Thunder Ridge Middle School

Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah

5250 SOUTH PICADILLY STREET
AURORA, CO 80015

1,152 Students

Middle School 6th - 8th

School Overview

Thunder Ridge Middle School, located in the Saddle Rock area of Aurora, Colorado, serves students in grades 6–8 as part of the Cherry Creek School District. The school is known for its commitment to academic excellence and fostering a supportive, inclusive environment. It offers a comprehensive curriculum that emphasizes core subjects while providing a variety of elective opportunities, such as performing arts, technology, and world languages, designed to engage students in diverse areas of interest.

Beyond the classroom, Thunder Ridge encourages student development through a robust extracurricular program, including competitive athletics, various clubs, and student leadership opportunities. The school places a high priority on building community and character, utilizing a structured approach to student well-being and social-emotional growth. With its focus on preparing students for the transition to high school, Thunder Ridge aims to provide a well-rounded educational experience that balances rigorous learning with personal development.

1,152

Total Students

68.1

Full-Time Teachers

16.9

Student/Teacher Ratio

35.5%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Thunder Ridge Middle School
Demographic	Student Count
White	586
Hispanic	263
Black	124
Asian	77
Two or More	89
American Indian	7
Pacific Islander	6

White
586 (50.9 %)
Hispanic
263 (22.8 %)
Black
124 (10.8 %)
Two or More
89 (7.7 %)
Asian
77 (6.7 %)
American Indian
7 (0.6 %)
Pacific Islander
6 (0.5 %)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	Middle School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction:	No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status:	No
District:	Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah
Phone:	(720)886-1500
Grade Range:	6th - 8th
Total Students:	1,152
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	68.1
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	16.9
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Qualified Free Lunch:	355
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	54

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Grade 6 379

Grade 7 385

Grade 8 388