AURORA, Colo -- The Aurora Public School District created its first-ever pilot high school program that will allow teachers and parents to make the decisions instead of the school district.

William Smith High School administrators lobbied for the change, which was approved by a unamous vote Tuesday night.

The pilot school status will allow for a committee to determine the school budget, calendar and curriculum.

It’s based on a successful program in the city of Boston.

The school's principal, Jane Shirley, said one of the chief advantages will be more flexibility and a better student teacher ratio.

Shirley said the students will have a more personalized relationship with their teachers.

"They will feel like they are really well-known by the adults in the building and that their strengths are focused on," she said.

In exchange for the pilot school status, William Smith High School will be regularly monitored to make sure that it outperforms the rest of the district.

Administrators will keep track of test scores as well as attendance and graduation rates.

The pilot school program required the support of the Aurora teachers union to move forward. Eighty percent of the teachers agreed to the test plan.