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 (2025)
- Grades: 9-12
- Enrollment: 174 students
- Yearly Tuition (Boarding Students): $71,000
- Yearly Tuition (Day Students): $44,500
- Acceptance rate: 55%
- Average class size: 12 students
- Application Deadline: Jan. 15 / rolling
- Source: Verified school update
School News
- NEW COURSE SPOTLIGHT: SOCIAL JUSTICE STATISTICS - 12/12/2022The conventional trajectory for high school math curricula moves from Algebra and Geometry to Pre-Calculus and then to Calculus. However, some students pursue an alternative to Calculus. As ...moreof this year, CRMS students who have chosen to pursue higher-level math have the option to take a class called Social Justice Statistics, which pairs math skills with contemporary issues of equity and justice. hide
- NEW COURSE SPOTLIGHT: HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE 20TH AND 21ST CENTURIES - 12/05/2022The new history class offered this year, Human Rights in the 20th and 21st Centuries, prompts students to question their values and actions as they consider the development and protection ...moreof human rights over the past century as well as the multifarious and ongoing threats to those rights. hide
- 5POINT FILM 2023 DREAM PROJECT SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS - 11/30/2022In its 13th year, the 5Point Dream Project is a community outreach program that encourages high school students to develop projects that they believe will make a difference in the ...morelives of others as well as their own. The Dream Project continues to support and believe in young people and the diversity of the projects they choose to pursue. This year, six ambitious students from the Roaring Fork Valley (Aspen to Parachute) will receive a $2,000 scholarship to push and explore their personal boundaries while living their own best adventures. Additionally, three students received micro-grants ranging from $500-$1,000. Since its inception, the Dream Project has given over $104,000 to 74 students. hide
- Iceland - land of fire and ice - 09/19/2022A group of CRMS students, alumni, and staff traveled this summer to Iceland to study the geologic formations on a bike-packing trip.
Top Rankings
Colorado Rocky Mountain School ranks among the top 20 boarding schools (out of 280 schools) for:
Category
Attribute
Student Test Scores
School Overview
School Focus
College Preparatory
College Preparatory
Grades Offered
9-12
9-12
School Type
Co-ed
Co-ed
Year Founded
1953
1907
Campus Size
320 acres
125 acres
Colors
White, Green
Student Body
Enrollment
174 students
319 students
% Students of Color
17%
27%
% International Students
12%
21%
% Students Boarding
60%
67%
SAT range (25th-75th percentile)
1170 - 1560
-
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
18
% Faculty with Advanced Degree
58%
72%
Summer Program Offered
No
Yes
Tuition Cost
Endowment Size
$38 million
$30 million
Yearly Tuition
(Boarding Students)
(Boarding Students)
$71,000
(Financial aid is available on the basis of need.)
(Financial aid is available on the basis of need.)
$66,900
Yearly Tuition
(Day Students)
(Day Students)
$44,500
(Financial aid is available on the basis of need. )
(Financial aid is available on the basis of need. )
$35,500
% Students on Financial Aid
40%
40%
Avg. Financial Aid Grant
$32,700
(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
Admissions
Application Deadline
Jan. 15 / rolling
Jan. 15
SSAT Required
Yes
Yes
Average Percentile SSAT
70%
-
Acceptance Rate
55%
64%
Director of Admissions
Molly Dorais
Associate Director of Admissions
Julie Wiley
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
18
16
Extracurriculars
Total Extracurricular Organizations
34
23
Extracurriculars
Club or Organization:
Community Service Club, Diversity Club, Outdoor Adventure, Peer Tutoring, Recycling, River Watch, Student Government
Arts and Music Programs:
Blacksmithing, Ceramics, Drama Production, Glassblowing, Music, Painting & Drawing, Silversmithing
Recreational Athletic Programs:
Alpine Skiing, Big Mountain Skiing, Climbing, Cross Country, Cross Country Running, Equestrian, Freestyle Skiing, Frisbee Golf, Gardening, Horsemanship & Horseback Riding, Kayaking, Mountain Biking, Mountaineering, Nordic Skiing, Rock Climbing, Skiing, Snowboarding, Soccer, Swimming, Winter Travel
Community Service Club, Diversity Club, Outdoor Adventure, Peer Tutoring, Recycling, River Watch, Student Government
Arts and Music Programs:
Blacksmithing, Ceramics, Drama Production, Glassblowing, Music, Painting & Drawing, Silversmithing
Recreational Athletic Programs:
Alpine Skiing, Big Mountain Skiing, Climbing, Cross Country, Cross Country Running, Equestrian, Freestyle Skiing, Frisbee Golf, Gardening, Horsemanship & Horseback Riding, Kayaking, Mountain Biking, Mountaineering, Nordic Skiing, Rock Climbing, Skiing, Snowboarding, Soccer, Swimming, 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
- School Mascot: Rocky Mountain Oysters
- 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.
Source: Verified school update
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Colorado Rocky Mountain School cost?
Colorado Rocky Mountain School's tuition is approximately $71,000 for boarding students and $44,500 for day students.
What is the acceptance rate of Colorado Rocky Mountain School?
The acceptance rate of Colorado Rocky Mountain School is 55%, which is lower than the boarding school average of 64%.
Who are famous alumni from Colorado Rocky Mountain School?
Colorado Rocky Mountain School famous alumni include: Oliver Platt '78, Conrad Anker ’82 and Susan Meiselas ’66.
What sports does Colorado Rocky Mountain School offer?
Colorado Rocky Mountain School offers 18 interscholastic sports: Alpine Skiing, Climbing, Cross Country, Cross Country Running, Cycling, Equestrian, Freestyle Skiing, Kayaking, Mountain Biking, Mountaineering, Nordic Skiing, Riding, Rock Climbing, Skiing, Snowboarding, Soccer, Swimming and Tennis.
What is Colorado Rocky Mountain School's ranking?
Colorado Rocky Mountain School ranks among the top 20 boarding schools for High SSAT scores.
When is the application deadline for Colorado Rocky Mountain School?
The application deadline for Colorado Rocky Mountain School is Jan. 15 / rolling (applications are due on Jan. 15 but additional applications are reviewed year-round as space permits ).
Alumni Reviews Review School
Review
Description
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. . .
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. . .
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)
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People that viewed Colorado Rocky Mountain School also viewed these schools: Fountain Valley School of Colorado, Colorado Timberline Academy, Asheville School, Cate School and Deerfield Academy.
The nearest boarding school to Colorado Rocky Mountain School is Steamboat Mountain School (81.3 miles away)
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