Best private high schools in Colorado
As filmmaker and writer Nora Ephron said during a ’96 commencement address at Wellesley College, “Your education is a dress rehearsal for a life that is yours to lead.” If that’s the case, high school may be one of the greatest dress rehearsals of all.
It’s a place where students explore their interests, dive into extracurricular activities, finally get the freedom to choose their own classes, and prepare for college or the workplace. For many of these students and their families, education is key: 1.4 million students enrolled in private high schools in fall 2021, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. There were about 3,600 private secondary schools nationwide as of 2020.
For many anxious parents, getting their kids into the best of these private high schools is of the utmost importance. Some families even move homes to send their kids to better schools. However, among all of these thousands of schools, a few stand out for their academic excellence, incredible track records, and the future success of their young students.
Stacker compiled a list of the best private high schools in Colorado using 2027 rankings from Niche. Online schools were not included. Niche uses 10 weighted factors for its rankings, including: college enrollment, culture and diversity, parent/student surveys, top enrolled colleges, and student-teacher ratio. You can read more about Niche’s methodology here.
#25. The Link School
– Location: Buena Vista, CO
– Grades: 9-12
– Enrollment: 14 (4:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: A
#24. St. Mary’s High School
– Location: Colorado Springs, CO
– Grades: 9-12
– Enrollment: 219 (9:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: A
#23. Watershed School
– Location: Boulder, CO
– Grades: 6-12
– Enrollment: 123 (7:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: A
#22. Mile High Academy
– Location: Highlands Ranch, CO
– Grades: PK, K-12
– Enrollment: 256 (13:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: A
#21. Beth Eden Baptist School
– Location: Wheat Ridge, CO
– Grades: PK, K-12
– Enrollment: 111 (7:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: A
#20. Accelerated Schools
– Location: Denver, CO
– Grades: 5-12
– Enrollment: 24 (2:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: A
#19. Denver Jewish Day School
– Location: Denver, CO
– Grades: PK, K-12
– Enrollment: 346 (5:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: A
#18. St. John Paul the Great Catholic High School
– Location: Denver, CO
– Grades: 9-12
– Enrollment: 178 (10:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: A
#17. Denver Academy of Torah
– Location: Denver, CO
– Grades: K-12
– Enrollment: 176 (5:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: A
#16. Steamboat Mountain School
– Location: Steamboat Springs, CO
– Grades: K-12
– Enrollment: 202 (5:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: A
#15. Mullen High School
– Location: Denver, CO
– Grades: 9-12
– Enrollment: 785 (12:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: A
#14. Arma Dei Academy
– Location: Highlands Ranch, CO
– Grades: PK, K-12
– Enrollment: 626 (8:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: A
#13. Valor Christian High School
– Location: Highlands Ranch, CO
– Grades: 9-12
– Enrollment: 1,112 (13:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: A
#12. The Denver Waldorf School
– Location: Denver, CO
– Grades: PK, K-12
– Enrollment: 247 (6:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: A
#11. Vail Christian High School
– Location: Edwards, CO
– Grades: 9-12
– Enrollment: 155 (8:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: A+
#10. Regis Jesuit High School
– Location: Aurora, CO
– Grades: 9-12
– Enrollment: 1,638 (14:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: A+
#9. Vail Mountain School
– Location: Vail, CO
– Grades: K-12
– Enrollment: 376 (7:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: A+
#8. Colorado Rocky Mountain School
– Location: Carbondale, CO
– Grades: 9-12
– Enrollment: 168 (5:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: A+
#7. Crescent View Academy
– Location: Aurora, CO
– Grades: PK, K-12
– Enrollment: 617 (10:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: A+
#6. Shining Mountain Waldorf School
– Location: Boulder, CO
– Grades: PK, K-12
– Enrollment: 197 (4:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: A+
#5. Fountain Valley School
– Location: Colorado Springs, CO
– Grades: 8-12
– Enrollment: 230 (6:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: A+
#4. Dawson School
– Location: Lafayette, CO
– Grades: K-12
– Enrollment: 459 (6:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: A+
#3. St. Mary’s Academy
– Location: Englewood, CO
– Grades: PK, K-12
– Enrollment: 720 (6:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: A+
#2. Colorado Academy
– Location: Denver, CO
– Grades: PK, K-12
– Enrollment: 1,046 (6:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: A+
#1. Kent Denver School
– Location: Englewood, CO
– Grades: 6-12
– Enrollment: 789 (8:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: A+
