Smoky Hill High School

Cherry Creek School District #5
16100 East Smoky Hill Road
Aurora, Colorado 80015
Telephone: 720-886-5300
FAX: 720-886-5698
CEEB: 060452

Principal: Mr. Andre Bala
Assistant Principal: Mr. Christopher Ness
Assistant Principal: Mrs. Caitlyn Fox
Assistant Principal: Mr. Bruce Jones
Assistant Principal: Mr. Reid Heller
Campus Administrator: Ms. Bri’Ana Woods
Campus Administrator: Mr. Albert Williams
Activity Director: Mr. Scott Cohen
Athletic Director: Mr. John Thompson

Coordinator of Counseling: Mr. Robert Kennedy
Post Graduate Coordinator: Mr. Craig Quintana
Academic Counselors:

• Ms. Chau DiMatteo
• Ms. Gabriela Garcia
• Ms. Jolei Patton
• Ms. Trina Visocky
• Ms. Molly Mugge-Cozza
• Ms. Katherine Kaiser
• Ms. Brooke Volpone

COMMUNITY

The Cherry Creek School District, celebrating over 50 years of excellence, is in the southeast metro-Denver area. Our district boundaries include the cities of Aurora, Centennial, Littleton, Englewood, the incorporated communities of Greenwood Village and Glendale and a large unincorporated area of Arapahoe County. The  student population is approximately 52,000 students.
SMOKY HILL HIGH SCHOOL

Smoky Hill High School is a public, comprehensive, suburban, college-oriented high school with a student enrollment of approximately 2,342 students in grades 9-12 and is one of six high schools in the district. The school calendar is 180 days in length and is comprised of two eighteen-week sessions. The schedule consists of eight 90-minute instructional blocks arranged on a 4-period alternating day rotation. The school is accredited by both the Colorado State Department of Education and the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools. In 2013 Smoky Hill High School was recognized as one of the top high schools in America by both Newsweek and the Washington Post.

ETHNIC PROFILE

The school ethnic profile shows a student population of 34%% White, 18% Black or African American, 6% Asian, 31% Hispanic, <1% American Indian, 13% Multi-racial. Of these students, 13% are Multi-Language Learners (MLL).

FACULTY/STAFF

The Smoky Hill faculty and staff are well educated and qualified. There are 182 staff members that work with Smoky Hill students and of those, 132 are certified teachers. Four deans and nine counselors provide students with support services.

POST GRADUATE PLACEMENT

47% of graduates attended 4-year college, 13% attended 2-year college. Of those attending college, 44% attend in-state colleges and 18% attend out-of-state colleges. 4% apprenticeship, 8% employment, 5% attend career/trade school, 2% entered military services, 12% undecided and 9% gap year.

CURRICULUM

The high school curriculum is comprehensive, ranging in scope from fundamental to advanced courses in English, social studies, science, and mathematics, to foreign language, music, fine arts, commercial arts, computer technology and vocational education.

ADVANCED PLACEMENT (AP)

Smoky Hill High School offers Advanced Placement courses. Students in AP classes participate in rigorous curriculum preparing them for AP exams and potential college credit.

• Advanced Placement courses and exams are offered in 22 subject areas.
• In 2024, 317 students took 436 exams, with 58% scoring 3 or better.

ADVANCEMENT VIA INDIVIDUAL DETERMINATION (AVID)

AVID students are enrolled in a rigorous college preparatory
curriculum as well as an elective AVID class that provides
academic instruction, tutorial support and motivational activities.

ONLINE LEARNING

Online courses are offered through the District to give
students’ flexibility. These interactive, standards-based courses
will provide rigorous classwork and meet graduation
requirements.

INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE (IB)

In 2024, 50% of the IB students earned an IB diploma.

The Middle Years Program

The IB Middle Years Program provides a framework of
academic challenge that encourages students to embrace and
understand the connections between traditional subjects and
the real world and become critical and reflective thinkers. The
curriculum consists of eight subject groups including Language
and Literature, Language Acquisition, Individuals and Societies,
Sciences, Mathematics, Art, Physical and Health Education,
and Design. The program is designed to prepare students for
the IB Diploma Program.

The Diploma Program

The Diploma Program is a comprehensive and rigorous
two-year curriculum that provides students with a balanced
education and preparation for examinations which result in an
internationally recognized high school diploma.

2024 MEAN SAT SCORES

ERW	Math	Composite
486	462	938

 

High school is considered a four-year course of study. Graduation requirements are based upon units of credit earned in grades 9 through 12. A minimum of 22 credits must be earned to meet graduation requirements.
Specific requirements are listed below:
English............................................ 4.0 credits
Social Studies.................................. 1.5 credits
U.S. History..................................... 1.0 credits
American Government........................ 5 credits
Mathematics ................................... 3.0 credits

Science........................................... 3.0 credits
Physical Education .......................... 1.5 credits
Health ................................................ 5 credits
Fine Arts .......................................... 1.5 credits
Electives ......................................... 5.5 credits

The Cherry Creek School District offers students and parents the opportunity for an official transcript that reflects a weighted grade point average. Weighted grades are given in those courses designated as either Honors, Advanced Placement, or International Baccalaureate. The difference between weighted and unweighted grades in terms of grade point value is as follows:

UNWEIGHTED
A = 4 grade points
B = 3 grade points
C = 2 grade points
D = 1 grade point
F = 0 grade points

WEIGHTED
A = 5 grade points
B = 4 grade points
C = 3 grade points
D = 1 grade point
F = 0 grade points

 

ENGLISH

• AP English Language
• AP English Literature
• IB English 11
• IB English 12
• MYP English 9
• MYP English 10
• English 9 Honors
• English 10 Honors
• American Lit Honors
• CE English Comp
• CE Intro to Literature

SOCIAL STUDIES

• AP Human Geography
• AP/IB European History
• AP/IB Psychology
• AP United States History
• IB/MYP History of the Americas
• IB Contemporary World
• AP African American History
• AP US Government & Politics
• IB History of Americas
• MYP World Geography
• CE American Government
• CE General Psychology I
• CE Psychology II
• CE Intro to Political Science

MATHEMATICS

• AP Calculus AB
• IB Calculus HL1
• IB Calculus SL2
• IB Applications
• AP Statistics
• Algebra II Honors
• Geometry Honors
• Pre-Calculus Honors
• Trigonometry Honors
• CE College Algebra
• CE College Trigonometry

SCIENCE

• IB Biology
• IB Chemistry
• AP Physics
• IB Environmental Science
• IB Sports, Exercise & Health Sciences
• Anatomy & Physiology Honors
• Biology Honors
• Chemistry Honors
• Physics Honors
• Earth & Physical Science Honors
• Integrated Sciences Honors

FOREIGN LANGUAGE

• IB/MYP Latin I & II Honors
• IB Latin III & IV Honors
• IB/MYP Spanish I & II
• IB/MYP Spanish I & II
• IB Spanish III & IV
• IB/MYP Japanese I & II Honors
• IB Japanese Honors III & IV
• IB Japanese V Honors
• AP Spanish Language & Culture
• AP Spanish Literature & Culture

OTHER COURSES

• IB Computer Science IB Music
• IB Art History
• IB/MYP Visual Arts
• IB Theory of Knowledge
• IB Business Management
• Advanced Studio Honors
• IB Advanced Acting/Theater
• IB Advanced Video/Production
• IB Creativity, Action, Service (CAS)
• IB Extended Essay (EE)
• IB Personal Project (PP)
• IB Digital Arts
• CE Into to Business
• CE Automotive Tech II & III
• CE Criminal Justice and Law I & II
• CE ProStart 1 & 2

Co-curricular activities play an integral role in the climate of SHHS. When students are involved in a co-curricular activity, they develop stronger and more positive connections to the school, the adults, and their peers. There are approximately 60 co-curricular activities available at Smoky Hill.

• ACE Engineering Club
• Ambassadors of SHHS
• Amnesty International
• Animal Rescue Connection
• Anime Club
• Art Club and National Art Honor Society
• Brotherhood
• Buffalo Traders
• Clay Club
• Chamber Music Club

• Debate/Forensics

• Dance Showcase

• DECA (An Association of Marketing Students)

• Digital Evolution

• Drama/Thespians

• Environmental Action Club

• FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America)

• FCCLA (Family Career Community Leaders of America)

• First Priority (Bible Study)

• Gay/Straight Alliance

• Girl Up

• Greenhouse/Biology Club

• Habesha Leadership Club

• Hip Hop Dance Club

• Improv (Spontaneous Combustion)

• Japanese Club

• Jazz Band

• Jazz Choir

• Junior Classical League-Latin

• Key Club

• Latino World Alliance

• Le Club Francais

• LINK

• Marching Band

• Math Club

• Mock Trial

• Model United Nations

• Muslim Student Association

• National English Honor Society

• National Honor Society

• Newspaper

• Next Generation Voices

• Philosophy Club

• Poetry Club Skills

• ProStart (Culinary)

• SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions)

• Science Club/Bowl

• SHUFA (Smoky Hill Unites for Africa)

• Spanish Club

• Step Team

• Strategic Board Games

• STRIVE

• Student Government

• Symphonic Choir

• USA (AUTO)

• Yogioh Club

• Yearbook