- Enrollment
- 3,852
- Students per teacher
- 20.4:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Aurora, CO
Horizon Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Horizon Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 46/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 080291001328
👥 S:T ratio 40
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 29
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Horizon Middle School earns 46/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Colorado median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Colorado schools.
- #8 of 16
- middle schools in Aurora · Resource Index
- 46
- Resource Index · Typical
- 14.9:1
- students per teacher
- 44.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Horizon Middle School has class sizes near the Colorado median. Computed live against every Colorado school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Horizon Middle School ranks #8 of 16 middle schools in Aurora, CO.
School address
NCES ID 080291001328 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-80 students YoY
Horizon Middle School shrank from 812 students in 2022-23 to 732 in 2023-24 (-9.9%).
Teacher FTE added 48.1 → 50.9 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-80 students YoY 080291001328 · Aurora, CO Middle · MID · TRAD
714 enr · 14.9:1 · 44.0% lunch · RII 46
Nearest enrollment peer: Cherry Creek High School (3,852 students)
Horizon Middle School shrank from 812 students in 2022-23 to 732 in 2023-24 (-9.9%). Teacher FTE added 48.1 → 50.9 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Colorado schools → · Find another →
Horizon Middle School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Cherry Creek H
Cherry Creek High School
3,852 students
- Cherokee Trail
Cherokee Trail High School
3,089 students
- Eaglecrest Hig
Eaglecrest High School
2,851 students
- Grandview High
Grandview High School
2,684 students
- Smoky Hill Hig
Smoky Hill High School
2,297 students
- This school 714
Horizon Middle School
714 students
What this shows Horizon Middle School reports 714 students on the CCD universe file.
How Horizon Middle School compares
Horizon Middle School is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Colorado and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Colorado | Colorado avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 14.9:1 | ▼ 10% | 16.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 44.0% | ▲ 14% | 38.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 714 | top 14% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.9:1
Leaner classes than 48% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
714
Bigger than 81% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
44.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 14% above the Colorado average of 38.5%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
14.9:1
students per teacher
- 10% below state mean
Top 40% in Colorado - lower ratio than 60% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Funding equity
$15,158
per pupil, district-wide
- below Colorado avg of $17,910
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 357 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
24
in-school suspensions + 162 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 3.4 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 26.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 8 expulsions.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 40.6%
White 28.3%
African American 16.5%
Two or More 9.8%
Asian 3.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 1.1%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.3%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 40.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 71.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 71.7, Horizon Middle School is more mixed than the Colorado school average of 47.1.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the County of Arapah reports $15,158 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Horizon Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cherry Creek High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Cherokee Trail High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Eaglecrest High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Grandview High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Smoky Hill High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Horizon Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 3,089
- Students per teacher
- 20.3:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 2,851
- Students per teacher
- 18.5:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
- Enrollment
- 2,684
- Students per teacher
- 18.1:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 2,297
- Students per teacher
- 19.5:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
Nationwide middle schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~714 students)
Frequently asked questions about Horizon Middle School
How many students attend Horizon Middle School?
Horizon Middle School has 714 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Aurora, CO. CCD year-over-year: 812 (2022-23) → 732 (2023-24), down 80.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Horizon Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Horizon Middle School is 14.9:1, which is 10% lower than the Colorado average of 16.6:1 and 5% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Horizon Middle School?
44.0% of students at Horizon Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Colorado average of 38.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Horizon Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Horizon Middle School is Hispanic or Latino at 40.6% of enrollment, in Aurora, CO. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 71.7/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Horizon Middle School?
Horizon Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 46/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Horizon Middle School rank among middle schools in Aurora?
By Resource Investment Index, Horizon Middle School ranks #8 of 16 middle schools in Aurora, CO. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all middle schools in Aurora on the city page.
What other schools are in Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the County of Arapah?
Besides Horizon Middle School, Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the County of Arapah also operates Cherry Creek High School (3,852 students), Cherokee Trail High School (3,089 students), and Eaglecrest High School (2,851 students). See the Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the County of Arapah district page for the complete list.