We are proud to see Northfield High School’s recent achievements making headlines. Front Porch recently featured our school’s milestone 98% graduation rate, highlighting the collective effort of our teachers, students, and families.
It is rewarding to see our commitment to “The Northfield Way” recognized on a broader scale. This feature offers a thoughtful look into the intentionality behind our 98% graduation rate and how our staff works to ensure that every student—regardless of their starting point—leaves Northfield prepared for what’s next.
“It reinforces that the time spent building relationships, coordinating supports, and holding high expectations matters.” — Principal Jessica Rodriguez Bracey
Read the full feature at Front Porch
At Northfield High School, we believe that academic rigor and educational equity are not mutually exclusive. Our IB for All initiative is a rare, intentional model designed to ensure that every student—regardless of background, race, or learning style—has access to a world-class, college-preparatory curriculum.
In the summer of 2015, skeptics questioned whether a diverse, comprehensive high school could succeed with a rigorous International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum. Today, educators like Johanna Zablocki and Nathania Cortes have proven that when you provide the right tools and support, every learner can thrive.
Northfield is currently the only comprehensive high school in Colorado where every student takes IB Language and High Level Literature. By removing the “gatekeeping” often found in elite programs, we’ve built a culture of high expectations and even higher achievement.
“Prestige isn’t about exclusivity; it’s about opportunity. Students realize, ‘I’m in this, and I have to do my best.” — Nathania Cortes, Educator
This spotlight was originally featured by Denver Public Schools, detailing the journey of our teachers and the success of our graduates who are now leading in their communities.
Click Here to Read the Full Article on the DPS Newsroom
Transitioning to high school is a transformative journey, and at Northfield, we ensure no student walks that path alone. Through our intentional Advisory program, educators Cole Ritter and Kedi Ochs are turning the uncertainty of ninth grade into a foundation of confidence and self-advocacy.
Advisory at Northfield goes far beyond checking grades. It is a dedicated space where students master the “hidden curriculum” of success. Cole and Kedi lead a curriculum designed to empower students through:
In these classrooms, students learn that true power comes from community. Whether it’s Kedi’s famous culture of “greeting every person who walks through the door” or Cole’s lessons on choosing to be an upstander rather than a bystander, our 9th graders are learning to take responsibility for the world around them.
“For students to be powerful means embracing every opportunity—inside and outside of the school—and using it to grow. It’s about speaking up for themselves and striving to become the best version of themselves.” — Cole Ritter, Educator
By the time our Nighthawks finish their first year, they aren’t just students—they are advocates. They challenge perspectives, support one another, and use their voices to lead.
“We’re giving students a safe space to be themselves, be confident, and thrive. We’re giving students the power to change their own lives.” — Kedi Ochs, Educator