Summary:
Zip code 80018 is home to one high school, Vista Peak 9-12 Preparatory, a large Aurora school serving 2,045 students in grades 9 through 12 and part of the Aurora Joint District No. 28. As the only high school in the area, Vista Peak 9-12 Preparatory serves as the sole educational option for local families, and it stands out as a consistent outperformer within its district despite facing significant challenges.
The school currently holds a 1-star rating and ranks in the 28th percentile of Colorado high schools, down from a 2-star rating and 41st percentile in 2023-2024. Its graduation rate of 84.7% is nearly 8 points higher than the Aurora Joint District No. 28 average of 77.0%, and its dropout rate of 1.5% is half the district rate and slightly better than the state rate. However, chronic absenteeism is a serious concern, with 42.1% of students missing significant school time compared to 38.9% for the district and 28.4% statewide. On standardized tests, the school beats its district on every subject while trailing the state across the board; reading and writing proficiency reaches 45-50%, but math proficiency is much lower at 26-34%, and science proficiency is just 13.1% versus 24.8% statewide.
A notable trend is the year-over-year decline in reading scores, with SAT Reading/Writing dropping from 53% to 45% proficiency, while math and science showed modest improvements. With 62% of students eligible for free or reduced lunch, this is a majority-low-income school, and its performance is reasonably strong given the obstacles associated with poverty. Parents should view Vista Peak as a school that clearly outperforms its struggling district and maintains solid graduation outcomes, but they should also be aware of the substantial gaps in math and science achievement, the high absenteeism rate, and the recent downward trend in literacy scores that together highlight clear areas for improvement.
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