AURORA CITY SCHOOLS
QUALITY PROFILE
2015-16
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AURORA CITY SCHOOLS QUALITY PROFILE
A successful school district places a high degree of importance on
ensuring that all children have the opportunity to reach their full
potential inside and outside of the classroom. This profile helps
characterize the overall educational value of your school district in
areas that matter most in our community.
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AURORA CITY SCHOOLS QUALITY PROFILE
ACADEMICS
Our district’s academic program provides opportunities for all
students to reach their full potential .
The mission of the Aurora City Schools is to ensure that through providing a nurturing
environment, with high expectations and effective programs, all students will reach
their full potential and graduate prepared to become responsible, productive
members of society. Our district consistently achieves very high rankings
academically. We are regarded both locally and nationally as one of the top
schools districts in the State of Ohio. Examples of some highlights:
District:

The Aurora City School District supplied Chromebook computers to all
students in grades 6-12 (2015-16 school year)

The Aurora City School District Earned 9 Straight A’s from the ODE in 2014 –
No other school district in the State earned straight A’s in 2014

2013 - Earned 7 A’s from the ODE – No other school district had earned more

ODE highest rating of Excellent for 14 consecutive years

Cleveland Magazine’s Rating the Suburbs 2015 issue rates Aurora district at
#10 out of 77 Northeast Ohio communities and ranked in Top 15 twelve years
in a row

Ranked Top Work Place 2 Consecutive Years by The Plain Dealer

Two schools (Aurora High School and Harmon Middle School)named
National Blue Ribbon Schools
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AURORA CITY SCHOOLS QUALITY PROFILE
Aurora High School

2014-15 AHS Program of Studies

2014-15 AHS Profile

2013 SAT – Reading 554, Math – 562, Writing – 531

2015 ACT – Composite 25.0, English 24.5, Math 24.6, Reading 25.1, Science
25.1 – All areas experienced increases from 2014

2015 – 1 National Merit Finalists / Jesse Bergoine

19 College Board Advanced Placement (AP) Offerings: 865 AP Tests were
taken with 87% passing; which equates to college credit and tuition savings

86% scored a “3” or higher on AP Exams

AHS awarded National Blue Ribbon School by U.S. Dept. of Education

AP Honor Roll School 2014 (4th Consecutive Year)

Gold Medalist for College Readiness by U.S. News and World Report

AHS rated #14 out of 417 districts in the State of Ohio by U.S. News and
World Report (2015) in their Best High Schools ranking report

AHS rated #19 in the State of Ohio by The Washington Post (2015)

AHS top ranked nationally at #312 out of 29,070 high schools as
reviewed by U.S. News and World Report (2015)

AHS Washington Post national ranking was #488 (2015)

Newsweek Magazine’s website The Daily Beast listed the top 500 high schools
in America. AHS is ranked at #202 in the nation (our highest to date) and
was the 6th highest school from Ohio on the list for 2014

AHS Performance Index Score of 111.8 is 3rd highest ever

AHS Outstanding Greenmen annual awards honors senior recipients chosen
by the AHS staff (based on their strong academics, service/work, school
participation leadership and character). Honored Educators are selected by
the Outstanding Greenmen as someone who has had the greatest impact
on their success and development

International Leaders in Education Program (ILEP) offered in conjunction with
Kent State University brings scholars from around the world

Writing Center with tutors offered in conjunction with Kent State University’s
Education Department provides writing tutorial services

Independent Learning Program offers students the opportunity to create their
own individualized curriculum and “plunge” into a topic of their choice.
Students can pursue their individual academic interests on their own with no
grade or credit given.
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AURORA CITY SCHOOLS QUALITY PROFILE

The Maker Space programs also allows for “out of the box” thinking

Service Learning class offers students a philanthropic program, including an
outdoor Shantytown overnight experience

Internships for the Senior students

Science Olympiad

Mentorship Program for Freshmen students

Quiz Bowl Team has won the overall Portage County Quiz Bowl title for at
least the 12th straight year

Leadership opportunities through Key Club and National Honor Society

30 Clubs available for students

21 Varsity Sports Teams and 16 Junior Varsity teams available for students

Recognition Example: AHS Science Instructor Monika Biro was given a
Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching
(2015)

A school committed to excellence
Harmon Middle School

HMS – 2014 The Best Schools website ranked at #9 nationally

Honors courses begin in 6th grade

National Blue Ribbon School 2013

Ohio Achievement Assessment (OAA) rankings:
#1 Science Score in State of Ohio (2011-14)
#2 in 7th Grade Reading in State of Ohio
#5 in 8th Grade Reading in the State of Ohio
#8 in 7th Grade Math in the State of Ohio
#13 in 8th Grade Math in the State of Ohio

Science Olympiad

Leadership opportunities through Student Council and Beta Club

Participants in food drives, blood drives, Coats for Kids, visiting and
performing the leadership facilities in City of Aurora

19 Clubs available for students

11 middle school Sports Teams for students

A school committed to excellence
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AURORA CITY SCHOOLS QUALITY PROFILE
Leighton Elementary School

Hall of Fame School

Buckeye Best Gold Award

#15 in 5th Grade Math in 2014

Honors courses begin in 6th Grade

Leadership opportunities through Leighton Leaders

Philanthropic donations to animal shelters, Jump Rope for American Heart
Association and food drives

A school committed to excellence
Miller/Craddock Elementary School

3rd Grade Reading Test Results: No 3rd grade student was retained. 95.1%
received proficient or better

Buckeye Best Gold Award

Support for charities through food drives, animal shelters and leftover
Halloween candy donations for Ronald McDonald House and various
organizations

A school committed to excellence
ARTS
Participation in performing and visual arts inspires students’
creativity, problem-solving and critical thinking skills .
Embracing the arts has been a long standing tradition at Aurora Schools. We
expand and enrich our student’s academic curriculum by offering many varied arts
programs that inspire creativity and enhance learning. Examples of some highlights:
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AURORA CITY SCHOOLS QUALITY PROFILE
Visual Arts


Awards: Our students annually participate in:
o
Ohio Governor’s Youth Art Exhibition and 2014 Northeast Central Ohio
Scholastic Art Awards Competition: (1)Best of Show; (1) State Top 25;
(8) Top 300 Winners
o
Ohio Governor’s Youth Art Exhibition (2014): (22) State Top 300; (8)
State Top 25; (1)
Annual District Art Show held in conjunction with the AHS spring play
Performing Arts

AHS students perform 2 plays each year which sell out - displaying strong
community support

HMS students perform 1 to 2 plays each year

HMS Farewell to Harmon talent show offers 8th grade students the chance to
show off their talents

Aurora High School Players

Recognition Example: AHS 2011 graduate Sean Grandillo made his
Broadway Debut in “Spring Awakening” (September 2015)
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AURORA CITY SCHOOLS QUALITY PROFILE

AHS graduate Kaley Ann Voorhees made her Broadway debut as Christine in
the Phantom of the Opera (2104)
Music and Arts
75% of students in AHS and middle schools participate in band, choir,
orchestra and art

Awards:
o
Philharmonic Orchestra earned highest possible rating of “one” from
every judge; 3rd year in a row Philharmonic has received an
Outstanding at the Ohio Musical Educators Association (OMEA) State
Orchestra competition
o
Concert Orchestra received an Outstanding for the 2nd year in a row
(a school record) at the Ohio Music Education Association
competition
o
Symphonic Band earned superior rating at OMEA large group contest
o
Aurora Indoor Percussion placed 3rd at Ohio Indoor Performance
Association
o
Band performed at Severance Hall in Cleveland, Ohio
o
District Music Department recognized as one of the “2013 Best
Communities for Music Education” by the National Association of
Music Merchants

Band program organizes and performs “Thunder Over Aurora” - A Marching
Band Spectacular” annually at Veterans Stadium which features guest
marching bands from nearby cities with over 2,000 community members
attending

AHS has a top rated Drumline

All musical performances are standing room only exhibiting strong
community support
Recognition Example: AHS 2014 graduate Stephen Riley conducted a piece with
the Philharmonic Band (2014)
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AURORA CITY SCHOOLS QUALITY PROFILE
STUDENT LEADERSHIP AND ACTIVITIES
A well-rounded education includes a wide variety of opportunities .
Our caring student body and community routinely organize events that support a
wide variety of worthy charitable organizations. This instills our students with
compassion, a sense of community and the leadership skills that foster well rounded,
philanthropy focused and community minded leaders as adults. Examples of some
highlights:
Aurora Service Learning Course offered at Aurora High School
Independent Learning Experience for Aurora High School students
Over 20 high school student clubs and organizations:

AHS National Honor Society – Conducts a yearly fall event to rake leaves for
Aurora senior citizens

Harmon Beta Club – Holds American Red Cross Blood Drives, Supports
Pinwheels for Prevention child abuse program

Key Club – Works in conjunction with the Aurora Kiwanis

Other programs students support from all school buildings include: Aurora for
Others, Coats for Kids, Food Drives,

Aurora for Others raised over $8,000 for local charities and families in need

Science Olympiad team qualified for state competition

Quiz Bowl team has won the overall Portage County Quiz Bowl title for at
least the 12th straight year

Robotics teams
Recognition Examples: AHS 11th grade student Apoorva Vallampati was named first
runner up in the Maltz Museum’s Stop the Hate: Youth Speak Out Essay Contest and
was awarded a 4-year $15,000 scholarship
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AURORA CITY SCHOOLS QUALITY PROFILE
AHS graduate Annie Robinson, spokesperson for the Wigs for Kids, was the first place
$50,000 winner of the Maltz Museum’s Stop the Hate: Youth Speak Out! Essay
Contest (2014)
Athletics:
Our Athletic program

21 Varsity Teams; 16 JV/Freshman Teams; 11 Middle School Teams

Combined overall GPA of 3.46 for all sport teams in 2015

District Finalists – Boys Soccer, Baseball

State Qualifiers - Football, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Boys Golf, Diving

State Champions – Football (2008)
Recognition Examples: Athletic Director Paul Powers appointed as President of the
OIAAA (2015)
AHS Baseball Coach Mike Brancazio awarded Cleveland Plain Dealer Baseball
Coach of the Year (2014)
AHS baseball shortstop Matt Carpenter awarded Cleveland Plain Dealer Baseball
Player of the Year (2014)
Head Football Coach Bob Mihalik: Akron Touchdown Club Coach of the Year –
2006, 2008, 2011, 2012; Award for coaching 100 AHS varsity football games
FISCAL STEWARDSHIP
Financial responsibility ensures that the majority of funding is spent
on classroom instruction.
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AURORA CITY SCHOOLS QUALITY PROFILE
Fiscal responsibility is of utmost importance to our district. We strive to continually be
fiscally responsible stewards of our taxpayer dollars. Examples of some highlights:

Cost per pupil: $ 10,849 – academically we rank in the top 2%, but spend in
the 25th percentile

Percentage spent on instruction: $10,849 – academically we rank in the top
2% but spend at the 25th percentile

2013 District Profile Report:: ODE 2013 Aurora School Report Card

Administrator to student ratio of 1 to 290 is one of lowest with comparable
districts

District rated as exemplary in being efficient at spending nonteaching dollars
by Ohio Education Matters, a public policy think tank subsidiary of
KnowledgeWorks Foundation

Participant in Energy Education Program focusing on reducing costs of
energy usage throughout the district

District received Energy Star Certificate of Recognition by the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency for commitment to a better environment

ACSD Treasurer’s Office has earned the Ohio Auditor of State Award for the
last 4 years (2011-14)

Recent bond refinancing realized a total savings of $875,858.35 (or a present
day savings of $647,887.52) for taxpayers
PARENT & COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
Educational experiences are enhanced by partnerships between
the school district and community.
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AURORA CITY SCHOOLS QUALITY PROFILE
Our district is privileged to receive phenomenal community support in a wide variety
of ways. We are proud of our city, named one of the five best hometowns in Ohio
Magazine’s Ohio’s Best Hometowns edition. We work together to forge unique and
meaningful opportunities for our students to help them grow into confident and
capable adults. Examples of some highlights:

School volunteers: PTO: AHS PTO and Elementary PTO; Chaperones

Aurora Schools Foundation

Aurora Alumni Association: Connects alumni to the district

Aurora Rotary – Student of the Month recognition

Aurora Orchestra Association

Band Booster Organization

Sports Booster Organization: Holds yearly fundraising reverse raffle dinner

Events coordinated with community partners:
o
Thunder Over Aurora – Annual Marching Band Spectacular
o
Red Cross Blood Drives
o
Coats for Kids
o
Camp Sunshine
o
Honor Flight Network
o
Vehicle Day (Miller School)
o
Aurora Reads program/community members tutoring students in
reading at Craddock School
o
Parent Communication Forums (PCF) at each school building
STUDENT SERVICES
A variety of services provide options to ensure all students receive
individualized instruction, enrichment and support.
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AURORA CITY SCHOOLS QUALITY PROFILE
Our district strives to ensure that all students are given the opportunity to enhance
and expand on both an educational and social level. It is our intention that each
special needs child has the opportunity to thrive and to see to it that they have the
tools needed to help secure a bright, independent future! Examples of some
highlights:
 Graduates are using their employment skills developed during their
participation in vocational training at the Cuyahoga East Vocational
Education Consortium (CEVEC). Examples of businesses that employ these
special students are: Natural Essentials, Heinen’s Grocery Store, Aurora Day
Care, Walmart, Marc’s, and McDonalds.
 The Greenmen Café at Aurora High School helps students develop skills
related to running a business, such as tracking inventory, budgeting, food
preparation, selling, and customer services.
 Students with severe needs are provided services within the District with their
same age peers
 Aurora High School Special Education Interventionist and Guidance
Counselor host a college transition night for area parents of students with
disabilities. Kent State University, Akron University and other colleges are
represented where information is shared regarding services to support
students with disabilities attending college.
SUMMARY
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AURORA CITY SCHOOLS QUALITY PROFILE
The Aurora City Schools are highly ranked locally, within the State of Ohio and nationally.
Even with those high rankings, the district goes beyond test scores and standardized
testing. Our graduates find success after high school not only at the collegiate level, but
in the military, vocational training or in the work force. The Aurora community values
education and has provided continued support for its school district which makes Aurora
an attractive community in which to live. The Aurora City Government and its businesses
all work together in valuing the educational experience for our youth. The purpose of this
community profile is to convey more of our school district’s educational story than the
state report card (which will be released by Ohio Department of Education) reveals.
Although our district has always scored well, there is more to our story than just the
numbers and we hope our community recognizes and values those other important
aspects of education.
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AURORA CITY SCHOOLS QUALITY PROFILE
Aurora City School District
102 E. Garfield Rd.
Aurora, Ohio 44202
330-954-2228
www.aurora-schools.org
pciccantelli@aurora-schools.org
Superintendent: Pat Ciccantelli
Assistant Superintendent: Mike Roberto
Treasurer: Bill Volosin
Aurora City School District Board of Education
Gerald Kohanski, President
Pam Mehallis, Vice President
Annie Grohe
Beverly Kuch
John Sloe
Supported by the Alliance for High Quality Education