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.
School News
- Tashi Jackson ’22 Awarded Claudette Carter ArtMentorship - 07/07/2021 - Junior 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 - 06/01/2021 - Every 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
- Connected to the Community - 02/05/2020 - Colorado Rocky Mountain School fosters long-standing relationships with the Aspen Valley`s most impactful organizations
It`s no secret that Aspen is home to some of the best outdoor opportunities in ...morethe world, but the valley that connects Aspen to Glenwood Springs - and Colorado Rocky Mountain School - is also home to world-class organizations that focus on the arts, environment, social justice and everything in between. Here are just a few of the ways students at CRMS benefit from these communities, both in and out of the classroom: hide - CRMS partners with Aspen Valley Land Trust - 01/24/2020 - CRMS partnered with Aspen Valley Land Trust to work on a Riparian Restoration Project on the north end of campus.
- An Individualized Approach to Mathematics - 01/24/2020 - Most 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
- Tick Ridge Gets a Facelift - 11/21/2019 - Tick Ridge is a private parcel of CRMS land paralleling the school on the other side of the Crystal River. The property includes a new CRMS garden plot as well ...moreas over 3.5 miles of stacked loop trails. The trails start on the valley floor along the Crystal River and traverse meadows and pinyon-juniper woodland up 300 feet in elevation to the ridgeline and mesa above, which offer spectacular views of Mount Sopris and the Crystal Valley Ranch. The trails are used formally for the Oystermeister running race and informally by CRMS runners, winter athletes in dryland training, faculty looking for a quick workout, and an occasional mountain biker willing to navigate sketchy sections and tight switchbacks up to the top. hide
- Student Spotlight on KDNK - 11/14/2019 - Student journalist Sarah Teague '20 joined KDNK station manager Gavin Dahl on Booked to talk about student publication The Olive Branch, her summer academy at The New York Times, and ...moreher column in The Sopris Sun entitled "To Trust the Media, Youth Must Help Shape It."Listen here to the entire interview. hide
- Music and the Art of Its Education - 11/06/2018 - According to the National Association of Music Merchants, (The Namm Foundation), music has a biological effect on the developing nervous systems in children. The more one practices and plays, the ...moremore the neurons in the brain fire away paving new neural pathways. The brain grows, creating the strengthened circuitry that can end up benefitting one`s speech, language, reading skills, and overall learning. hide
- Native Culture and CRMS - 03/29/2018 - The history of Native American culture of the Southwest has been incorporated into the CRMS learning experience since its founding days. These experiences were so powerful for alumni that ...morein the 1990s they stepped forward to support the creation of two scholarships for Native American students. The school continues to cultivate this connection today and has a special decades-old relationship with one family in particular. hide
- The Teenage Brain - 03/01/2018 - The adolescent years are one of the most dynamic and often messy times in our lives as it is during these years the adolescent brain and body are reorganizing. During ...morethis time, the brain is going through a process in which it strengthens its connections from back to front, leaving the prefrontal cortex (the area where reason is located and often known as the "CEO of the brain") for last. The sequence makes evolutionary sense as it allows the prefrontal cortex to remain adaptable to its environment and allows for new ideas and learning that potentially will ensure that person's survival out in the world. hide
- ...read more
Alumni Reviews Review School
- Review Description
- Currently finishing High School 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. . .
- n/a 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. . .
- N/A 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
Similar Size Schools
Colorado Rocky Mountain School ranks among the top 10 schools with < 200 students (out of 95 schools) for:
- Category Attribute
- School Resources Large financial endowment
- School Resources Highest endowment/student
- Student Test Scores High SSAT scores
| Definition of Terms | 2020 School Data | Colorado Rocky | Boarding School Avg. |
| School Focus | College Prep | College Preparatory |
| Grades Offered | 9-12 | 5-12 |
| School Type | Co-ed | Co-ed |
| Religious Affiliation | Non-denominational | Non-denominational |
| Year Founded | 1953 | 1907 |
| Campus Size | 320 acres | 125 acres |
Student Body
| Enrollment | 180 students | 302 students |
| % Students of Color | 17% | 25% |
| % International Students | 12% | 20% |
| % Students Boarding | 60% | 70% |
| Average SAT Score | 1221 | * National Avg. »View |
| SAT range (25th-75th percentile) | 1170 - 1285 | - |
| Average ACT score | 26 | *National Avg. » View |
| Offers Post-Grad Year | No | No |
Academics and Faculty
| Saturday Classes | No | No |
| Classroom Dress Code | Casual | Casual |
| Average Class Size | 12 students | 12 *National School Avg. » 20 |
| Student : Teacher Ratio | 5:1 | 7:1 |
| # of AP / Advanced Courses Offered | 5 | 18 |
| ESL Courses Offered | Yes | Yes |
| % Faculty with Advanced Degree | 58% | 70% |
| Summer Program Offered | No | Yes |
Tuition Cost
| Endowment Size | $38 million | $24 million |
| Yearly Tuition (Boarding Students) | $65,500 (Financial aid is available on the basis of need.) | $58,935 |
| Yearly Tuition (Day Students) | $41,000 (Financial aid is available on the basis of need. ) | $33,082 |
| % Students on Financial Aid | 37% | 40% |
| Avg. Financial Aid Grant | $30,200 (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 |
| Accepts Standardized Application | Yes | No |
| SSAT Required | Yes | Yes |
| Average Percentile SSAT | 70% | - |
| Acceptance Rate | 55% | 57% |
| Director of Admissions | Molly Dorais | |
| Associate Director of Admissions | Julie Wiley | |
Course Listings
| List of Courses Offered | Link to List of Courses |
AP / Advanced Courses
| # of AP / Advanced Courses Offered | 5 | 18 |
| Courses | AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC, AP Environmental Science, AP Language and Composition, AP US History | |
Sports
| # Interscholastic Sports Offered | 17 | 16 |
| Sports | Alpine Skiing, Climbing, Cross Country, Cross Country Running, Cycling, Equestrian, Freestyle Skiing, Kayaking, Mountain Biking, Mountaineering, Nordic Skiing, Riding, Rock Climbing, Snowboarding, Soccer, Swimming, Tennis | |
Extracurriculars
| Total Extracurricular Organizations | 12 | 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, 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 | |
| Link to Matriculation Data | ||
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.
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