Skip to main content

Average

#814 of 1,815 schools in CO

Top 45% in state

Vista Peak 9-12 Preparatory

High School · Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A

24500 EAST 6TH AVENUE, Aurora, CO 80018

Enrollment

1,966

Student-Teacher

21.1:1

Score

6.5

Grades

9th – 12th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Colorado schools

#814 of 1,815

In Aurora

#28 of 100

public schools

In district

#14 of 56

Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A

Academic growth

9.5 / 10

Excellent

School shortlistprofile + nearby

Shortlisting around Vista Peak 9-12 Preparatory?

Use this profile as one decision point, then compare nearby options, source confidence, and commute fit before picking a neighborhood around it.

Shortlist starter

Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.

Vista Peak 9-12 Preparatory

6.5/10

High School in Aurora · grades 9th – 12th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Vista Peak P-8 Exploratory

7.5/10

0.3 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Harmony Ridge P-8

8.3/10

1.6 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Vista Peak 9-12 Preparatory

Vista Peak 9-12 Preparatory is a public high school in Aurora, CO, part of Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A. Vista Peak 9-12 Preparatory serves approximately 1,966 students, and covers grades 9th-12th, and has a 21.1:1 student-teacher ratio. Vista Peak 9-12 Preparatory has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.5 out of 10 and ranks #814 of 1,815 schools in CO.

Structured state assessment records for Vista Peak 9-12 Preparatory show 27% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2011-2022) and 42% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2011-2021).

How it compares0.7 pts above district
  • This school 6.5 · Average
  • District avg 5.8
  • CO avg 6.5

What Parents Should Know

Vista Peak 9-12 Preparatory runs 21.1:1 students to teachers, above the national average. That often means bigger classes. Ask how the school supports kids who need extra help, and whether there are teaching assistants or small-group time.

41% of students at Vista Peak 9-12 Preparatory were chronically absent in the 2022-23 school year, above the national average. Chronic absenteeism means missing 15 or more school days, and at high rates it drags on classroom pacing for everyone. Ask what the school does to help families get kids to class consistently.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress9.5Excellent25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data12
Annual Change-0.09 pts/yr
Data Period2011–2022
TrendStable
Academics7.5Very Good25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency29% (2022 EdFacts)
Reading/ELA Proficiency50% (2021 EdFacts)
Overall Proficiency40% (2022 EdFacts, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)32% (model expectation from 2022 EdFacts)
vs. Expected+7.8 pts
Adjusted Percentile63th
College Readiness5.4Average30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
4-Year Graduation Rate79%
AP Participation10.6%
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment3.4Needs Improvement20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio21.1:1
Per-Pupil Spending$18,118
Chronic Absenteeism40.7%

Vista Peak 9-12 Preparatory — Students at Vista Peak 9-12 Preparatory score 40% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 32%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

60.9%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores CO EDFACTS (2021-22)

Math Proficiency 26.8% (multi-year average, 2011-2022)
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 41.5% (multi-year average, 2011-2021)
School
State
N/A

Based on 23 test records from CO state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2011
Math
28%
ELA
58%
2012
Math
25%
ELA
54%
2013
Math
29%
ELA
54%
2014
Math
17%
ELA
26%
2015
Math
11%
ELA
19%
2016
Math
28%
ELA
28%
2017
Math
33%
ELA
25%
2018
Math
34%
ELA
46%
2019
Math
34%
ELA
46%
2020*
Math
27%
ELA
50%
2021*
Math
27%
ELA
50%
2022
Math
29%

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

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 9.5/10.

How Vista Peak 9-12 Preparatory Compares

See how Vista Peak 9-12 Preparatory performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
6.5/10
55th percentile in CO
Academic
7.5/10
Very Good
Growth
9.5/10
Excellent
Environment
3.4/10
Needs Improvement
AP Courses
3
State avg: 2.7
Sports
21
11 boys' · 10 girls'
Advanced STEM
4/5
Subjects offered
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
61%
Teaching Staff
21:1 student-teacher ratio
93 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
40.7%

Programs & Offerings

AP/IB Programs3 AP courses offered
10.6% participation·State avg: 2.7 AP courses·CRDC 2021-22
Athletics21sports offered
11 boys'·10 girls'·42 teams (incl. JV)·CRDC 2021-22
Advanced STEM Courses4 of 5 advanced subjects offered
Algebra II, Advanced Math, Calculus, Chemistry, Physics·CRDC 2021-22
Gifted & Talented Program Available
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students. · CRDC 2021-22

Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

Location

24500 EAST 6TH AVENUE, Aurora, CO 80018

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Vista Peak 9-12 Preparatory may also want to explore other high schools in the area. William Smith High School (rated 7.5/10, 4.7 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Early College (rated 5.1/10, 5.1 miles away, in nearby Denver), a more accessible option. For more schools in Aurora, see our Aurora schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 4.9 mi
School Distance Rating
Vista Peak P-8 Exploratory Aurora 0.3 mi 7.5
Harmony Ridge P-8 Aurora 1.6 mi 8.3
Murphy Creek K-8 School Aurora 2.3 mi 8.5
Clyde Miller K-8 Aurora 3.4 mi 5.1
Green Valley Elementary School Denver 4.2 mi 5.3
Florida Pitt-Waller ECE-8 School Denver 5.0 mi 4.5
Side Creek Elementary School Aurora 4.6 mi 3.3
Aurora Frontier K-8 Aurora 5.1 mi 6.4
Marrama Elementary School Denver 4.8 mi 3.9
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Early College Denver 5.1 mi 5.1
Aurora Quest K-8 Aurora 4.5 mi 9.4
Edna and John W. Mosley P-8 Aurora 4.6 mi 7.4
Arrowhead Elementary School Aurora 5.3 mi 3.8
Vanguard Classical School - East Aurora 4.8 mi 6.5
William Smith High School Aurora 4.7 mi 7.5
Dakota Valley Elementary School Aurora 5.8 mi 6.6
Arkansas Elementary School Aurora 5.0 mi 3.8
Sandra Todd-Williams Academy Denver 5.5 mi 5.6
Omar D Blair Charter School Denver 5.6 mi 4.2
OUR LADY HELP OF CHRISTIANS ACADEMY Watkins 4.9 mi 7.6

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 80018 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$127,390

Median Home Value

$558,800

Median Rent

$2,542/mo

Population

17,129

College Educated

39.9%

Homeownership

88.9%

Avg Commute

29.7 min

Poverty Rate

5.1%

Median Age

34.8

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Fruita Monument High School Fruita, CO 6.6
Greeley West High School Greeley, CO 6.4
Pueblo County High School Pueblo, CO 6.4
Pueblo West High School Pueblo West, CO 6.4
Rangeview High School Aurora, CO 6.4
Coronado High School Colorado Springs, CO 6.3

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Vista Peak 9-12 Preparatory

What grades does Vista Peak 9-12 Preparatory serve?

Vista Peak 9-12 Preparatory serves students in grades 9th through 12th.

How many students attend Vista Peak 9-12 Preparatory?

Vista Peak 9-12 Preparatory has an enrollment of approximately 1,966 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Vista Peak 9-12 Preparatory?

The student-teacher ratio at Vista Peak 9-12 Preparatory is 21.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Vista Peak 9-12 Preparatory rank in CO?

Vista Peak 9-12 Preparatory ranks #814 of 1,815 schools in CO.

What is Vista Peak 9-12 Preparatory's MySchoolScout rating?

Vista Peak 9-12 Preparatory has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.5 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 Vista Peak 9-12 Preparatory?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Vista Peak 9-12 Preparatory has 27% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2011-2022) and 42% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2011-2021).

Is Vista Peak 9-12 Preparatory a charter school?

No, Vista Peak 9-12 Preparatory is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Vista Peak 9-12 Preparatory a Title I school?

No, Vista Peak 9-12 Preparatory is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Vista Peak 9-12 Preparatory?

60.9% of students at Vista Peak 9-12 Preparatory qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
4 Car-Dependent
Transit Score
0 Minimal Transit
Bike Score
26 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
9th – 12th
Enrollment
1,966
Student-Teacher Ratio
21.1:1
Teachers (FTE)
93
Free/Reduced Lunch
60.9%
Type
regular
Setting
Large City
County
Arapahoe County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
40.7%
4-Year Graduation
79.0%

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

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.