Aurora Public Schools

What Aurora Public Schools does

Aurora Public Schools (APS) is a public K-12 school district headquartered at 15701 E. 1st Ave., Aurora, Colorado, serving students from preschool through 12th grade across more than 40 schools. The district operates multiple preschools, 19 elementary schools, 9 P-8/K-8 schools, 6 middle schools, 5 high schools, and a portfolio of magnet and choice schools including Aurora Quest K-8 (gifted), Charles Burrell Visual & Performing Arts Campus, Clara Brown Entrepreneurial Academy (K-8 entrepreneurship), Aurora West College Preparatory Academy, and William Smith High School. APS also authorizes and oversees charter schools operating under independent boards within the district.

APS offers a comprehensive educational portfolio anchored by Career & Technical Education across 14 program areas (business, digital technologies, construction trades, criminal justice, education, engineering, fashion, health science, hospitality, manufacturing, multimedia arts, technical theatre), Gifted & Talented Services, multilingual learner support in 15+ languages, special education, International Baccalaureate at Hinkley High School, and College & Career Success programs tracking ICAP via Naviance. The underlying technology stack includes Infinite Campus for the student information system and parent portal, Naviance for college/career planning, Google Apps single sign-on, and the SchoolMessenger Presence website platform.

The business model is tuition-free public education funded primarily through state appropriations, local property taxes, and per-pupil funding; revenue is not publicly disclosed. Charter schools authorized by APS operate under separate boards but receive per-pupil funding from the district. Enrollment is managed via boundary school assignments, magnet-school lotteries, and special admissions applications (typically November–January windows). The district employs 1,001–5,000 staff and is governed by an elected Board of Education, functioning as a Colorado government entity rather than a private enterprise.

Name

Aurora Public Schools

Legal name

Aurora Public Schools

Website

https://aurorak12.org

Company type

Public

Founded year

1922

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Aurora Public Schools is a public K-12 school district in Aurora, Colorado, serving preschool through 12th-grade students with tuition-free education across 40+ schools, including magnet programs, CTE pathways, and authorized charter schools.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

K-12 Public Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Child Day Care Services (8351)

akta.pro primary industry

Public School Districts (K–12) (EDADABAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Public K–12 Combined Schools (EDAJAAAE)

Keywords

• K-12 public education
• Career technical education
• Gifted education programs
• Magnet schools
• Special education services

Headquarters

HQ city

Aurora

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Public Education Funding: Aurora Public Schools is a public school district funded primarily through government appropriations, local property taxes, and state education funding. As a tuition-free public school system, there is no direct tuition revenue from families.
2. Charter School Oversight: The district authorizes and oversees charter schools that operate as independent boards within the district. Charter schools receive per-pupil funding but operate under separate governance.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Aurora Public Schools is a tuition-free public K-12 school district operating preschool through grade 12 programs across neighborhood schools, magnet schools, charter schools, and special admissions programs in Aurora, Colorado. The district delivers core academic instruction, Career & Technical Education across 14 program areas, gifted and special education services, multilingual learner support, and dual language / International Baccalaureate pathways, with concurrent enrollment and ASCENT partnerships with local colleges.

Product overview

Aurora Public Schools is a public school district offering a comprehensive portfolio of educational programs and services. The district operates multiple magnet schools including Aurora Quest K-8 (gifted education), Charles Burrell Visual & Performing Arts Campus (K-12 arts pathway), Clara Brown Entrepreneurial Academy (K-8 entrepreneurship), Aurora West College Preparatory Academy (9-12 college prep), and William Smith High School (expeditionary learning). Special admissions programs include ConstrucTECH (6-year construction management pathway) and the International Baccalaureate Programme at Hinkley. The district provides Career & Technical Education across 14 program areas at multiple high schools and middle schools, along with Gifted & Talented Services, Summer School Programs, and College & Career Success initiatives through Naviance-powered ICAP tracking. Educational programs are supported by the Parent Portal (Infinite Campus) and district website built on SchoolMessenger Presence platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• APS: Common abbreviation for Aurora Public Schools used on the website and in communications
• Aurora Quest K-8
• Charles Burrell Visual & Performing Arts Campus
• Clara Brown Entrepreneurial Academy
• Aurora West College Preparatory Academy
• William Smith High School
• Escuela Bilingüe Betty Benavidez
• ConstrucTECH

Products and services

• Aurora Quest K-8

Quantifiable outcome

• Average high school graduation rate for students concentrating in CTE programs is 90.18%, compared to average national freshman graduation rate of 74.9%
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ConstrucTECH Industry EmployerscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Employers participating in ConstrucTECH program provide mentoring, job shadow experiences, student participation in industry projects, internships, apprenticeships, and potential future employment upon graduation. This is a key element of the six-year integrated program launched Fall 2023.
• Community College of AuroracoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for concurrent enrollment allowing high school students to earn college credits, and ASCENT program for free postsecondary education after high school graduation. Students can pursue associate degrees while still in high school or continue for a fifth year tuition-free.
• Pickens Technical CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConcurrent enrollment and ASCENT program partnership. Students can earn college credits and industry credentials while in high school, with pathways to continue education post-graduation at Pickens Technical College.
• Emily GriffithminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConcurrent enrollment partnership providing high school students opportunities to earn college credits through Emily Griffith technical college programs.
• Metropolitan State University of DenverminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerASCENT program partnership allowing qualifying students to continue their education tuition-free at Metropolitan State University of Denver after their senior year of high school.
• Community College of DenverminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerASCENT program partnership providing tuition-free college pathway for qualifying APS students after high school graduation.
• Kelly EducationcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorKelly Education provides substitute staffing services for Aurora Public Schools. The district uses Kelly Education for substitute teacher placement and management.
• SkillsUSAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational organization that champions career and technical education (CTE) skills for students. APS CTE students participate in SkillsUSA competitions at regional and state levels.
• Technical Theatre CTE Advisory Board MembersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdvisory board includes: Amy Leigh (Theatre Actor/Director), Jarred Frank (APS Programs and Partnerships Specialist), Tony Huerta (Sonic Audio Sound Engineer), Davey Van Beveren (Colorado Symphony Director), Sarah Van Beckum (Visual and Design Arts), Shelby Jarosz (Cleo Parker Robinson), Robert B. Epstein (Highstone Studio Artist/President).
• Multimedia Arts CTE Advisory Board MembersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdvisory board includes industry professionals: Phillip Maravilla (Rocky Mountain PBS), Robert P. Epstein (Highstone Studio), Nathan Kirkpatrick (So Danca USA), Terry Spencer (Colin Spencer Productions), Delyce Collins (Clear Cut Window Tinting), James Tharp (Colorado Film School), Sarah Van Beckum (Fine Arts), Jonathan Collins.
• Manufacturing Trades CTE Advisory Board MembersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdvisory board includes: Lynn Weberg (Palmer Drivers Controls), Mike Robinson (Motion & Flow Control Products), Doug Edasi (Novo Organization), Mike Shallenberger (Legacy Campus), Chris Raschke (Fluid Power Sales & Operations).

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Denver Public Schools: Largest school district in Colorado, operating a comparable portfolio of neighborhood, magnet, and charter schools with extensive CTE, IB, and dual language programs. Directly comparable as a Colorado urban public K-12 district with similar program breadth and scale.
• Falcon School District 49: El Paso County, Colorado public school district of comparable size with magnet academies, IB, and CTE pathways. Comparable as a similarly sized Colorado public K-12 district with a choice/magnet portfolio.
• Cherry Creek School District: Large Colorado public school district operating multiple schools across the Denver metro area with magnet programs, IB offerings, and robust CTE pathways. Comparable in scale, suburban Colorado footprint, and program diversity to Aurora Public Schools.
• Adams 12 Five Star Schools: Neighboring north-metro Denver school district serving a comparable demographic mix with magnet schools, CTE, and English language learner programs. Closely comparable in geography, size, and student population profile to APS.
• Boulder Valley School District: Colorado public school district serving Boulder and surrounding communities with magnet programs, IB, and dual language pathways. Comparable as a Colorado district with similar program breadth and per-pupil funding profile.
• Douglas County School District: Large south-metro Denver public school district operating neighborhood and choice schools with extensive CTE, AP, and IB offerings. Comparable Colorado public K-12 district at similar operational scale.
• Jeffco Public Schools: Colorado's second-largest school district serving the western Denver metro with magnet schools, choice programs, and CTE. Comparable in size, structure, and program portfolio to Aurora Public Schools.
• Mapleton Public Schools: Small-to-mid-sized neighboring Colorado district north of Aurora with magnet schools and strong CTE/concurrent enrollment partnerships. Comparable in operating model and proximity to APS.
• St. Vrain Valley Schools: Large northern Colorado public school district operating magnet programs, IB, dual language, and extensive CTE. Comparable as a Colorado district of similar scale with diverse program offerings.
• Adams County School District 14: Adjacent Commerce City, Colorado public school district serving a similar working-class, multilingual community. Highly comparable in demographics, ELL population, and program needs to APS.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/aurorak12
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCXqzC7gF-5X7y8J4K8X5zLQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/aurorak12
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/1081872

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Aurora Public Schools