Horizon Community Middle School (4100)
3981 SOUTH RESERVOIR ROAD
AURORA, CO 80013
766
Total Students Served
Grade 6 - Grade 8
School District:
Cherry Creek 5 (0130)
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School Profile
About Horizon Community Middle School (4100)
A MESSAGE FROM:
Horizon Community Middle School
2024-2025
Description of School Setting and Process for Data Analysis Horizon Community Middle School (HCMS) is located in Aurora, Colorado. The attendance boundaries for HCMS include four (4) local feeder elementary schools and one local feeder high school. Serving over 700 students in grades 6-8, HCMS educators design and lead instruction following the Colorado Academic Standards. Courses in core subjects (Mathematics, Language Arts, Science, and Social Studies) are complemented with courses in multiple…
elective areas. Students are able to participate in numerous athletic and activity opportunities. HCMS celebrates the diversity and identities of each student. For the 2024-2025 school year, the approximate racial demographics of students at HCMS are as follows: ·        Central/North/South American Indian or Alaskan Native: <1% ·        Asian: 3% ·        Black or African American: 17% ·        Hispanic or Latino: 40% ·        White: 28% ·        Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander: <1% ·        Multiple Races: 10% The 2024 Horizon Community Middle School (HCMS) School Performance Framework (SPF) indicates that we have reached the Performance level. This is a significant improvement, as the 2023 HCMS SPF indicated the need for a Priority Improvement Plan. We believe that our intentional work in the areas below, and beyond, has led to our success as a school. Student participation rates on the CMAS assessment have continued to improve, and significant gains have been made in both academic achievement and growth. Below are major areas of focus for the 2024-2025 school year. Professional Learning Communities HCMS continues to implement Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) to align instructional practices and promote continuous instructional improvement. In order to address disproportionalities in student achievement, HCMS will focus on providing equitable learning experiences for all students. For the past several years, HCMS has been working with the Six Themes of Culturally Responsive Education (CRE) designed by Dr. Yemi Stembridge. By infusing CRE into our PLC work, we have designed a PLCRE Framework. The framework combines PLC methodology, including the four essential PLC questions, with the six themes of CRE. Teachers use the PLCRE Instructional Framework to facilitate collaborative conversations which allow them to examine assessment data and adjust instruction while considering student assets, cultural identity, relationships, rigor, engagement, and vulnerability. We believe that the use of the PLCRE Framework as the primary instructional framework at HCMS will help eliminate disparities in student achievement across racial lines as each of the six themes is considered when adjustments to instruction are planned and implemented. Restorative Practices HCMS has developed a comprehensive restorative practices model that includes collaborative work with our deans, counselors, mental health professionals, and teachers. In addition to our full-time Restorative Practices Coordinator, we have identified a Restorative Practices (RP) Coach at each grade level who will work directly with students and teachers. In addition to offering support through mediation and conversation, RP Coaches work with teachers to facilitate restorative circles on a regular basis. Our goal is for restorative circles, which allow opportunities for students to engage in deep and meaningful conversations about relevant topics, to be commonplace within our school. As RP Coaches work with students, they will include our Restorative Practices Coordinator, counselors, mental health professionals, and deans in situations where additional support is needed. By identifying key personnel in multiple areas within our staff, we hope to be more proactive when potential conflict arises. This will ideally result in a lowered need for dean intervention from a more traditional disciplinary approach. Family Engagement Led by our full-time Family & Community Liaison, we make a concerted effort to welcome all families into the Horizon Community. Our work includes multiple sources of community feedback, increased volunteer opportunities, and a more streamlined format for Family Engagement events. We believe that by being responsive to our community, inviting all families into the building more frequently, and creating meaningful and accessible ways for families to engage, student engagement and achievement will ultimately increase. Open Up Resources and Lexia Power Up HCMS will be using the mathematics curriculum called Open Up Resources. The design of Open Up Resources allows for increased opportunities for students to collaborate about and explain their mathematical thinking. Further, end of unit assessments and the assessment platform allow for more focused support related to specific skills. Also, HCMS will continue to use Lexia Power Up to support students with reading. This computer-based program adapts to students? needs and leads students through lessons that match and then elevate their current reading level. Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) Over time we have allocated additional resources to support the continued growth of our MTSS model. This includes increased staffing to support academic intervention and extension efforts in Mathematics and Language Arts (specifically reading). Additionally, all students will participate in Academic Core Connections (ACC) on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays in Advisory class where they will engage in targeted support (intervention and/or extension) in math and reading. We will also use additional resources to target executive functioning support for some students as needed. Equity The Horizon Community Middle School Equity Framework encompasses how we specifically engage in equity work at both personal and professional levels. This includes our staff equity work, which is comprised of regular conversations related to how we are ensuring that Horizon Community remains an equitable environment for all students. Further, teachers observe each other throughout the year and provide specific instructional feedback through the lenses of race and gender. In our Student Equity meetings, students engage in conversation and planning to communicate the importance of addressing inequities and promoting inclusive learning experiences for all. We heavily value and include student voice in our reflections, planning, and decision-making at Horizon Community Middle School. Positive Behavior Intervention Support (PBIS) Model Our PBIS Model is designed to recognize students who demonstrate positive behavior on campus. There are numerous ways that we recognize and celebrate students who display our PACK Commitments (Perseverance, Achievement Connectedness, and Kindness), including distribution of Husky Bucks, which students can use at our Husky Market to earn prizes. Students can also nominate fellow classmates for modeling PACK and be recognized as Leaders of the PACK. We publicly recognize students in our announcements and at our quarterly PACK Assemblies. Our Husky Learner Profile is a framework that teaches students about our PACK Commitments and provides opportunities to self-assess and set goals in these areas.
Final 2025 Performance Rating
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