Please contact your child’s school regarding the exact start dates or view official school calendars here.

Below are a few highlights for the upcoming 2023-24 school year:

• First Days of School: Students in grades 1-12 will have a simultaneous start on Aug. 8. As we have done in the past, preschool and kindergarten students will start school the following week on Aug. 14.
• Full-Day Professional Release: APS eliminated the half-day student early release to ensure uninterrupted learning. There are eight full professional release days that will be held Sept 1, Oct. 12, Nov. 27, Jan. 2, Feb 16, Mar 18, April 1, Apr 26.
• Fall Break: APS will continue to have a full-week Fall Break held Oct. 16-20 with Oct. 12 and 13 slated as student non-contact days.
• Thanksgiving Break: APS will maintain a three-day Thanksgiving Break for students. It will be held Nov. 23-24 with Nov. 22 slated as a student non-contact day.
• Winter Break: APS will maintain a two-week Winter Break to be held Dec. 18 through Jan. 1 with Dec. 15 and Jan. 2 slated as student non-contact days.
• Spring Break: APS will hold a week-long Spring Break March 11-15 with March 8 and 18 slated as student non-contact days.

The Aurora Public Schools Board of Education will have three director seats open this year for the Nov. 7 election. APS will hold a special open meeting pursuant to C.R.S. 22-32-108 to provide information on the upcoming board candidate election. The session will be held:

Tuesday, July 25 • 6-7 p.m.
IN-PERSON ONLY
APS Professional Learning and Conference Center
Board Room
15771 E. 1st Avenue, Aurora, CO 80011

Citizens will have an opportunity to ask questions about the election process and learn more about the responsibilities of being a board member. Please note that this special open meeting will be IN-PERSON ONLY. Livestreaming will NOT be available for this meeting.

For additional information, please call 303-344-8060, extension 28009.

¿Está interesado en servir como Director del Consejo Directivo de Educación del Distrito de las Escuelas Públicas de Aurora?

El Consejo Directivo de Educación del Distrito de las Escuelas Públicas de Aurora tendrá tres plazas de director disponibles este año en las elecciones del 7 de noviembre. APS organizará una reunión especial de manera abierta y de conformidad con los Estatutos de Colorado C.R.S. 22-32-108 para brindar información sobre las próximas elecciones para candidatos del Consejo Directivo. La sesión tendrá lugar:

Martes, 25 de julio • 6-7 p. m.
SOLAMENTE
Centro de conferencias y aprendizaje profesional de APS
Sala del Consejo Directivo
15771 E. 1st Avenue, Aurora, CO 80011

Los ciudadanos tendrán una oportunidad de hacer preguntas sobre el proceso de elección y conocer más sobre las responsabilidades de ser un miembro del Consejo Directivo.

Para información adicional, por favor, llame al 303-344-8060, extensión 28009.

Thank you to the incredible community of parents, teachers, mentors and friends that has supported our students through it all. Together, we can look to the future with confidence that this generation has many more accomplishments to come.

Congratulations, Class of 2023!

You can view recordings of many of the graduation ceremonies below. Share with your friends and family from around the world!

• Hinkley High School
• Rangeview High School
• Pickens Technical College
• Gateway High School
• Aurora Central High School
• Vista PEAK Preparatory
• Aurora West College Preparatory Academy
• APS Avenues

Aurora Public Schools is excited to host our 15th annual Back to School Kickoff to celebrate the beginning of the 2023-24 school year! APS students and families will enjoy free goodies, food, entertainment and more. This is an event you won’t want to miss!

Join us Saturday, Aug. 5 from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Town Center at Aurora.

Free backpacks and school supplies will be provided to APS students while supplies last. The event is also a great opportunity to meet school staff and explore the many resources we provide to students and families. If you are new to the district, you can also register your child for school.

Low- or no-cost immunizations and vaccinations will also be available. Please be sure to bring your child’s shot records.

We hope to see you there!

Aurora Public Schools Community, 

We want to inform you about an important change for all graduation ceremonies taking place on May 22 and 23. For all graduates, their families and guests planning to attend graduation at the Ritchie Center, the University of Denver has enacted a no bag policy for these events. This applies to the graduations for the following schools:

• Aurora Central High School
• Aurora West College Preparatory Academy
• Gateway High School
• Hinkley High School
• Rangeview High School
• Vista PEAK Preparatory
• Pickens Technical College

Again, no bags will be allowed at these events with the exception of wallets, wristlets, required medical bags and diaper bags. Feminine hygiene products will be considered a medical necessity. If they are in a bag, that will be considered a medical bag. All medical bags and diaper bags will be subject to a visual screening upon entry. These bags must also be no larger than 12 inches wide by 12 inches high and 6 inches deep.

There is no bag check available at The Ritchie Center. Anyone who arrives with an unapproved bag will not be allowed to enter. You will need to return any unapproved bags to your vehicle or leave them at home. The university says implementing a no bag policy will help speed up the entry process to all graduation ceremonies while also maintaining the safest possible environment for all guests entering the facility.

We realize this new policy may cause an inconvenience for many of our graduates and families. We ask for your partnership in abiding by the university’s policy and planning accordingly so that you can attend and enjoy this important event with your graduate.

Thank you,

Mark Seglem
Interim Superintendent

Aurora Public Schools Community,

Update: The Aurora Public Schools Board of Education voted unanimously (7-0) to officially approve Mr. Giles’ contract during their May 16 meeting. He will begin his role as Superintendent of Aurora Public Schools on July 1.

The Aurora Public Schools Board of Education held a special meeting on April 27 and voted 7-0 to select Mr. Michael Giles, Jr. as the sole finalist for our next Superintendent.

Mr. Michael Giles, Jr.

Mr. Michael Giles currently serves as Assistant Superintendent of Equity, Culture and Community Engagement for Cherry Creek School District (CCSD). Prior to his current role, Mr. Giles was the Assistant Superintendent of Performance Improvement for CCSD. He has also served as a school counselor, dean of students, assistant principal, principal and Executive Director in CCSD. Prior to working in public education, Mr. Giles worked for a juvenile correction center. He earned his bachelor’s degree in sociology and anthropology from Colorado Mesa University and his master's degree in educational counseling from University of Phoenix.

“On behalf of the Board, I would like to sincerely thank the Aurora Public Schools community for your strong engagement throughout the Superintendent search process,” said Board President Debbie Gerkin. “Community input and feedback was a critical component in selecting our next leader, and we are thrilled that Mr. Giles embodies many of the leadership traits and competencies that our community identified as priorities.”

Students, staff, families and community members provided input through focus groups, surveys and meet and greets. Many highlighted the strengths of Aurora Public Schools including our diverse and supportive community as well as our dedicated and passionate staff. In addition, we identified the challenges that our next Superintendent must work to address with our community including effectively meeting the needs of our diverse student population, physical and psychological safety as well as working to address the impacts of trauma, poverty and language barriers.

“I am honored and excited for the opportunity to serve the Aurora Public Schools community,” said Michael Giles. “Throughout my day in the district, I had the opportunity to talk with students, staff, families and community members. What is clear is that we have important work ahead of us and each of us brings a strong passion and commitment to serving this community. I look forward to listening, engaging and working together to truly make Aurora Public Schools the destination school district where students, staff, and community members Power Their Potential.”

Board members also thanked Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates, Mike Richie and his team members for successfully leading the Superintendent search and selection process. As one of the most diverse school districts in the state, it was important to include diverse voices throughout the process and the search firm went above and beyond to accommodate our community’s needs.

The Board’s announcement of a sole finalist for a new superintendent completes a four-month search and selection process.