Even though most of them can't vote, a group of high school students last week grilled Denver school board candidates, asking them questions ranging from class sizes to why the arts always seem to be cut first.
Perhaps the biggest issue facing Denver Public Schools - and the reason several candidates decided to run - is the graduation rate, hovering around 50 percent.
Students who are part of the Mayor's Youth Commission asked candidates their goal for the next four years.
At-large candidates Mary Seawell and Chris Scott differed on what they thought was achievable. Seawell said her goal is a 100 percent graduation rate over the next four years.
"I am seeing enough schools ... that are really catching kids up two of three grade levels to really make a 100 percent graduation rate possible. The issue is how are we going to learn from those schools ..." she said.
Scott said a 60 to 65 percent graduation rate would be a "tremendous feat."
He said the district needs to focus on programs that have been proven effective in boosting graduation rates, such as the arts and early childhood education, as opposed to "experimental" programs.
District 4 (northeast Denver) candidates Vernon Jones Jr., Andrea Mosby, Nate Easley and Alton Clark said a 100 percent graduation rate should be the goal.
Jacqueline Shumway, on the other hand, said students have to be given choices.
"I think 100 percent means you don't give any choice," she said. "We have to say to people ... 'you can either go ahead and go to school and this is what you can achieve ... or you can go ahead and decide and have life be this way.'"
District 2 (southwest Denver) candidates Andrea Merida and Ismael Garcia said the goal should be 100 percent. Garcia said DPS should look to charter schools to achieve that goal. Merida said that beyond graduating as many students as possible, DPS should be making sure students are prepared for college or a career.
District 3 (east central Denver) candidate Jeanne Kaplan is running unopposed.
To watch the full candidate forum, go to go to denvergov.org/denver8tv. Click on the "Watch Videos" and then "Denver Decides."
To see district maps, go to www.denvergov.org/elections or call 3-1-1.