Emily Griffith spent her entire life educating and caring for people. Ever since 1882, when she began teaching at the age of fourteen, Metro Denver has benefited from her contributions. In 1915, Emily told Frances "Pinky" Wayne, a Denver Post features writer, that she had a dream of opening a school to serve people of all ages and interests. Wayne wrote about her dream in the Post, and the notion of a new ‘Opportunity School’ caught fire. The Denver Board of Education gave Emily the old, condemned Longfellow School located at 13th and Welton Streets.

On September 9, 1916, Emily's dream became reality and she opened the doors of Emily Griffith Opportunity School. On the first day, she personally greeted each student at the front door. She hoped for a few students; more than 1,400 registered the first week! Emily's philosophy, "For all who wish to learn", still encompasses our school’s commitment to learning for people of all ages, backgrounds and interests.

During World War I, the school trained soldiers in radio communications and civilians for special mathematics, drafting, tractor and ambulance driving, and gas engine work. New programs were added after the war that gave marketable skills to Denver citizens during the depression. Under the government's War Production Board, the school operated around the clock during World War II, training more than 24,000 people for defense work with programs in war production training, food conservation, and victory gardening. Since then, the school has evolved to keep pace with today’s technologies and job demands.

Emily Griffith Opportunity School is still located at 1250 Welton St. on the spot where it was founded. The school occupies an entire block in the heart of downtown Denver. The school has assisted over 1.5 million students in achieving their goals and has positively impacted generations of families in our community. Today’s teachers and staff carry on her mission of enabling people "to succeed at meaningful work and a purposeful place in the community".