Colorado Rocky Mountain School
Colorado Rocky Mountain School is an independent boarding and day school that challenges students to excel in an academic curriculum balanced within a program of the arts, athletics, physical work, service to the community, and enriching wilderness experience.
A college-preparatory curriculum taught by a committed residential faculty prepares students to enter the wide range of selective colleges and universities.
The 320-acre campus, located on a historic ranch outside of Carbondale, Colorado, makes this the ideal place for wilderness and experiential learning opportunities as well as a variety of mountain and river sports.
Quick Stats (2022)
- Grades: (Boarding) 9-12
- Students: 180 students
- Yearly Tuition (Boarding Students): $67,500
- Yearly Tuition (Day Students): $42,250
- Acceptance rate: 55%
- Average class size: 12 students
- Application Deadline: Feb. 1 / rolling
Upcoming Events and News
- Tashi Jackson ’22 Awarded Claudette Carter ArtMentorship - 07/07/2021Junior Tashi Jackson `22 was recently chosen as one of The Art Base`s 2021 Claudette Carter ARTMentors participants. She is one of four high school students from the Roaring Fork ...moreValley chosen from a rigorous application process to work with practicing artists and creative professionals-in their respective artistic practices- to learn process and go from concept to creation to promotion of their artwork. hide
- 2021 DREAM PROJECT AWARD RECIPIENTS - 06/01/2021Every year, students from the Roaring Fork Valley who exemplify 5Point`s guiding principles are awarded scholarships and a chance to explore their personal boundaries while living their own best adventure. ...moreAll that is required is that they are prepared to learn, are striving to have a positive impact on a community, and are ready to have an incredible adventure. This year, Dream Project Scholarships were awarded to the following CRMS students. hide
- CRMS partners with Aspen Valley Land Trust - 01/24/2020CRMS partnered with Aspen Valley Land Trust to work on a Riparian Restoration Project on the north end of campus.
- An Individualized Approach to Mathematics - 01/24/2020Most high schools in the United States require all students to take algebra, resulting in a daunting spectrum of skill levels in the classroom. For math teacher Peter Benedict, that ...morechallenge came to a head several years ago with then-freshman Toby Meyer. hide
Alumni Reviews Review School
Review
Description
One aspect that CRMS has is that we are a very outdoors school. This means that twice a year we have trips into the wilderness based on the type of sport your interested in. This. . .
One especially unique part of CRMS are our mandatory after-school activities-- twice a week, you have a Work Crew (internal community service), and twice a week you have an Active (intramural or team sports). Students. . .
The atmosphere that CRMS has is one that values outdoor education as much as indoor education. We get outside in the wilderness more than any other school that I know of. . .
Show more reviews (5 reviews)
Top Rankings
Colorado Rocky Mountain School ranks among the top 10 schools with < 200 students (out of 95 schools) for:
Category
Attribute
School Resources
School Resources
Student Test Scores
School Overview
School Focus
College Preparatory
College Preparatory
Grades Offered (Boarding)
9-12
9-12
School Type
Co-ed
Co-ed
Year Founded
1953
1907
Campus Size
320 acres
125 acres
Student Body
Enrollment
180 students
300 students
% Students of Color
17%
25%
% International Students
12%
20%
% Students Boarding
60%
70%
SAT range (25th-75th percentile)
1170 - 1285
-
Offers Post-Grad Year
No
No
Academics and Faculty
Saturday Classes
No
No
Student : Teacher Ratio
5:1
7:1
# of AP / Advanced Courses Offered
5
17
% Faculty with Advanced Degree
58%
70%
Summer Program Offered
No
Yes
Tuition Cost
Endowment Size
$38 million
$25 million
Yearly Tuition
(Boarding Students)
(Boarding Students)
$67,500
(Financial aid is available on the basis of need.)
(Financial aid is available on the basis of need.)
$59,900
Yearly Tuition
(Day Students)
(Day Students)
$42,250
(Financial aid is available on the basis of need. )
(Financial aid is available on the basis of need. )
$32,995
% Students on Financial Aid
44%
40%
Avg. Financial Aid Grant
$30,200
(Financial aid is awarded on the basis of need. )
(Financial aid is awarded on the basis of need. )
$25,000
Merit Scholarships Offered
No
No
Acceptance Rate
Application Deadline
Feb. 1 / rolling
Jan. 15
SSAT Required
Yes
Yes
Average Percentile SSAT
70%
-
Acceptance Rate
55%
58%
Director of Admissions
Molly Dorais
Associate Director of Admissions
Julie Wiley
AP / Advanced Courses
# of AP / Advanced Courses Offered
5
17
Courses
AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC, AP Environmental Science, AP Language and Composition, AP US History
Sports
# Interscholastic Sports Offered
17
16
Extracurriculars
Total Extracurricular Organizations
13
23
Extracurriculars
Club or Organization:
Community Service Club, Diversity Club, Peer Tutoring, Recycling, River Watch, Student Government
Arts and Music Programs:
Blacksmithing, Ceramics, Drama Production, Glassblowing
Recreational Athletic Programs:
Frisbee Golf, Snowboarding, Winter Travel
Community Service Club, Diversity Club, Peer Tutoring, Recycling, River Watch, Student Government
Arts and Music Programs:
Blacksmithing, Ceramics, Drama Production, Glassblowing
Recreational Athletic Programs:
Frisbee Golf, Snowboarding, Winter Travel
College Matriculation
Year: 2014 - 2020
10 Most Popular College Choices (# Enrolled)
Univerity of Colorado at Boulder
28
Montana State University
12
Colorado College
9
University of Denver
9
Lewis and Clark College
8
University of Puget Sound
7
University of Vermont
7
Colorado School of Mines
5
New York University
5
Middlebury College
4
School Notes
- Our Mission: Colorado Rocky Mountain School cultivates a learning environment in which students discover their potential to excel as individuals, contribute to their communities, and thoughtfully participate in the world we share.
- Academic Curriculum: Our academic curriculum features rigorous college-prep academic and visual and performing arts classes, with an emphasis on classroom discussions, hands-on work, and research and study. Our unique active curriculum embraces our afternoon work crews and sports, as well as backcountry trips.
- Arts Curriculum: Visual and performing arts are an integral part of life at Colorado Rocky Mountain School. Together classes and experience in the arts enhance our students' abilities to enjoy and excel in all parts of our program. Students can try their hands at hand at blacksmithing, silversmithing, painting, drawing, photography, ceramics, music, drama, and much more.
- Residential Curriculum: Boarding students live in age-specific, single-sex residences where they are cared for by dedicated residential faculty. Our six dorms are small for an independent school, with some housing as few as 11 students. Students here quickly feel part of a caring and supportive environment. We encourage our students to develop lasting friendships with each other and to get to know their teachers as mentors and role models.
- Outdoor Program: We believe that the classroom must open out onto the world, that a scholar's life should encompass action as well as quiet study. In a tradition as old as the school, our students and faculty spend 21 days in the backcountry each year.
- College Counseling: We offer a comprehensive college counseling program to guide you and your parents through the complex process of applying for college. Through our college planning handbook and regular meetings with our college counseling staff, we'll work with you on a year-by-year plan. Some of our recent graduates have been accepted to Dartmouth, Pamona College, Smith, Swarthmore, Middlebury, Wellesley, New York University, Yale, the University of Chicago, and Colorado College.
- Colorado Rocky Mountain School accreditations: ACIS, AEE, TABS, NAIS, WBSA, SBSA
- Sample of notable school alumni/alumnae:
- Oliver Platt '78 - attended CRMS for three years. After graduating, he majored in drama at Tufts University where he made his professional debut on stage. His credits include: “Flatliners” (1990) as Randal Steckle; “Indecent Proposal” (1993) with Robert Redford/
- Conrad Anker ’82 - is a leading figure in climbing. He is a professional mountaineer who has made breakthrough first ascents throughout the world, from the Himalayans to Antarctica, and Patagonia. He co-authored the book “Lost Explorer.”
- Susan Meiselas ’66 - is an internationally acclaimed photojournalist. She has been published in Time, the New York Times, Life, and Paris Match. She earned a B.A. from Sarah Lawrence College and an M.A. in visual education from Harvard University.
Profile last updated: 01/28/2022
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The nearest boarding school to Colorado Rocky Mountain School is Steamboat Mountain School (81.3 miles away)
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