The top reported proficiency rate is 12% in English language arts. The lowest is 4% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on North Middle School Health Sciences and Technology
North Middle School Health Sciences and Technology is a regular public middle school in Aurora, Colorado, serving grades six through eight as part of the Aurora Joint District No. 28 (Adams-Arapahoe 28J). With an enrollment that is moderate for a middle school, it draws from a surrounding neighborhood that is densely populated and diverse. The student body is predominantly Hispanic, with a substantial share of Black students and smaller proportions of White, Asian, and other groups. A very large majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, placing the school in a high-poverty context.
State assessment results from the most recent testing year show that, across all three tested subjects, proficiency rates are low. In math, the share of students scoring at the proficient or above level was in the single digits, and in English language arts it was slightly higher but still low. Science, assessed at eighth grade, also showed a very low proficiency rate. Participation rates on the tests were above ninety percent, so the results reflect near-complete testing of the enrolled students. When compared with other districts in Adams County, the school’s overall proficiency index lands in the bottom quartile of those districts. Because this is a middle school, there is no graduation rate to report.
The school’s name includes “Health Sciences and Technology,” though the data provided does not include details about specific programs, magnet status, or course access. The directory lists it as a regular school with no charter or magnet designation indicated. Families interested in themed curricula would need to contact the school directly to understand what that name means in practice.
Aurora itself is a large, sprawling suburban city and the third most populous in Colorado. Its built environment is car-dependent, with light rail and bus service providing some transit options. Major employers include Buckley Space Force Base, the Anschutz Medical Campus, and the city’s two large school districts. The city lacks a single traditional downtown; civic and institutional functions are distributed across its wide footprint. Growth continues, particularly along the E-470 corridor near Denver International Airport, where an aerotropolis is planned, and the Anschutz Medical Campus remains a major economic driver.
The district that operates the school, Aurora Public Schools, is currently undergoing several changes that families should be aware of. Voters approved a bond measure in 2022 that funds facility improvements, safety upgrades, and school modernization across the district. Separately, the district is pursuing a school consolidation and repurposing process, closing or repurposing underutilized buildings. These shifts will affect school assignments and feeder patterns for years to come. The school itself sits within a neighborhood of Aurora that is closer to the older, more established parts of the city, rather than the newer growth areas on the eastern edge.
Housing in the area surrounding the school shows that the market has softened recently, with home values and rents slightly down year over year relative to the state and national trends. Affordability remains a challenge, as mortgage costs and rent both represent significant shares of typical household income. Families moving into the area should expect a competitive rental market and home purchase prices that, while lower than the state average, are still high relative to local incomes.
For parents considering North Middle School, the academic picture is one of very low proficiency on state assessments, a student population that is economically disadvantaged at a high rate, and a school that sits within a large district in the middle of facility investment and restructuring. The peer environment reflects a high-need student body. A parent may want to investigate what academic support programs, enrichment, or specialized pathways are offered, particularly given the health sciences and technology name. Without further data on staffing, discipline, attendance, or course access, the full picture of daily school life and support structures remains incomplete.
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