DENVER -- The Denver school board is trying to stem the dropout rate and boost student achievement.

Board President Theresa Pena told 7NEWS that, "Students have the best opportunity for high performing academic options if you start brand new."

Last night, board members voted to approve 10 "brand new" schools, among them, nine charter schools.

West Denver Prep school is an existing charter school that was given approval to open two new campuses.

"It's an amazing school," said student Rachel Jacobson. "We go to Washington, D.C., we visit the colleges. The staff will give you their phone numbers to call them if you need help with homework."

"I love it," added Addrianna Bryant. "This is my eighth-grade diploma from West Denver Prep school. I'm officially a freshman."

The head of the school told 7NEWS that West Denver Prep is the highest ranked middle school and that students show some of the highest academic growth of any students in Denver.

Chris Gibbons, who founded West Denver Prep, attributes the success to hard work, longer days and longer years.

"We place a real emphasis on reading, writing and math, and a really hard effort from all of our students and families and from all of our teachers," Gibbons said.

Pena said the district has a lot to learn from charter schools.

"In my mind, Charters have become the Research & Development arm of the public school system. We can learn what they're doing to make a difference in the life of kids and how to translate their success and scale it to our 13 other middle schools," Pena said.

The board president added that DPS is encouraging charter schools to use space in existing DPS buildings so they can concentrate their resources on curriculum.

The board also approved Denver Green School, a school that will focus on project based learning and tie it in with the environment.

The Denver School of Science and Technology was given approval to open four more campuses.

Soar Charter School, Denver Language School and Kipp Academy were also approved by the board.

Some people question why the district has approved 10 new schools while trying to sell four old buildings.

Pena said student achievement is at the core of the decision.

She said the district educates 75,000 students but has enough classroom space for 100,000.

Though many schools are under utilized, the fixed costs to heat and maintain them don't change.

That’s why district officials want to consolidate schools and close those that aren’t needed.

"It costs about $1 million dollars a year to maintain Gove (Middle School) which has been closed for several years," Pena said. “We have to water the grass, keep the plumbing system operational, and heat the building in the winter.”

It's the same at Byers, Remington and the Northeast Bus Terminal.

Pena said if the district can sell or lease the old buildings, the money saved could be spent in the classroom.

"At the end of the day, we're in the business of educating children. We're not in the business of holding real estate," Pena said.