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William Smith High School
In 1931 Aurora Public Schools opened its first high school at 13th Avenue and Florence Street. The building has since been remodeled and is the current home of Aurora West College Preparatory Academy. -
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William Smith High School
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Community Gathering Area
The gym at William Smith is used as a place to have dances, gatherings, events, and concerts because it is the biggest venue in the city. At the South end of the gymnasium was a stage that allowed for live music. -
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Military Community
Aurora has a strong influence from the military with bases located in the Lowry, Fitzsimons, and Buckley areas. Demographic is predominantly white and middle to upper class. Due to the military influence, there is also a lot of transiency amongst this group. -
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William C. Hinkley
William "Bill" C. Hinkley became superintendent of schools for Aurora after the death of Ray Morehead. At the time there were 1100 students in the Aurora Public School system. In Bill's first year enrollment grew to 2000 and from that point on for several years there was always an additional 1000+ students. At the first faculty meeting of Aurora's only two schools, Aurora School (first through eighth grades) and William Smith High School, there were 28 staff members -
Aurora High School
To adjust for the growing student population in Aurora, a new building was built on the same lot and opened as Aurora High School. The old building was closed. -
Aurora Central High School Opens
All high school students and classes are now 100% housed in the new Aurora Central High School building located at 11th Avenue and Newark Street. Aurora High School becomes West Middle School. -
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Socioeconomic shift
Aurora begins to see a shift in the socio-economics of the population. There in a clear division between North and South Aurora with the South retaining a more middle to upperclass status. -
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Ethnicity Shifts
Aurora's demographics are now approximately 50% African American and 50% White. -
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Ethnicity Shifts
The population in Aurora continues to change with more Hispanic families moving in to North Aurora. The socio-economic status of the families in North Aurora continues to be lower than that of the families in South Aurora. -
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Principal Dale Krueger
Dale Krueger is the named the principal of West Middle School. His immediate task, increase teacher, administrative, and financial accountability. Second, raise student achievement. West is currently in the bottom 5 middle schools in the state. -
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New North Aurora Population
With groups like Lutheran Family Services, African Community Center, Project Worthmore and others, the refugee community has found open arms and classrooms in North Aurora. Classrooms are seeing the population of refugees nearly double every year. In 2008, there were 14 refugee students, starting the 2013 school year, we have 145 with more enrolling every week. -
Aurora West College Preparatory Academy
After being forced to restructure due to low test scores, West Middle School is reopened as Aurora West College Preparatory Academy with a new focus on college readiness. -
Vision to Reality
Aurora West College Preparatory Academy welcomes its first high school class of students who have chosen to attend a small high school with a college readiness focus as opposed to the local high school, Aurora Central. -
New Principal/New Direction?
With a new principal, Brian Duwe, Aurora West College Preparatory Academy begins a new chapter and possibly a new direction. The new administrations first change, having the staff become learning community.
