offered transportation. Confirm current transportation rules with DPS for a specific address.
About Edison Elementary
Edison sits at 3350 Quitman Street, just north of the West 32nd Avenue shops in West Highland. The zone guide lists it as a district-managed school serving ECE-4 through fifth grade, with an 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. day.
The school has a long history in the neighborhood. According to Edison’s own history page, the original Edison School was built in 1890, the current building was dedicated on September 23, 1925, and an addition was dedicated in 1951. The building is part of the early 20th century fabric that gives this part of West Highland its character.
We are not ranking or rating schools here. School performance data, programs and culture are best checked directly with DPS and each school, and through a school visit.
Will the zone or Edison’s assignment change soon?
Not this fall. On October 19, 2026, Denverite and Chalkbeat reported that Superintendent Alex Marrero recommended the board make no changes to school boundaries and enrollment zones this fall. He wrote that any changes tied to future closures would take place after the 2027-28 school year.
The broader backdrop is enrollment. Chalkbeat reported on October 15 that DPS enrollment fell by 1,780 students this fall, and that the northwest part of the city was among the areas that fell by more than 250 students. Marrero said he expects to use a “substantial shift” exception to the district’s closure moratorium, but a district spokesperson said the board cannot vote to close a school this year. No northwest Denver schools were named.
For anyone buying or selling in West Highland, that means the current zone structure is expected to hold for the 2027-28 enrollment cycle, with the possibility of changes after that.
What buyers and sellers in West Highland should check
The SchoolChoice window for the 2027-28 school year opens December 1, 2026, at 10 a.m. and closes January 19, 2027, at 4 p.m., with results expected in late February, according to DPS. For a home closing this winter, the closing date and the application window can overlap.
- Run the exact address through the DPS School Finder rather than relying on the listing description.
- Ask DPS how to apply if you will be under contract, but not yet living at the new address, during Round 1.
- Keep in mind that listings and older guides may still describe Edison as a single neighborhood boundary school.
For more background, see our post on what happened to Columbian Elementary and where students go now, our guide to navigating school districts in Denver, and our West Highland neighborhood guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Edison Elementary in a shared enrollment zone?
Yes. Edison is one of five schools in the DPS Northwest Elementary School Enrollment Zone, along with Beach Court, Centennial, Rocky Mountain Prep Berkeley and Trevista at Horace Mann, according to the district’s 2025-26 zone guide.
If I live near Edison, am I guaranteed a seat there?
Not at Edison specifically. Living in the zone guarantees a seat at one of the zone’s schools. Families rank their choices in SchoolChoice, and placement depends on preferences and available seats.
When did the northwest Denver enrollment zone start?
The DPS board voted on November 22, 2024, to close Columbian Elementary at the end of the 2024-25 school year and create the zone. The district’s first zone guide covers the 2025-26 school year.
When is SchoolChoice for the 2027-28 school year?
Round 1 opens December 1, 2026, at 10 a.m. and closes January 19, 2027, at 4 p.m. DPS says placement results will be released in late February 2027.
Is DPS changing northwest Denver school boundaries this year?
The superintendent recommended no boundary or enrollment zone changes this fall and said changes linked to future closures would come after the 2027-28 school year. The school board has the final say.
How do I check which schools serve a specific West Highland address?
Enter the address in the DPS School Finder, or call the SchoolChoice team. Boundaries and zones can change, so check the specific address before you buy.
Questions about how school enrollment fits into buying or selling in West Highland? Jason Sirois and the FORM at Compass team, based at 1900 W 32nd Ave, are glad to talk it through.
This post is for general information only and is not advice about school enrollment. School zones, enrollment rules and dates come from Denver Public Schools, Chalkbeat and Denverite as of October 21, 2026, and can change. Confirm current details with Denver Public Schools.
