Denver School of Science and Technology 401(k) Review & Grade
Denver School of Science and Technology 401(k) Plan
Denver, COEducational Services882 active participantsPlan year 2024
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$3,036Employer $ per active participant
$4,102Employee $ saved per active participant
0.52%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$52.9MNet plan assets, end of year
$40,885Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity42.0 / 5084th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost5.4 / 2522th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving10.5 / 1570th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features3 / 10Default investment
Total score61 / 100 · Grade B
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Educational Services plans with 500–2,499 active participants (144 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 84th |
| Lower admin cost | 22th |
| Employee saving | 70th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 37% |
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Red flags from the filing
No red flags were reported on this filing's compliance questions.
What to do if you're in this plan
- Denver School of Science and Technology put in about $3,036 per active participant, more than the typical peer ($1,225). Contribute at least enough to collect the full match. Skipping it leaves part of your pay on the table.
- The filing shows total dollars, not the match formula. Ask HR for the Summary Plan Description so you know the exact match and vesting schedule.
- Direct plan expenses (0.52% of assets) are well above similar-size plans (0.23%). Check your annual fee disclosure, choose low-cost index funds if you can, and think about whether savings beyond the match belong in an IRA.
- Changing jobs? You can usually leave the money in the plan, move it to your new employer's plan, or roll it into an IRA. Don't cash out: you'd owe taxes and possibly a 10% penalty.
The raw numbers from the filing
| Employer contributions | $2,678,927 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $3,619,978 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $206,416 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $253,014 |
| Investment advisory & management fees | $37,490 |
| Benefits paid out | $4,319,423 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $44.1M / $52.9M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 893 / 872 |
| Participants with account balances | 1,293 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Not reported |
| Auditor | Forvis Mazars, LLP |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Empower Annuity Insurance Company O | $215,524 reported compensation |
| Global Retirement Partners LLC | $34,000 reported compensation |
| Empower Advisory Group, LLC | $3,490 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20260304130311NAL0004836848001, received 2026-03-04, EIN 84-1602733, plan #001, plan year 2024-07-01 to 2025-06-30. Verify at efast.dol.gov.