The top reported proficiency rate is 15% in Science. The lowest is 10% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Yale Elementary School
Yale Elementary School is a regular public school in Aurora, Colorado, serving pre-kindergarten through fifth grade as part of the Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and Arapahoe. It is the kind of school where the academic numbers tell a straightforward story: state assessment results in math, English language arts, and science fall in the bottom quartile when compared with other elementary schools in Arapahoe County. Proficiency rates are low across all three tested subjects. Participation on test days was high, so the results reflect a full picture of the student body, not a partial snapshot. A parent considering Yale Elementary should know the core academic performance is a clear soft spot, and a direct conversation with the school about instructional supports, intervention programs, and how the school approaches grade-level standards would be worthwhile.
The student body is diverse. Hispanic students make up roughly half the enrollment, with White students, Asian students, Black students, and students of two or more races each in the mix as well. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, placing the school in a high-poverty context. That economic profile matters for what kinds of wraparound resources a family might want to ask about, such as before- or after-care, meal programs, or health services. Enrollment data on special education and English learner status was not provided, so a parent should request those numbers directly from the school to understand the full range of student support needs.
The school sits within Aurora, a sprawling, largely suburban city that is the third largest in Colorado. The city covers a vast area and its built environment is predominantly car-dependent. Light rail lines and bus routes serve parts of the city, but a family living at Yale’s address, near East Yale Avenue, will likely need a car for most trips. Major employers in the city include Buckley Space Force Base, the Anschutz Medical Campus, and the university hospital, while the local economy is also supported by the city’s two large school districts. Aurora was one of the fastest-growing cities in the country in earlier decades and continues to see development, particularly along the corridor near Denver International Airport and around the Anschutz Medical Campus. The city lacks a singular downtown core; civic and commercial life is distributed across its many commercial hubs and master-planned communities.
The housing market has seen a slight year-over-year decline in home values, while rents have edged upward. The typical home in the area costs roughly five to six times the median U.S. household income, a ratio common in many metro-area suburbs. The estimated monthly mortgage payment runs higher than the typical rent, so renting may be the more immediately affordable option for a household without a large down payment saved.
The district has two publicly reported changes that affect families. Voters approved a bond measure in late 2022 that funds facility improvements, safety upgrades, and school modernization. That ongoing investment means Yale Elementary may benefit from physical plant improvements in the coming years. At the same time, the district is undertaking a school consolidation and repurposing process, closing or repurposing underutilized buildings. This restructuring can shift attendance boundaries, alter feeder patterns, or change which school a child attends. A family living in Yale’s attendance area should confirm with the district whether any consolidation plans affect this school directly or alter the route to middle and high school later on.
The overall picture is of a high-poverty elementary school in a large, growing suburban city, where state test results are low and the district is investing in buildings while also shrinking its footprint through consolidation. A parent considering Yale Elementary would want to visit, ask about academic intervention strategies, and understand the school’s specific approach to moving proficiency rates upward.
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