The original Mrachek Middle School was constructed in 1975 as an open classroom concept design without windows and interior walls to separate rooms. The design created a noisy classroom environment and didn’t provide students with an optimal learning experience. In November 2016, Aurora voters approved a $300 million bond program that included replacing the school. In addition to the bond funds, APS received a $16 million grant from the Colorado Department of Education’s Building Excellent Schools Today (BEST) Program. The new school is a two-story 130,000 square foot building with separate learning communities for each grade level. The plans were developed in consultation with a design advisory group that included parents, community members, and school staff. The new building serves 1,000 students and opened Fall 2018.