AURORA CITY SCHOOLS
QUALITY PROFILE
2013-14
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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:

2014 – Preliminary reports indicate that the Aurora City School District Earned
9 Straight A’s from the ODE – No other school district in the State earned
straight A’s in 2014

2013 - Earned 7 A’s from ODE – No other school district has earned more

ODE highest rating of Excellent for 14 consecutive years

Cleveland Magazine’s Rating the Suburbs 2014 issue rates Aurora district at
#10 out of 77 Northeast Ohio communities and ranked in Top 15 eleven 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
Aurora High School
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AURORA CITY SCHOOLS QUALITY PROFILE
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2014-15 AHS Program of Studies

2014-15 AHS Profile

2013 SAT – Reading 554, Math – 562, Writing – 531

2013 ACT – Composite 23.9, English 23.4, Math 23.6, Reading 24.2, Science
24.1

2013 – 3 National Merit Finalists / 2 Commended Scholars

17 College Board Advanced Placement (AP) Offerings: 865 AP Tests were
taken with 81% 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 #13 in the State of Ohio by U.S. News and World Report
(2014) in their Best High Schools ranking report

AHS rated #15 in the State of Ohio by The Washington Post (2014)

AHS top ranked nationally at #287 out of 31,200 high schools as
reviewed by U.S. News and World Report (2014)

AHS Washington Post national ranking was #496

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 112.9 is 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

The Plunge Program – Students can pursue individual academic interests on
their own with no grade or credit given.

Internships for the Senior students

Science Olympiad
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AURORA CITY SCHOOLS QUALITY PROFILE

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

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
#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
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
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AURORA CITY SCHOOLS QUALITY PROFILE

Philanthropic donations to animal shelters, Jump Rope for American Heart
Association and food drives

A school committed to excellence
Miller/Craddock Elementary School

Our commitment to improve:

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:
Visual Arts

Awards: Our students annually participate in:
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AURORA CITY SCHOOLS QUALITY PROFILE
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

A school committed to excellence
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 graduate Kaley Ann Voorhees made her
Broadway debut as Christine in the Phantom of the Opera
Music and Arts
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AURORA CITY SCHOOLS QUALITY PROFILE
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
District Music Department recognized as one of the “2013 Best
Communities for Music Education” by the National Association of
Music Merchants
o
Band performed at Severance Hall in Cleveland, Ohio

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 2000 community members
attending

AHS has a top rated Drumline

Northeast Central Ohio Scholastic Art Competition (2014) award winners:
Prestigious Gold Awards Portfolio ~ 3; Gold Key recipients ~ 13; Silver Key
recipients ~ 17; National winners ~ 5.

Ohio Governor’s Youth Art Exhibition (2014) award winners (22); State Top
300 ~ 8; State Top 25 ~ 1

All musical performances are standing room only exhibiting strong
community support
Recognition Example: AHS 2014 graduate Stephen Riley conducted the
Philharmonic Band with a pieced he had composed
STUDENT LEADERSHIP AND ACTIVITIES
A well-rounded education i ncludes a wide variety of opportunities
.
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AURORA CITY SCHOOLS QUALITY PROFILE
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 team
Recognition Example: 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
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AURORA CITY SCHOOLS QUALITY PROFILE
Athletics:
Our Athletic program

21 Varsity Teams; 16 JV/Freshman Teams; 11 Middle School Teams

Combined overall GPA of 3.38 for all sport teams in 2014

District Finalists – Boys Soccer, Baseball

State Qualifiers - Football, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Boys Golf, Diving

State Champions – Football (2008)
Recognition Example:

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.
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
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AURORA CITY SCHOOLS QUALITY PROFILE

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 3 years (2011-13)

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.
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
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AURORA CITY SCHOOLS QUALITY PROFILE
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Aurora Alumni Association: Connects alumni to the district

Aurora Orchestra Association

Band Booster Organization

Sports Booster Organization: Holds yearly fundraising reverse raffle dinner

Events coordinated with community partners:
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Thunder Over Aurora – Annual Marching Band Spectacular
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Red Cross Blood Drives
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Coats for Kids
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Camp Sunshine
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Honor Flight Network
o
Vehicle Day (Miller School)
o
Aurora Reads program/community members tutoring students in
reading at Craddock School
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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.
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
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AURORA CITY SCHOOLS QUALITY PROFILE
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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
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 Schools
Aurora High School ..................................... 330-562-3501
Harmon Middle Schools ............................ 330-562-3375
Leighton Elementary School ...................... 330-562-2208
Craddock Elementary School ................... 330-562-3175
Miller Elementary School ............................. 330-562-6199
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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
rbennett@aurora-schools.org
Superintendent: Russ Bennett
Assistant Superintendent: Pat Ciccantelli
Treasurer: Bill Volosin
Aurora City School District Board of Education
Gerald Kohanski, President
Pam Mehallis, Vice President
Annie Grohe
Beverly Kuch
John Sloe
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AURORA CITY SCHOOLS QUALITY PROFILE
Supported by the Alliance for High Quality Education