What's Happening at Smoky Hill High School
![Bowen Yang and Adrian and Stacy Holguin]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1744049748/cherrycreekschoolsorg/gdkscjw4gkazedvtfnxm/Bowen.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1744049748/cherrycreekschoolsorg/gdkscjw4gkazedvtfnxm/Bowen.png","width":400}])
Before wowing fans on "Saturday Night Live" and "Wicked," Bowen Yang was lighting up the stage at Smoky Hill High School in Aurora, Colorado. Yang credits much of his success to his improv teacher at the time, Mr. Adrian Holguin, who says, "I love the fact that he is authentically living in celebration of his life and who he is." Watch Mr. Holguin surprise him live on TODAY. "This is the best day of my life!," Yang says.
![PSAT and SAT study books]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1743783067/cherrycreekschoolsorg/sw9jhzjftcarkjpmobue/PSATSAT1.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1743783067/cherrycreekschoolsorg/sw9jhzjftcarkjpmobue/PSATSAT1.png","width":400}])
PSAT/SAT testing is on April 16th and 17th. Students who have been opted out will not attend school either day. If you have questions, email Assistant Principal Caitlyn Fox at cfox2@cherrycreekschools.org.
![Summer School]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1743777556/cherrycreekschoolsorg/wk37u8zy0ix0jnpk2dpz/SummerSchool.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1743777556/cherrycreekschoolsorg/wk37u8zy0ix0jnpk2dpz/SummerSchool.png","width":400}])
We have credit options for students who want credit progression as well as for students who need credit retrieval. There is a cost associated.
![CCSD Athletics: Highlights from the week of Jan. 27, 2025]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1738796325/cherrycreekschoolsorg/xhnti8f4qsjcl6cg0jhm/Square5AGirlsSwimmingCentennialLeagueADivingFinals2-1-25_1.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1738796325/cherrycreekschoolsorg/xhnti8f4qsjcl6cg0jhm/Square5AGirlsSwimmingCentennialLeagueADivingFinals2-1-25_1.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1738796325/cherrycreekschoolsorg/xhnti8f4qsjcl6cg0jhm/Square5AGirlsSwimmingCentennialLeagueADivingFinals2-1-25_1.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1738796325/cherrycreekschoolsorg/xhnti8f4qsjcl6cg0jhm/Square5AGirlsSwimmingCentennialLeagueADivingFinals2-1-25_1.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1738796325/cherrycreekschoolsorg/xhnti8f4qsjcl6cg0jhm/Square5AGirlsSwimmingCentennialLeagueADivingFinals2-1-25_1.jpg","width":1500}])
The CCHS girls swim and dive team wins the Centennial League A team title, while athletes from four CCSD schools win individual events; district ice hockey teams sweep weekend games; and the EHS boys basketball team gets a big conference win.
![Eaglecrest High School students hold diplomas at graduation]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1738795930/cherrycreekschoolsorg/cpxt8in6xfuyfy1kqys2/EaglecrestGraduation2024-43-cropped.jpg","width":200}])
The Cherry Creek School District achieved its highest-ever graduation rate with an on-time (or four-year) graduation rate for the class of 2024 of 91.2%. The new graduation rate is up from 90.3% for the class of 2023 and comes as the district continues to implement the CCSD Strategic Plan, which outlines three key priorities: 1) Literacy; 2) Health and Wellbeing; and 3) Disproportionality.
![two Smoky Hill High School students participate in the Call 2 Action class]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1738795660/cherrycreekschoolsorg/otggfo8bbt2patau7hhb/smokycall-thumbnail.jpg","width":200}])
At Smoky Hill High School, students in the Call 2 Action class are not just learning about activism—they're actively changing their school and community. The class, driven by student-led initiatives, serves as a platform for young voices advocating for social change, community service, and support for their peers. One of the most impactful projects born out of this class is the Buff’s Pantry, an essential resource helping students and their families who are in need.
![Education building]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1738794633/cherrycreekschoolsorg/wcrfto7qn3bsgsvpnm0a/DBJ-thumbnail.png","width":200}])
Another example of the power of collaboration is the recent launch of the Aspiring Educator Pathway, developed by the Cherry Creek School District (CCSD) in partnership with the Community College of Aurora. According to the Colorado Department of Education’s most recently published workforce survey results, for the 2023-2024 school year, over 8,000 teaching and support staff positions needed to be filled. This represents approximately 12% of all teaching positions and 15% of all support staff positions in Colorado.
![Eaglecrest and Smoky Hill High School men's basketball players competing against each other]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1738796492/cherrycreekschoolsorg/fauopu4yfao0ja3rwurf/aththumbnail.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1738796492/cherrycreekschoolsorg/fauopu4yfao0ja3rwurf/aththumbnail.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1738796492/cherrycreekschoolsorg/fauopu4yfao0ja3rwurf/aththumbnail.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1738796492/cherrycreekschoolsorg/fauopu4yfao0ja3rwurf/aththumbnail.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1738796492/cherrycreekschoolsorg/fauopu4yfao0ja3rwurf/aththumbnail.jpg","width":1500}])
Traditional rivalries and exciting action in league play in boys and girls basketball; GHS boys and EHS girls get big team wins in wrestling; and the results are mixed for district ice hockey teams.
![students working at a table]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1738796036/cherrycreekschoolsorg/humjv9ggdhwdjujfo7g7/Generic.png","width":200}])
Governor Jared Polis is proposing changes to how students in Colorado are counted, in an effort to slash the education budget by $147 million for the next fiscal year. On Thursday, several district leaders and others testified at a legislative hearing hoping to convince leaders not to cut funding.
![the gold dome of the Capitol building in Denver]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1738796037/cherrycreekschoolsorg/x6bids5sxa4hy9c4v0wg/capitol-thumbnail.png","width":200}])
Colorado funds its school districts per student, and Gov. Jared Polis has proposed using a single-year student count rather than a multi-year average to help balance a $1 billion shortfall. Because Colorado’s enrollment is declining, using a single-year count would cost less. But school district officials pushed back during a legislative hearing Thursday, saying the maneuver would amount to Colorado once again balancing its budget on the backs of students.