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.
Upcoming Events and News
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 10 Placements
Similar Size Schools
Colorado Rocky Mountain School is listed among the top 10 schools with < 200 students (out of 99 schools) for:
- Category Attribute
- School Resources Large financial endowment
- School Resources Highest endowment/student
- Student Test Scores High average SAT scores
- Student Test Scores High SSAT scores
| Definition of Terms | 2019 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 | 1910 |
| Campus Size | 320 acres | 105 acres |
Student Body
| Enrollment | 162 students | 313 students |
| % Students of Color | 9% | 23% |
| % International Students | 12% | 20% |
| % Students Boarding | 60% | 67% |
| Average SAT Score | 1250 | * National Avg. »View |
| Average ACT score | 25 | *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 |
| Teacher : Student Ratio | 1:5 | 1:7 |
| # of AP / Advanced Courses Offered | 5 | 18 |
| ESL Courses Offered | Yes | Yes |
| % Faculty with Advanced Degree | 64% | 69% |
| Summer Program Offered | No | Yes |
Finances
| Endowment Size | $17 million | $20 million |
| Yearly Tuition (Boarding Students) | $61,000 (Financial aid is available on the basis of need.) | $56,875 |
| Yearly Tuition (Day Students) | $38,300 (Financial aid is available on the basis of need. ) | $30,000 |
| Yearly Tuition (5 Day Boarding) | $61,000 | $41,300 |
| % Students on Financial Aid | 41% | 37% |
| Avg. Financial Aid Grant | $29,600 (Financial aid is awarded on the basis of need. ) | $25,000 |
| Merit Scholarships Offered | No | No |
Admission
| Application Deadline | Feb. 1 / Mar. 21 / rolling | Jan. 15 |
| Accepts Standardized Application | Yes | No |
| SSAT Required | Yes | Yes |
| Average Percentile SSAT | 63% | - |
| Acceptance Rate | 70% | 56% |
| Director of Admissions | Molly Dorais | |
| Associate Director of Admissions | Susan Graves | |
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 English Literature, AP Environmental Science, 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 | 11 | 23 |
| Extracurriculars | Winter Travel Club or Organization: Community Service Club, Diversity Club, International Club, Peer Tutoring, Recycling, Student Government Arts and Music Programs: Blacksmithing, Drama Production, Yearbook Recreational Athletic Programs: Frisbee Golf | |
College Matriculation
| Year: 2009 - 2013 | 10 Most Popular College Choices (# Enrolled) | |
| Univerity of Colorado at Boulder | 23 | |
| Colorado College | 6 | |
| Lewis and Clark College | 6 | |
| University of Puget Sound | 6 | |
| Whitman College | 5 | |
| Bowdoin College | 3 | |
| Santa Clara University | 3 | |
| University of Denver | 3 | |
| University of Oregon | 3 | |
| University of Vermont | 3 | |
| 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 participate thoughtfully 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 Amherst, Dartmouth, Smith, Bates, Bowdoin, Swarthmore, Middlebury, Wellesley, Reed, Rhode Island School of Design, NYU Tisch School of Film, Notre Dame, 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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