The top reported proficiency rate is 20% in English language arts. The lowest is 17% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Side Creek Elementary School
Side Creek Elementary School is a regular public school in Aurora, Colorado, serving preschool through fifth grade. It is part of the Adams-Arapahoe 28J school district, which operates as Aurora Public Schools. The school sits in a sprawling suburban part of the city, an area of subdivisions and commercial strips that is heavily car-dependent, though RTD light rail lines do reach parts of Aurora. The city itself is Colorado’s third largest, with a large footprint across three counties and a population that grew rapidly in past decades and continues to add residents, especially along the E-470 corridor near Denver International Airport.
On state assessments from the 2024-25 school year, Side Creek’s results were well below the district and state averages. In both math and English language arts, the share of students scoring proficient or above was in the lower range. Science results, tested only in fifth grade, were similar. Overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades placed the school below the midpoint when compared with other districts in Arapahoe County. These are challenging numbers for a family focused on high academic attainment, and a parent may want to ask the school about specific supports for struggling students and any steps being taken to improve outcomes. Participation rates on the tests were high, so the results reflect nearly all enrolled students.
The student body is diverse. Hispanic students make up the largest share, followed by White students, students who identify as two or more races, Black students, and smaller groups of Asian, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, and American Indian or Alaska Native students. A substantial majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, which signals that many families face economic pressures. Data on the share of students receiving special education services or classified as English learners were not reported in the available record, so a parent should check directly with the school for that information.
Aurora Public Schools has had two major recent developments that could affect Side Creek families. In 2022, voters approved a bond measure aimed at facility improvements, safety upgrades, and school modernization across the district. That work is ongoing and may eventually touch this elementary building. Separately, the district has launched a school consolidation and repurposing process, closing or repurposing underutilized schools. This could shift attendance boundaries or feeder patterns over time. A parent considering the area should be aware that school assignments are not necessarily static.
Housing in the zip code that includes Side Creek has seen home values slightly below the state median, with rents rising modestly. The area is more affordable than the Denver metro core, but the national mortgage rate climate makes buying more expensive than renting in this market. The unemployment rate nationally has been steady at moderate levels, and real median household income in the country has edged up in recent years.
Side Creek is a mid-sized elementary school with a high level of economic need and academic results that are lower than most of its county peers. It serves a diverse community in a large, growing, suburban city. A family moving into this attendance area should expect a school where many students are working to meet grade-level expectations, and where the district is investing in facilities while also shrinking its physical footprint through consolidation. The school’s website or a direct visit would be the best next step to learn about specific programs, the English learner and special education populations, and how the school supports its students day to day.
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