Yamel Ramirez talks with reporters about her experiences at Aurora Central high School on Thursday May 7. The Leadership Class is trying to take an active roll in the future of the school. (Photo by Gabriel Christus/Aurora Sentinel)

AURORA | Aurora Central High School’s test scores paint a very unflattering picture of the school.

Students lag well behind their peers at other schools across the state in math, reading and graduation rates. In some cases fewer than 10 percent are passing state tests.

Despite some growth in recent years, Central now faces substantial, state-mandated changes aimed at turning around struggling schools. While the word thrown around is “state takeover” it’s actually less dramatic but every bit as serious, school officials say.

Still, for students at Central — many of whom have taken an active role in the debate about the school’s future by attending board meetings and calling for meetings with the superintendent — the notion that the bleak test scores tell their life stories is a frustrating one.

“Those test scores don’t define who we are,” said Shirley Tun-Verde, a Central senior.

The scores miss the fact that the school’s population includes kids struggling with poverty, language and many who simply have to choose between work and school.

“A lot of our students come from very hard backgrounds,” she said.           

Tun-Verde and the rest of the students in Corey Price’s Leadership class at Central aren’t short on opinions about Central’s dilemma.

Beatriz Avelar, a junior, said being treated as little more than a test score is especially galling at a school where many students walk through the doors speaking minimal English and are expected to pass the same tests as native speakers.

Students in the class, which includes high-achieving kids from various grade levels tackling non-traditional projects like community service efforts and pep assemblies, have strong opinions about the need for changes, Price said.

“That’s something that has come up many times in this class,” Price said.

The students met with APS Superintendent Rico Munn earlier this spring and many have been regulars at APS Board of Education meetings.

Both the APS school board and the Colorado Board of Education are expected to vote next month on a plan to restructure Central and some surrounding schools facing similar difficulties.

The restructure options for Central include turning it into a charter school, letting an outside agency manage it instead of APS, installing an “innovation” model that would give staff more flexibility to make changes, or even closing the school — though district officials stress closure is not an option they support, and one they deem unlikely.

Superintendent Rico Munn and several APS board members back the innovation path, something Munn said will allow Central staff some autonomy and give them the flexibility to improve student performance as they see fit. Plus, Munn has said, the model requires cooperation between staff, district leaders, state officials and others.

The state board seemed warm to the idea at a meeting in April and didn’t object to Munn’s request that the state make a decision sooner rather than later so APS has ample time to launch the changes.

Last year, 60 percent of Central’s seniors graduated. That’s up from just 49 percent in 2010, but it still trails the state average of 77 percent.

Test scores are a mixed bag, with reading and writing scores up since 2010, but math and science down. And across the board, Central students are far behind the rest of the state. In writing, for example, just 21 percent of Central students were proficient or advanced last year compared to 51 percent statewide. In math, just 11 percent scored proficient or advanced compared to 36 percent statewide.

Under state law, schools like Central, which are placed on a five-year “Priority Improvement Plan,” have to launch dramatic changes after year five if they haven’t turned things around by the end of the fourth year. As of now, 30 other schools around the state are facing the same deadline.

Students in the Leadership class at Central tend to have a chilly attitude toward shifting the management of Central away from APS and to some outside agency, be it the state, a charter school organization or something else.

Yamel Ramirez, a Central senior, said she attended a few charter schools before coming to Central as a sophomore and prefers the current Central make up to any charter. Central feels more like a “family,” she said, and students there are allowed to be themselves and don’t have to conform the way they do at a charter.

Ramirez said she doesn’t see how changing the management of the school will help as long as the students face the same sorts of poverty and other out-of-school troubles that they face today.

“It’s a problem of where we are and where we are stationed,” she said.

42 replies on “The Central issue: Poverty, language must be addressed by embattled Aurora school remake, students say”

  1. Why are they speaking ‘minimal English’? How did they get here? Leading up to ‘legal immigration’, one would think that they would have learned proper English upon arriving in America, it’s not that they are Illegal is it? Dual language classes and ‘hard lives’ don’t account for poor scores, that’s what school is for. It’s America’s fault that allowed illegal immigration to this country to guide curriculum and dual language classes, makes no sense, teach America first.

    1. Nice “blame the victim” rant. Teachers provide the opportunity to learn to those in their classes. The rant is a demonstration of ignorance to the reality schools face.

      1. Illegal immigrants broke into our country partner, I’m not blaming teachers, they are ‘told’ what, to whom, and how to instruct. I also believe that American kids should come well before these invaders to our country. They are slowing down an already overtaxed school room, our kids sit around waiting for those who cannot speak the language get instruction in English. On top of that, they are, for the most part, uneducated, no matter how old they are when they arrive.

        1. Unless you are a Native American, your ancestors broke into this country as well. Furthermore, in much of Colorado, the oldest spoken European language spoken is Spanish. To be honest, the xenophobic attitude displayed makes me sick. Schools are over-taxed due to excessive standardized testing, a lack of funding, and the policies of education dilettantes like Senator Michael Johnston.

          1. My ancestors came through Ellis Island, and before that, you’re talking about settling the world, if you can’t discern the difference there, you’ll have to catch up. Most of the other ‘points’ are taken straight from the liberal, slanted talking points, ‘underfunded’ ‘standardized testing’ (how would we expect those here illegally, and without a word of English, to keep up) Schools are over-taxed by freeloaders and miscreants, not by honest, taxpaying citizens children. America is NOT the world’s keeper.

  2. Yamel Ramirez, a Central senior, said she
    attended a few charter schools before coming to Central as a sophomore
    and prefers the current Central make up to any charter. Central feels
    more like a “family,” she said, and students there are allowed to be
    themselves and don’t have to conform the way they do at a charter.

    So, what this really is, is more ‘any behavior will be tolerated and accepted’ thereby, allowing for more non-learning skills to develop.

  4. If one reads between the lines it is certainly easy to see that this is an indictment on illegal immigration. The inference is that Aurora schools must devote even more of their finite resources towards the non-English speakers. Illegals come here by breaking the law seeking only to advance their financial gain and therefore have no love of America nor any desire to assimilate by learning English. This article shows that the children bear some of the brunt of this law breaking. Those that advocate for illegal immigration are actually do them a disservice by encouraging more illegal immigration. Illegals experience poverty and language problems because they come here only to take and don’t make any effort to embrace the USA. I have met illegals that have been here 10 years and still don’t know much if any English. They are ultimately exploited and put in a position to fail. If someone truly cared about illegals, they would implore them not to come here at all. ILLEGALS…..if you want to prosper and excel, stay in your home country where you can speak and read the language and be legally hired.

    1. Another ignorant rant. Who knows who is illegal and teachers don’t care. Furthermore, poverty is a huge factor in test scores regardless of immigration status. ETS can predict test scores with over 80% accuracy by looking at five factors: 1) attendance, 2) free/reduced lunch status, 3)

      1. I would suggest you read the teacher’s and the student’s poll results and comments if they are still on the net at Central website. Both segments stated they did not know anyone in administrative offices they trusted. Also contained comments of drastic threats to both teachrs and students, making fear going to school, or trying to advance education. A grandson attended Central for first semester of Freshman year, then home schooled next semester after receiving death threats. Central had its problems long ago, when my youngest son attended there. When I had to go get him after school and buy new parts for his bicycle, because someone super-glued the sprocket that chain runs on, and the lock that secured it to rack. Recently Sentinel reported that 93 languages are used in Aurora K12, and I suspect most of those are at Central. That is a red flag for failure, and indicates the problems we have in Aurora (entire Denver metro area). English should be the basic language, and no student should be in regular classes until they qualify in English (reading , speaking, and writing). I taught Greeks and Turks in US Air Force, and they were required to attend Language school at San Antonio, Texas, prove basic knowledge and skill, before transferring to Perrin AFB, Texas to attend the classes on F102A Delta Dagger (called the Deuce) in the different skills to maintain the aircraft. On completion, they returned to Turkey and Greece, and U.S. sold F102A aircraft to them. The people we trained, then trained their flight line personnel , under our instructors during first 6 months of courses. All foreign speaking students should be grouped in one central school, to learn English (Speaking, Reading, and Writing). AND FROM MY EXPERIENCE OF TEACHING AIR FORCE MEMBERS, PLUS OTHERS. THE MATERIAL TESTED IS THE MATERIAL THAT YOU WILL REMEMBER. All of my tests for my students, or that I took, were written, in booklets, all with same questions, but scrambled so students sitting next to each other, saw different arrangement. Each booklet was keyed, with answer sheet same key, so test could be machine graded accurately and quick.—————–These test were used for promotions, skill levels advancement, or possible other schools. And lives depended on knowledge learned, and specified, since planes crash if mistakes are made in maintenance.

        1. I agree, wholeheartedly. But, when you make statements like that, the ‘tolerance and acceptance’, mostly liberal part of this nation, wring their hands and cry out, ‘that’s not fair’! What in the world is fair about allowing someone who broke into our country, never fought for our country, staying in our country, not paying taxes, ‘living in the shadows’, but that not stopping them from collecting every handout imaginable, their illegal kids in our public schools, holding back American kids. This same group are the ones who support murderers giving commencement speeches at universities btw.

        2. The teaching of English you speak of is a narrow band relevant to a very specific task. It wasn’t about learning the whole of the language to communicate in a variety of settings. And regarding tests, if only what can be graded easily is tested and thus what is remembered according to you, students would have a VERY narrow an insubstantial education. And isn’t it amazing that this region attracts people from all over the world. I can only imagine that there is an impressive infusion of world culture. That isn’t a bad thing. And regarding the issues your relatives had, I’d guess they didn’t originate from kids recently arriving in the country. My experience with newcomers is they just want to fit in despite language barriers.

          1. Your comment does not indicate you ever attended any of the courses and personnel I taught. In my 26 years I taught avionics, supply to subordinates, intelligence to my co-workers, and taught instructor improvement courses. I briefed Admirals and Generals, and senior officers and NCOs, including Air National Guard and Reserves. In those classrooms, questions came from all over military, and like ours, the others had personnel from other countries also. In the MAP program at Perrin, for entire year, I prepared lesson plans for my instructors, and also for the students who ranged from CMSgts (all the Turks- though they had Turkish ranks). They were paid same as our CMSgts while here, since all were line and instructor personnel back in home country. So they wanted to know of our customs, ranks, beliefs, and were interested in sports or political ideas of USA for information. Did not get involved, but most had better grasp than some of our personnel. Don’t sell the course at Lackland short, since the Greeks and Turks would be involved with Engines, Weapons, support, test equipment, armament, egress, radio, flight controls, so the training was split among our normal unit strength of 17 to 22, plus others brought in from other bases who were instructors. I had overall management of Supply Officer, plus the electric-electronic side of the house. Our K12 students coming from foreign countries would gain in that course, and absorb education much better. There are churchs, schools, and upper educational facilities in Colorado, but most of those do not want to learn English, and I question if they desire citizenship. Being victim is much more fungible for them.

      2. What nonsense. Teachers should care, they cannot teach to those who cannot understand the language. If they are language instructors, so be it, go find a niche to work it, but not teach at a public school. You’ve actually wrapped the illegal alien situation up nicely here, ‘free lunch at #2’ ‘single parent household, #3, (unwed mothers, is it 80% of blacks now?) I noticed you even managed to get in the horrible cruelty of parents reading to their children at home. Read where the liberals think that a damaging thing to do, holds back other children, what nonsense.

  5. Graduation rates is just one factor. Reading, writing and math are by far the most important indicators of academic success. Although students, parents and teachers must work together, students are ultimately responsible for their own success. Failing students must receive failing grades … to feel the sting of failure … instead of graduating based on meeting some minimal attendance requirement. Schools need to put less emphasis on manufacturing ‘self-esteem’ and more emphasis on accountability.

    1. It is also interesting and discouraging of all the HS graduates who go on to college and have to go to remedial training for time, before they can do college work. That is indicator of problems in K12, and I don’t buy Common Core, with its teaching all students in same area, on each day of school. Having taught in military, where my students all had basic background in math, science, read English, with HS or higher educational levels, I can tell you all students do not progress at same rate. I taught to my students needs, and weakness, to ensure their future and working as teams. Mistakes by them, in maintaining aircraft or weapons, whatever, could kill people, if not themselves. And I also had feelings about different states educational systems, since my students came from all over US and backgrounds. All could learn, if motivated, and material available, regardless of race or color of skin. Instructor training emphasized “that if a student does not learn, the instructor has not taught”. Problem in public schools many of the students are not motivated to learn,, and it is easy to complain or find excuse. Has everyone forgotten stories of Abe Lincoln studying by light of fireplace?

  6. Hats off to Squid for nailing it. I am all for ESL, but NOT when it takes away from everyone else. Too much money is being spent to get illegals up to speed. It’s hurting the system. When we decided to move to Aurora in 1986, one of our biggest concerns was the quality of education for our kids, so we chose to move into the Cherry School District. We would never have placed our kids in DPS or APS. Our kids attended CCSD until 2007. I started noticing a decline, even in the CCSD, in the late 90’s. The teachers were great, but far too much emphasis and resources were being put towards the illegals and their spawn in the district. I started to see my kids’ education compromised. I feel so sorry for all the school districts, nowadays. They are being asked to solve illegal immigration generated issues; at the expense of every child. My advice is very simple; find the schools with the lowest number of illegals; your child will have at least a decent chance at an education. Unfortunately most of the districts have been infested, so it is becoming increasingly difficult. Charter/private schools will become more of a necessity.

  7. This isn’t an issue that just started with Aurora Central High School. I am finding that many students in the Aurora Elementary Schools are having the same issues. My son has over 8 kinds in his 2nd grade class that are barley speaking English, barley know how to read and write or know their ABC’s and have many “behavioral” issues. Most of them will pass on to 3rd grade how did they get to 1st and 2nd? Now it seems like students just like them are in Central High School barley knowing English? It seems as though they are being “passed through”. It seems like teachers are having to become life counselors and teachers of “life” in these schools. Over crowed classrooms, 25 students per teacher and no teacher aids? What is APS spending our tax dollars on? How did this problem get so far down the chain? I am seeing some of these parents of elementary students not having as much as a high school education as well, so how are theses students getting the extra help they need understanding their homework? They have paid tutor centers where parents and students can go and get help learning for example “the new math” and these centers are EXPENSIVE. If there is a poverty and language issue where can these families get the extra quality help? We know Colorado has a growing Hispanic population but you can not clump all of these issues in one area and expect the same results as schools that are preforming at excellence. If you look at the demographics and school grades in Denver area schools their grades are higher because of diversity and resources. Maybe APS needs to collaborate with Cherry Creek and DPS to find out what is working for them?

      2. Joe, The computer looks for words in its dictionary, and I have had experience of MS Word correcting my spelling. Will give you example: Fracking is a common term now with all the drilling, and development of oil-gas wells. MS Word changes that to “frocking” which is totally a different action. That is just one example. I usually click to post, then go back and edit, and change spelling to what I want. If I catch it at time of change, I change to spelling and word I want. then click to add to dictionary on my computer. There are times when I really appreciate all the help the computer folks designed into it, but it also drives me up the wall. But we will survive, won’t we?

    2. American kids know English, they grew up using it, these kids you’re talking about illegally entered our country, many have families who have no intention of joining our society, rather live off of it.

  8. I am so impressed with the students in this article. Poverty is the biggest issue and I applaud them for speaking up and will stand with you in keeping your school as it is and not turning it over to a business!
    I also agree that these test scores tell us nothing about the brilliance of these students and I have chosen to opt my children out of these tests as teachers know so much more!
    Stay strong students and know many many agree with you!

    1. That’s wonderful! Now if you’ll remove yourself from this country, we will all be happier.

  9. Whether or not these students come in through the doors speaking English is not the point! The issue here is poverty. It is well known that these test scores are a reflection of their parent’s socio-economic status, not a reflection of how well the schools and/or teachers are performing. Let’s stop blaming the students; they are the victims of a society that refuses to pay a liveable wage to their parents. As Jon Stewart commented “Why is that if you take advantage of a tax break and you’re a corporation you’re a smart businessman, but if you take advantage of something to not be hungry you’re a moocher”. When did it become acceptable to shun people in need? Who are we anyway??

    This quote appears on the Statue of Liberty, and it’s part of a poem by Emma Lazarus:

    “Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
    The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed, to me: I lift my lamp beside the golden door.” This is who I want us to be!!

    1. Max,

      Being employed in fast food is not supposed to be a life long career. The parents who you cite as not earning a livable wage came here illegally without the ability to speak the language nor do they come with any desirable skills. Why do you not blame them for making the choice that put them in that position? If you went to Mexico without the ability to speak Spanish and no idea of chemistry, would you expect to get a job as a chemist? Would you expect to be paid an overly generous wage to fill a low skilled job?

      Immigrants were required to pass a series of medical and legal inspections before they could enter America. The actual experience of going through inspection or detainment on Ellis Island was often nerve wracking. Those who did not pass these inspections were returned to their country of origin on the boats that brought them here. Even though only 2 percent of those coming to America were turned away at Ellis Island,

      People who passed through Ellis Island were required to know English and pass a medical examination…….and they came legally. Now they just sneak in and bring an inability to communicate and drug resistant tuberculosis.

      1. Squid
        you got this one.
        its amazing how people don’t see that throwing money at poverty is not the way to fix it. its a mind set and a way of life.you make choices in life and if your choice in high school is not to get good grades run around with friends and not learn and end up working at sonic then you made that choice. i know a few teachers at AC and i know these coaches and teachers try to teach but the kids have to want to learn.
        growing up in the AC area and seeing some of the kids going on to do great things i know its possible. but remember its not their fault

    2. You don’t gain an inch from me with that argument. These students are victims of the parent (male or female) who left their family south of our borders, to break into our country without permission or permits. While our citizens were parked in unemployment, welfare, food stamps, so their jobs could be taken by illegal alien. Since they and the children born, use other languages in the home, and do not learn English, let them self-deport themselves back to the country they came from, and work same or more specialized jobs in that country. And we can get our U.S. citizens back off the dole, where they regain self control and self-respect. I grew up on farm in east, with HS diploma (though I was average student). In military (draft-enlist Korean- then remained at low salary) I worked in coal mine and A&P store until 1950. While in military, I worked 2-3 part time jobs to supplement my AF pay ( total of $1305 in 1953 on 1040 form) and took any job offered. So don’t give me they only take jobs, no one else will do. Others were working with me all those years, in all kinds of jobs. ———o We need to tighten up on our VISA given by State Dept. Over 100,000 foreign students in USA, and State Dept. cannot account for most of them. Class for English in SD-LA area of 200, with only 1 student who ever appeared. Where are the other 199. State Dept. and School does not know. Check the net, that was reported about month ago. When folks head into country with fake documents, they sentence any spouse or children to live in secret. They and only they, are guilty. I will not assume any guilt for not approving breaking of our laws.

    3. Yes, it does. And it meant it. Come to America, become AMERICAN, not come to live off of what America secures and provides.

      Of course speaking English is the point! These people INVADED our country, and now their children are holding back American kids with their uneducated, unschooled, and no language skills, but you and other liberals submit that we as a country should provide for them, ‘their parents don’t make enough money, American society refuses to pay a livable wage’ What nonsense. Then here comes the ‘corporation’ jibes, I could read any comment, by any liberal, and find these very words in all of them.

  10. The only thing the state’s flawed accountability system measures is family income. Nothing else. These students deserve so much more than a politically motivated education reform agenda that targets and harms low-income and ESL communities. Turning Central over to the state or to a CMO will destroy the school and disrupt the lives of these kids. Transforming Central to an “innovation” school is nothing but a politically charged tactic to bust teachers’ unions. Why not listen to what these brilliant and articulate students need and want for their school? We could learn a lot from them.

    1. You have not been reading the Central Website in past years, or you would not make such statements. Wife was born in Denver and we married in 1952. 1959 I rented apartment in Denver on 32d Ave, (later Martin Luther King Blvd) for year while attending Avionics training at Lowry. Quiet, growing communities. Back in 1963 to teach at Lowry, bought present home in Aurora. My 2 oldest attended Wheeling grade school, where they were not given band books, “because we were transients”, while principal told me the other students parents owned property, and paid taxes. In sit-down, I explained in that case, each of my 2 , would need 2 books each. Air Force (Dept. of Defense) paid into Aurora Schools 1/2 of what I paid, for each child, so we as owners, brought double payment to the school. My children had their band books that day. This continued for years of military paying in schools. ———————Having paid those taxes all these years, and no longer have any children in any Colorado schools, is it fair for me and others (peers) to be paying for illegals who have no intentions of becoming citizens? ————–In 2006, Gov. Owens brought legislators back to write immigration bills. My street has 16 houses (8 on each side) . 8 went vacant in the night in 4 months after 1 July 2006. Others moved in during the night for 3-4months. Those 8 house sat vacant through 2008, sold at auction or agents, as “fixer-uppers” and all houses in our area dropped from $186,500 range, to average of $92,000. Those who bought were owners to live in them, and restore them, or “tippers” who bought cheap, to resell later. House on each side of me sold for $150,000 in past year and half, with 2 of them being rentals, but street is quieter, and families are combination. ———————– And all who read this string, or live in Colorado saw the pickup trucks pulling trailers loaded with household goods, or with boats, headed south in 2006-2007, with their $75.00 permits from the Mexican consul office in Denver. 2-3-4 families who had lived in 1 family houses. So it is slow climb for property oweners to get back equity value lost. I just received my appraisal for next year, at $50,000 increase, but I have still lost $30,000 in equity value. NOW I CHALLENGE ANYONE TO TELL ME THIS DID NOT EFFECT THE EDUCATIONAL SCHOOL SYSTEM WITH ALL THESE ILLEGALS WHO WORKED HERE, TOOK FUNDS BACK SOUTH, AND NEVER INTENDED TO BE CITIZENS. We still have those, while Colorado requires anyone employed in Colorado, to register and become citizens, unless in military. I realize U.S. citizenship is set by federals, but what does this do to Colorado law for Colorado citizenship? (By the way in 2006, house north of me had 13 illegals, from Sonora Mexico, and only one spoke English). When they moved out in 2007, they moved to Commerce City, after trashing house they lived in. By passed electric and water meters, parked 13 cars on front-back-lawns and destroyed them, in driveway and in garage. Never knew what or where they worked. Came and went all times of day and night, with police involvement at times. So Central and this part of Aurora has been a festering sore for many years. When this happens, and city is not receiving funds from illegals, and houses are being repossessed by lenders to be restored and sold, the owners paying their bills, have to pay more for those not paying.

      1. I call red herring, Frank2525. The article and my comment were both about Central’s turnaround status. The state’s accountability system – where schools are rated as “failing” primarily based on the results of racially and culturally biased standardized tests – accelerates the privatization of our public schools. When schools are taken over by the state or CMOs, the communities and their children almost always suffer. Look at Chicago, New Orleans, Newark, etc. When a school is transformed into an “innovation” school, the school can ignore many education-related laws that other schools must follow. Who benefits from this? Read the law and you’ll see what I mean. I don’t question your love for this country or your community. What I question is the state’s right to force a school to “turnaround” (we are a local control state) and I definitely question the state’s political motivations to mortgage Central’s future based on the results of old standardized tests (TCAP) that the State Board of Education knows and has admitted are garbage. Education policies at the state and national levels are harming communities just like yours. You and I may disagree about immigration policy (for the record, we disagree with each other 100%) but we may find common ground on education policy if for no other reason than it is 100% broken. The measures the state will take to “turnaround” Central will divide your already fractured community. Again, who benefits? Not you and not your neighbors.

        1. I am not going to get into argument with you on this. I wrote my experience with this community, starting in 1951, when I came here for military training. Next year, married my spouse who was still in HS, born in Denver 1935. I know history of Denver metro area, but do not know from what area you write. We had a Strickland in Colorado who was a loser, and Ohio had a Strickland as Governor (my home state) also a loser. I gained that belief as UNAFFILIATED, MILITARY, WHEN TOLD IF I HAD AN OPINION, MY SERGEANT WOULD TELL ME WHAT IT WAS. When I became Sergeant by 1952, I found no one told me what to tell my subordinates. But from 1950 to 1953, I marked military records with RED “PI” for political influence if officer or enlisted sent, or received contact from politicians. Even if relatives. ———————-Now with that, the policies of this administration complicated Central HS. Denver Metro area is the major distribution point coming out of Mexico of those who cross the border from all over, since Mexico passes anyone through, but they cannot stay there, since they have strict immigration laws. (you can check them on net). Drug Cartels smuggle people, drugs, guns, whatever across, and from Denver Metro area, those illegals go east, west, north, and across the south, with freeways, airports, and easy transportation. To further complicate, Colorado legalized POT and POT edibles and we have influx, filling all houses and rentals and the 30 plus cities making up metro area, are constant traffic jams morning and evenings. NO RED HERRING. FACTS. YOU MAY DISAGREE WITH THEM. I SIMPLY STATE THE FACTS, I attained college credit hours while in military, and attended local Community College after retirement. There, as student, with administrative and personnel experience I also maintained military VA records for the school, paid by VA, through the school, and assisted in registration . I acquired Associate Degree in Computerized Accounting, and 3 certifications for vocational electronics, refrigeration, and administration courses. Total of 134 credit hours overall (not all in one discipline). After my grandson was threatened, I advised Mayor Paul Tauer (17years in Aurora (personal friend) that IF I WERE THE EDUCATIONAL OFFICIAL FOR AURORA, I WOULD CLOSE CENTRAL HS. Bus those students to other HS away from their home locality. School had problems when youngest son (age 17) (father to grandson) attended there in 1977 to now. Really motivated students graduate in spite of problems, but too many drop out in early years, if they get into HS at all.

          1. Yawn. My name is Stickland not Strickland. You’re seeing an “r” where there isn’t any. By the way, attacking the person rather than debating the merits of the arguement is yet another logical fallacy. Good day, Sir.

          2. :And a good day to you too. Have a good summer. I don’t enter for debates. Simply to state my opinion. Each reader can use it as they wish, but I prefer to get different opinion, to consider, and possibly learn something new. Have done that my entire life, to this point at 85 years. So I am past point of trying to impress anyone, having done all in life and far beyond my thoughts of HS graduating in 1947. Take care.

  11. Amazing how one can “read between the lines” and come up with the conclusion that this is all about illegal immigration. The rise in the refugee population in this area and school account for a huge amount of the ELA population. And why the rise in the refugee population? Because of the poverty level; these families and students are placed here because it is cheap housing, etc. It is a complex issue, and to make a blanket statement that anyone here without documentation is bascially a dredge on society is ignorant and narrow-minded. I commend these students for expressing their opinions and trying to lend a voice to a side rarely listened to.

  12. Much gratitude to the students at Central who spoke up for their school, their classmates and for public education in this article. We must demand social policies to protect our communities from poverty and we must tear down the test and punish system that is being used to dismantle the public school system and ultimately our democracy. I teach in Aurora and I stand with the students and teachers at Central. I am very very worried about our school district in Aurora. Denver reform is making its way into Aurora at lightening fast speed. Folks need to stay alert and be ready to take action to halt potential privatization strategies in Aurora.

  13. ENGLISH is the only language that should be spoken in America, period. It’s the official language, none other.

  15. I’m absolutely ashamed of the small-minded, uneducated, and out-right racist rhetoric that co-opted these comments that were supposed to specifically addressing Central’s accountability conundrum. All the hot-headed, flag-waving, truck-driving know-it-alls out there (with an ironically poor understanding of this country’s history) should kindly stick to publicly ranting about things they have a competent understanding of (rendering them refreshingly silent). If any individual flinging the word “illegal” around like it’s a appropriate word have either a) read a book in the last month, b) speak another language, c) work in a school, or d) don’t watch FOX news nightly, I will shut my big mouth!
    Central HS is obviously dealing with real issues beyond the myopic, cable news perspective of a lot of its constituents. And I agree there is value in people and education beyond assessment. But this school is obviously failing its students, too, so it’s important to not completely turn around the issue (the school’s assessment results are indeed showing there are issues to be addressed, which is of value, I think, too). Closing the school is an extreme and likely unhelpful option, though. Best of luck to the students and teachers in the process, and don’t let the small minority of un-American Americans out there deter you.

    1. All you offer is a lot of name calling and hollow pejoratives. How about you add something to the conversation instead of just venting. By the way, what race is illegal? You seem to be the one who is ascribing a particular race to illegal immigration.

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