Colorado Early Colleges Aurora

Colorado Early Colleges Aurora (CECA) is a public charter high school in Aurora, CO, serving 567 students in grades 9 through 12 and authorized by the State Charter School Institute. The school presents a striking contrast: it graduates students at a high rate—94.1% in 2024-25, well above the state average of 85.6%—yet its academic proficiency scores are among the lowest in the region. The graduation rate has surged from 53.1% just four years ago, but math and science proficiency have remained very low or fallen.

Test scores are the most concerning area. Only 4% of 11th graders met the SAT math benchmark in 2025-26, compared to 32% statewide, and 22% met the reading and writing benchmark versus 60% statewide. Science proficiency sits at just 6.3%. By comparison, nearby Smoky Hill High School had 28% math proficiency, Rangeview High School 23%, and Overland High School 19%. Even Gateway High School, at 13%, was well above CECA. The school's statewide ranking has declined from the 35th percentile in 2018-19 to the 8th percentile in 2025-26.

Chronic absenteeism is another major concern—56.9% of students missed significant school in 2024-25, roughly double the state rate of 28.4%. The student-teacher ratio of 24.1 to 1 is the highest among neighboring schools, and 77.1% of students now qualify for free or reduced lunch, up from 53.7% two years earlier. CECA does outperform its same-authorizer alternatives like New Legacy Charter School and New America School - Aurora on graduation and dropout rates, but those schools are among the lowest-performing in the state. In short, CECA has become effective at graduating students, but the combination of very low test scores, high absenteeism, and large class sizes raises real questions about how much learning is happening along the way.