Lake offers a program which promises rigor and higher academic achievement, and parents of students and some community members say they are prepared to fight to keep it.

"Right now, the stress, the strain, that's working on our kids, our faculty," Helen Garcia, a community member, said.

Lake has struggled with test scores and with student achievement for years.

Now, DPS may restructure the entire program, or shut it down, less than 18 months into its new international baccalaureate program.

Test scores slightly improved in math and writing last year.

"They're getting it. They're absolutely getting it. I'm really proud of every single student that I have in this room," Jesa Griffeth, a teacher, said.

"Give us the time to show you that we can turn it around," Garcia said.

The Denver Public School Board is running out of time. Superintendent Tom Boasberg says drastic changes are needed and the board will make a decision next month.

"We're concerned that we're not seeing the rate of progress, the rate of growth necessary to really bring those students to the kind of academic growth they need," Boasberg said.

One option is to bring in West Denver Prep, a charter school, to take over the Lake campus. It's a growing program which has had success in teaching low income Spanish-speaking students.

"We don't see necessarily a real distinction between a district school and a charter school," Boasberg said.

The school board will vote on the fates of Lake, Greelee Elementary and Phillips Elementary on Nov. 30.

District leaders are working on scheduling a series of hearings and public meetings for community input over the next three weeks.