Skip to main content

Average

#1314 of 1,815 schools in CO

Columbia Middle School

Middle School · Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the Counties of Adams and a · Aurora, CO

An Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the Counties of Adams and a middle school serving grades 6th – 8th.

17600 EAST COLUMBIA AVE, Aurora, CO 80013

  • Math 18% vs CO 35% (2025)
  • Reading 25% vs CO 46% (2025)
  • 16.3:1 student-teacher ratio

Academics

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress4.7Below Average40%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change-3.97 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics5.0Average35%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency18.2% (2025 CMAS)
Reading/ELA Proficiency25% (2025 CMAS)
Math vs. State Avg-17.9 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-19.9 pts
Overall Proficiency22% (2025 CMAS, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)23% (model expectation from 2025 CMAS)
vs. Expected-1.9 pts
Adjusted Percentile32th
Resources & Environment5.3Average25%
Student-teacher ratio, district spending per student, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio16.3:1
District spending per student$18,118
Chronic Absenteeism51.1%

Students at Columbia Middle School score 22% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 23%).

How we calculate scores →

2025 CMAS proficiency

Most recent published year. School vs. CO average.

Math Proficiency18%(2025 CMAS)
School
State
35%(2025 CMAS)
ELA Proficiency25%(2025 CMAS)
School
State
46%(2025 CMAS)

Trend

→ Steady

Proficiency is down 58 points across the 17-year record (2009–2025) and has held near 22% recently.

Show all 15 years
2009
Math
77%
ELA
83%
2010
Math
79%
ELA
82%
2011
Math
47%
ELA
57%
2012
Math
50%
ELA
62%
2013
Math
52%
ELA
61%
2014
Math
19%
ELA
29%
2015
Math
16%
ELA
35%
2016
Math
17%
ELA
36%
2017
Math
16%
ELA
34%
2018
Math
18%
ELA
32%
2019
Math
18%
ELA
32%
2020*
Math
10%
ELA
27%
2021*
Math
10%
ELA
27%
2022
Math
10%
2025
Math
18%
ELA
25%

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 29% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 41% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Based on 35 test records from CO state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).

Equity & diversity

Shown separately, not included in the overall score

Free/reduced lunch

77.3%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

How we rate schools

A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.

See how we rate

The neighborhood

Where Columbia Middle School sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.

Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries. Open the Denver map →

Getting around & local context

  • Walk 46Car-Dependent
  • Transit 33Some Transit
  • Bike 55Bikeable
  • City Safety: High4,074/100K

Powered byWalk Score

FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Aurora), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details

Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.

Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)

Median income

$97,167

Median home value

$453,700

Median rent

$1,978/mo

College educated

33.4%

Homeownership

76.7%

Poverty rate

10.6%

ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 80013; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.

Programs & students

Programs & Offerings

Gifted & Talented ProgramAvailable
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students.·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22

Compare nearby

Nearby same-level schools

4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available

SchoolScoreGradesDistanceEnrollmentCompare
Horizon Middle SchoolEnrollment path unverified5.06–81.3 mi732Compare →
Mrachek Middle SchoolEnrollment path unverified3.96–81.4 mi867Compare →
Sky Vista Middle SchoolEnrollment path unverified4.56–82.5 mi944Compare →
Laredo Middle SchoolEnrollment path unverified5.66–82.6 mi874Compare →

Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.

Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.

Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the Counties of Adams and a

Schools in district
58
Rank in district
#30 of 56
District spending per student
$18,118NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
District child poverty rate
15.8%Census SAIPE · 2024

Columbia Middle School is listed in Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.

About Columbia Middle School

Columbia Middle School is a public middle school in Aurora, CO, part of Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the Counties of Adams and a, serving approximately 653 students in grades 6th-8th with a 16.3:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 5.0 out of 10 and ranks #1,314 of 1,815 schools in CO. State assessment records show 29% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 41% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about Columbia Middle School

What grades does Columbia Middle School serve?

Columbia Middle School serves students in grades 6th through 8th.

How many students attend Columbia Middle School?

Columbia Middle School has an enrollment of approximately 653 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Columbia Middle School?

The student-teacher ratio at Columbia Middle School is 16.3:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Columbia Middle School rank in CO?

Columbia Middle School ranks #1,314 of 1,815 schools in CO.

What is Columbia Middle School's MySchoolScout rating?

Columbia Middle School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.0 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Columbia Middle School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Columbia Middle School has 29% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 41% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Columbia Middle School a charter school?

No, Columbia Middle School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Columbia Middle School a Title I school?

No, Columbia Middle School is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Columbia Middle School?

77.3% of students at Columbia Middle School qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)

Grades
6th – 8th
Enrollment
653
Student-Teacher Ratio
16.3:1
Teachers (FTE)
40
Type
regular
Setting
Large City
County
Arapahoe County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
51.1%
Area population (ZIP 80013)
74,732
Area average commute
29.9 min
Area median age
36.4
About this school's data

Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.

School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
  • Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
MySchoolScout rating and rank
MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
  • Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
  • Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
Math proficiency
State department of education · 2025 CMAS · Low confidence
  • Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
Reading/ELA proficiency
State department of education · 2025 CMAS · Low confidence
  • Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
Student progress (growth)
NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
  • Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
  • Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
  • Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 80013; this does not measure the attendance area.
Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.

Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2025; directory SY 2023–24

About our data · How we calculate scores

Related reading

Get school insights in your inbox

New rankings, best-schools lists, and parent guides — delivered free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.