Public schools in Aurora, CO
105 open public schools with an address in Aurora, operated by 4 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
105
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
72,918
104 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
16.4:1
Colorado median 15.4:1
Charter schools
17
0 virtual
An overview of Aurora public schools
The federal directory lists 105 public schools in Aurora, CO: 65 elementary, 15 middle, 13 high, 12 combined or other. The 104 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 72,918 students, an average of 701 per school. The largest campus is Cherokee Trail High School (3,089 students), and the largest elementary school is Edna and John W. Mosley P-8 (994).
Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A operates the most schools here (56), and 3 regular districts have at least one Aurora campus, plus 1 charter, service, or other agency. City names come from school mailing addresses, which often differ from district or municipal boundaries.
Across schools that reported staffing, the median student–teacher ratio is 16.4:1, higher than the statewide school median of 15.4:1. A ratio counts classroom-teacher FTE against total enrollment, so specialized programs and part-time staffing can move it; ask schools for actual class sizes by grade.
School choice options include 17 charter schools. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
Among 15 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 11 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 9 of 15 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 62% of students in reporting schools were eligible for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25. This describes the community served; it is not a quality signal, and community-eligibility schools can report differently.
School districts and agencies serving Aurora
Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A
Public school district
56 schools in Aurora · 57 total
Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah
Public school district
40 schools in Aurora · 69 total
State Charter School Institute
Independent charter agency
8 schools in Aurora · 48 total
Bennett School District No. 29J
Public school district
1 school in Aurora · 6 total
Elementary schools in Aurora
65| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Academy of Advanced Learning State Charter School Institute · Charter | KG–08 | 847 | 22.1:1 | |
| Altitude Elementary School Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah | PK–05 | 758 | 16.9:1 | |
| Altura Elementary School Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A | PK–05 | 527 | 17.9:1 | |
| Antelope Ridge Elementary School Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah | PK–05 | 549 | 16.5:1 | |
| Arkansas Elementary School Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A | PK–05 | 432 | 13.1:1 | |
| Arrowhead Elementary School Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah | PK–05 | 499 | 14.5:1 | |
| Aurora Academy Charter School Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A · Charter | KG–08 | 536 | 13.4:1 | |
| Aurora Frontier K-8 Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A | PK–08 | 761 | 16.7:1 | |
| Aurora Highlands K-8 Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A | PK–08 | 472 | 15.2:1 | |
| Aurora Quest K-8 Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A | KG–08 | 575 | 19.2:1 | |
| AXL Academy Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A · Charter | PK–08 | 402 | 14.9:1 | |
| Black Forest Hills Elementary School Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah | PK–05 | 500 | 15:1 | |
| Boston K-8 School Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A | PK–08 | 413 | 15.9:1 | |
| Buffalo Trail Elementary School Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah | PK–06 | 632 | 16.9:1 | |
| Canyon Creek Elementary School Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah | PK–05 | 477 | 14.9:1 | |
| Cimarron Elementary School Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah | PK–05 | 393 | 11.9:1 | |
| Clara Brown Entrepreneurial Academy Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A | PK–06 | 282 | 14.8:1 | |
| Clyde Miller K-8 Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A | PK–08 | 466 | 21.2:1 | |
| Coyote Hills Elementary School Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah | PK–05 | 478 | 14.5:1 | |
| Crawford Elementary School Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A | PK–05 | 567 | 15.6:1 | |
| Dakota Valley Elementary School Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah | PK–05 | 571 | 14.6:1 | |
| Dalton Elementary School Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A | PK–05 | 430 | 15.9:1 | |
| Dartmouth Elementary School Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A | PK–05 | 422 | 14.6:1 | |
| Del Mar Academy Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A | PK–08 | 950 | 20:1 | |
| Eastridge Community Elementary School Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah | PK–05 | 716 | 15.1:1 | |
| Edna and John W. Mosley P-8 Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A | PK–08 | 994 | 17.3:1 | |
| Elkhart Elementary School Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A | PK–05 | 525 | 14.8:1 | |
| Fox Hollow Elementary School Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah | PK–05 | 555 | 15.4:1 | |
| Fulton Academy of Excellence Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A | PK–05 | 410 | 14.6:1 | |
| Harmony Ridge P-8 Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A | PK–08 | 894 | 19.9:1 | |
| High Point Academy State Charter School Institute · Charter | PK–08 | 680 | 19.1:1 | |
| Highline Community Elementary School Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah | PK–05 | 435 | 13.3:1 | |
| Independence Elementary School Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah | PK–05 | 439 | 13.4:1 | |
| Indian Ridge Elementary School Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah | PK–05 | 410 | 15.2:1 | |
| Iowa Elementary School Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A | PK–05 | 502 | 17.3:1 | |
| Jewell Elementary School Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A | PK–05 | 493 | 14.1:1 | |
| Kenton Elementary School Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A | PK–05 | 583 | 15.5:1 | |
| Lansing Elementary Community School Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A | PK–05 | 366 | 12.6:1 | |
| Laredo Elementary School Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A | PK–05 | 449 | 18.3:1 | |
| Meadow Point Elementary School Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah | PK–05 | 401 | 13.6:1 | |
| Mission Viejo Elementary School Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah | PK–05 | 552 | 15.6:1 | |
| Montessori del Mundo Charter School State Charter School Institute · Charter | PK–08 | 365 | 13.9:1 | |
| Montview Math & Health Sciences Elementary School Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A | PK–05 | 380 | 14.6:1 | |
| Murphy Creek K-8 School Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A | PK–08 | 855 | 16.9:1 | |
| Park Lane Elementary School Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A | PK–05 | 486 | 16.8:1 | |
| Pine Ridge Elementary School Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah | PK–05 | 617 | 15.4:1 | |
| Polton Community Elementary School Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah | PK–05 | 466 | 13.8:1 | |
| Ponderosa Elementary School Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah | PK–05 | 634 | 18.1:1 | |
| Rocky Mountain Prep: Fletcher Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A · Charter | PK–05 | 701 | 15.3:1 | |
| Rolling Hills Elementary School Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah | PK–05 | 499 | 12.6:1 | |
| Sagebrush Elementary School Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah | PK–05 | 354 | 10.6:1 | |
| Side Creek Elementary School Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A | PK–05 | 512 | 19:1 | |
| Summit Elementary School Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah | PK–05 | 337 | 13.5:1 | |
| Sunrise Elementary School Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah | PK–05 | 497 | 14.8:1 | |
| Tollgate Elementary School of Expeditionary Learning Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A | KG–05 | 601 | 18.5:1 | |
| Vassar Elementary School Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A | PK–05 | 500 | 16.1:1 | |
| Vaughn Elementary School Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A | PK–05 | 446 | 17.8:1 | |
| Vega Collegiate Academy Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A · Charter | KG–08 | 583 | 22.4:1 | |
| Village East Community Elementary School Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah | PK–05 | 821 | 16.4:1 | |
| Virginia Court Elementary School Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A | PK–05 | 657 | 16.2:1 | |
| Vista Peak P-8 Exploratory Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A | PK–08 | 960 | 20:1 | |
| Wildflower Montessori Public School of Colorado Aurora North State Charter School Institute · Charter | PK–03 | — | — | |
| Wildflower Montessori Public School of Colorado Aurora South State Charter School Institute · Charter | PK–04 | 49 | 9.5:1 | |
| Woodland Elementary School Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah | PK–05 | 577 | 16:1 | |
| Yale Elementary School Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A | PK–05 | 492 | 18.2:1 |
Middle schools in Aurora
15| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aurora Hills Middle School Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A | 06–08 | 821 | 16.6:1 | |
| Aurora Science & Tech Middle School Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A · Charter | 06–08 | 448 | 13.4:1 | |
| Columbia Middle School Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A | 06–08 | 636 | 17.7:1 | |
| East Middle School Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A | 06–08 | 634 | 26.4:1 | |
| Falcon Creek Middle School Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah | 06–08 | 701 | 14.3:1 | |
| Fox Ridge Middle School Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah | 06–08 | 966 | 17.4:1 | |
| Horizon Community Middle School Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah | 06–08 | 714 | 14.6:1 | |
| Infinity Middle School Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah | 06–08 | 1,020 | 16.9:1 | |
| Laredo Middle School Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah | 06–08 | 846 | 15.9:1 | |
| Liberty Middle School Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah | 06–08 | 868 | 16.6:1 | |
| Mrachek Middle School Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A | 06–08 | 811 | 20.3:1 | |
| North Middle School Health Sciences and Technology Campus Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A | 06–08 | 565 | 19.5:1 | |
| Prairie Middle School Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah | 06–08 | 1,491 | 15.2:1 | |
| Sky Vista Middle School Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah | 06–08 | 969 | 17.8:1 | |
| Thunder Ridge Middle School Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah | 06–08 | 1,106 | 15.7:1 |
High schools in Aurora
13| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aurora Science & Tech High School Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A · Charter | 09–12 | 434 | 13.2:1 | |
| Aurora West College Preparatory Academy Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A | 06–12 | 927 | 20.2:1 | |
| Cherokee Trail High School Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah | 09–12 | 3,089 | 20.2:1 | |
| Colorado Early Colleges Aurora State Charter School Institute · Charter | 09–12 | 567 | 24.1:1 | |
| Gateway High School Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A | 09–12 | 1,748 | 21:1 | |
| Grandview High School Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah | 09–12 | 2,684 | 19.8:1 | |
| Hinkley High School Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A | 09–12 | 1,527 | 21.8:1 | |
| New Legacy Charter School State Charter School Institute · Charter · Alternative School | 09–12 | 96 | 13.2:1 | |
| Overland High School Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah | 09–12 | 2,228 | 17.9:1 | |
| Rangeview High School Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A | 09–12 | 2,078 | 20.3:1 | |
| Smoky Hill High School Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah | 09–12 | 2,297 | 20:1 | |
| Vista Peak 9-12 Preparatory Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A | 09–12 | 2,045 | 21.2:1 | |
| William Smith High School Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A | 09–12 | 410 | 17.1:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Aurora
12| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| APS Early Beginnings - A Zoom Site Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A | PK–PK | 23 | — | |
| Aurora Central Campus Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A | PK–12 | 2,468 | 17.9:1 | |
| Early Learning Center at New Legacy Charter School State Charter School Institute · Charter | PK–PK | 8 | 7.7:1 | |
| Jamaica Child Development Center Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A | PK–PK | 106 | 35.3:1 | |
| Laredo Child Development Center Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A | PK–PK | 210 | 42:1 | |
| Lotus School for Excellence Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A · Charter | KG–12 | 1,008 | 15.3:1 | |
| Meadowood Child Development Center Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A | PK–PK | 166 | 55.3:1 | |
| Outback Preschool Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah | PK–PK | 81 | 20.3:1 | |
| Sable Child Development Center Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A | PK–PK | 130 | 86.7:1 | |
| Sky Ranch Academy Bennett School District No. 29J · Charter | KG–09 | 495 | 20.6:1 | |
| The Journey Preschool Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah | PK–PK | 75 | 18.8:1 | |
| Vanguard Classical School - East Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A · Charter | KG–12 | 690 | 14.4:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White24.3%
- Hispanic45.5%
- Black15.6%
- Asian5.9%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.5%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.7%
- Multiracial7.5%
Enrollment-weighted across 104 Aurora schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (72,918 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Aurora
How many public schools are in Aurora, CO?
The current NCES directory lists 105 open public schools with a location address in Aurora: 65 elementary, 15 middle, 13 high, 12 combined or other. Together they reported 72,918 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Aurora?
Schools with an address in Aurora belong to 4 education agencies, led by Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A (56 schools), Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah (40 schools), State Charter School Institute (8 schools). A mailing city is not an attendance boundary; confirm the district for a specific address.
What is the largest public high school in Aurora?
Cherokee Trail High School reported the largest high-school enrollment in Aurora, with 3,089 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Aurora?
Yes. 17 of the 105 public schools in Aurora are identified as charter schools in the NCES directory, including Academy of Advanced Learning, Aurora Academy Charter School, Aurora Science & Tech High School. Charter schools are public and tuition-free, but admission usually uses an application or lottery.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Aurora schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Aurora public schools is 16.4:1, higher than the Colorado school median of 15.4:1. The ratio divides enrollment by classroom-teacher FTE; it is not an average class size.
Does living in Aurora guarantee a seat at a specific school?
No. Assignment depends on the district's attendance boundaries, programs, and enrollment rules, which can split a city or cross city lines. Use the district profile and its official boundary or school-locator tool to confirm the assigned school for an exact address.
Nearby Colorado cities
Sources: NCES Common Core of Data 2025–26 preliminary directory (schools, grades, addresses, charter status) and 2024–25 nonfiscal files (enrollment, teachers, race/ethnicity, meal eligibility); Civil Rights Data Collection 2021–22 (AP and computer science). Cities are grouped by school mailing address. Methodology · All Colorado cities