2024 Best Charter High Schools in Colorado

• Adams 12 Five Star Schools, CO•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 4.33 out of 5  54 reviews

Sophomore: I have gone to the school since kindergarden and there are many good things about the school in its many clubs and programs such as our fairly decent sports program, wood shop, design lab, robotics lab and more! However the school does have many shortcomings as there are some teachers who are not too great to say the least, the school scheduled changes literally every single year as it hasn't stayed consistent for more than 2 years since 2016, and there is alot of homework, like alot of homework. The average day in the school can consist of around 3-4 homework assignments from my experience so if you do go here be prepared to loose sleep trying to finish assignments and projects. Overall if you are considering trying to get into this school it is a charter school that only accepts gifted kids so you need to reach that benchmark on an IQ test so overall I would recommend trying to go somewhere else just purely because of the workload this school has.... Read 54 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,551

• Student-teacher ratio 19:1

• Boulder Valley School District, CO•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 3.86 out of 5  472 reviews

Sophomore: Small school, with great college prep. As a student I've been told 100% of graduates have gone to college, which I think is nice. I'd say the teachers are better than average. Some classes, such as Intro to Innovation feel like a waste of time, if I'm completely honest. However, most classes provide you with very useful information, and there's lots of room for expansion by your Senior year, such as math going all the way up to Calc 3 Differential Equations. Overall a great school!... Read 472 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,450

• Student-teacher ratio 17:1

• Harrison School District No. 2, CO•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.72 out of 5  127 reviews

Alum: Most of the teachers are absolutely fantastic; pay isn’t phenomenal so you can tell that they truly care about the students. There is almost always a mass exodus between middle and high school due to a change in politics and student life. The curriculum is expanding along with the population of the school, which is great for high schoolers who may consider leaving due to the limited experiences. New classes include AP Psychology and A Capella Choir, among others. Students do tend to be very prone towards cliques, but most groups get along relatively well.There is very heavy support for the basketball and soccer teams specifically, but very little recognition for liberal arts such as knowledge bowl and theater, although they are well populated programs.... Read 127 reviews

• grade A

• Students 321

• Student-teacher ratio 10:1

• Denver Public Schools, CO•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.83 out of 5  253 reviews

Sophomore: Honestly i really like my high school experience here at DSST Mont view, they offer so many college opportunities, there's so many clubs for so many interests, sports , diversity & inclusivity, advanced classes and prepare you overall for college. I'm black and Muslim growing up I've been to 8 different schools but I've never been as accepted by my community and have as many friends as i did in this school. The only 2 things I would say is the the school and system is very controlling considering we are going into college independent, and the school doesnt have many school lunch options that are vegetarian or halal. but overall i love it here if I had to switch i wouldn't!... Read 253 reviews

• grade A

• Students 570

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• Douglas County School District No. RE-1, CO•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 3.81 out of 5  81 reviews

Parent: Our son is a graduating senior (2023) and we can't be happier at STEM. He was part of the first elementary class (grade 5) and has been at STEM ever since. This has allowed him to develop close friendships with peers, great relationships with teachers and staff, and a solid career path at age 17. He will actually graduate from college with an Associate's degree in Cybersecurity before he graduates from high school! This was made possible with participation in P-Tech and the Concurrent Enrollment programs. He is now well-prepared for college and for life. If your child shows propensity for engineering or technology, math or science, STEM will nurture those gifts and provide many opportunities to shine, not only through advanced classes, but also enrichment including Tech Student's Association, Computer Science Honor Society, BEST Robotics,Cyberpariot, paid internships, and more. Our son is applying to many of the country's top universities to continue his education.... Read 81 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,455

• Student-teacher ratio 19:1

• Denver Public Schools, CO•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.81 out of 5  31 reviews

Alum: DSST: Cedar is a perplexing case. Its academics are by far amazing! While, no, a student enrolled here will not have the same amount classes to choose from when compared to a student at a flagship DPS High School, the classes offered are still interesting and especially useful for acquiring college credit. Cedar should be especially proud of its college preparedness program, students are given time by the school to submit applications and work on everything regarding the college admissions process. They meet with advisors that actually know them, well. All, in, all DSST Cedar should be proud of itself, its academics are phenomenal, its classes interesting, and will prepare students for college. Yet, in every other possible aspect, DSST Cedar fails. It should not be proud of its extracurricular selection, with the school barely able to support its clubs, the school tends to aire on the cluiqe-er side, and with poor facilities outside classrooms. Cedar is a fun but desolate place to be.... Read 31 reviews

• grade A

• Students 557

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

• Poudre School District, CO•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 3.9 out of 5  109 reviews

Alum: My siblings and I went here. The education is fantastic and there are lots of great opportunities for clubs and extracurriculars. Sometimes the school is too intense with coursework which isn't great for stress, but college for my siblings and I was super easy by comparison. I'd say the teachers are mostly fantastic and super memorable, and the bad ones never last long. My main complaint is the administration. They have their heads up their butts and never seem to understand the needs of the students and teachers.... Read 109 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,150

• Student-teacher ratio 19:1

• Academy School District No. 20, CO•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.67 out of 5  236 reviews

Alum: It was academically challenging but the teachers are very good at helping! This school got me college ready, and provided me with a tight nit community of people who I can still contact for aid today. However, due to it's location, size, and other factors, the school is less than diverse. They value a classical education, which while is great for preparing one for the rigor of college, it neglects practical skills for life.... Read 236 reviews

• grade A

• Students 552

• Student-teacher ratio 12:1

• Online School•

• Academy School District No. 20, CO•

• 7-12

• •
  Rating 4.1 out of 5  173 reviews

Senior: I loved my time at CP. From the professors to the student body, to the courses and environment, it's all very positive and enriching. The flexibility for scheduling suited me far better than that of regular high schools. Furthermore, the free college courses benefited me in many ways; they taught me how to navigate college classes, manage my workload, and interact with peers in a more mature environment, not to mention the free college credits that can help jumpstart your education when you transfer to a four-year institution! That's not to say the school didn't have downsides however. The main ones I experienced were that the academic rigor can be a bit intense at times, and it can be difficult to get plugged into the community, because everyone has different schedules and backgrounds. That being said, I managed to plug myself in by joining clubs, attending lots of events, and trying to schedule classes with friends. Overall, I loved CP, and would highly recommend it as a school!... Read 173 reviews

• grade A

• Students 461

• Student-teacher ratio 21:1

• Denver Public Schools, CO•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.3 out of 5  30 reviews

Senior: School can be hard for many children, and it gets worse in high school. Growing up is never easy, but there is a place for everyone at DSST CGHS. It's easy to make connections with students and staff, and it's especially easy to create a better future for yourself. CGHS provides many resources that ensure a bright future after high school for any student. I believe that I would have struggled much more to figure out what I needed to be successful in the future, and my school has done much more than that. Not only do they ensure each student with a hard-working college counselor, but the community itself thrives each day on it's own. The students make this possible. CGHS has done more than enough to give every student a home away from home at school.... Read 30 reviews

• grade A

• Students 576

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• Colorado Charter School Institute, CO•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.13 out of 5  62 reviews

Parent: Animas teachers are amazing! They care deeply about students and create innovative projects that help connect learning to real world questions, problems and solutions. The new building, on the Fort Lewis College campus, is beautiful and inspiring.... Read 62 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 193

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• Poudre School District, CO•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 3.84 out of 5  77 reviews

Sophomore: Ridgeview is a wonderful school that allows a student to be challenged. Although homework and stress levels were originally a major problem, Ridgeview's faculty has become much more reasonable in assigning homework and moderating students' workloads. Communication around the school has also improved drastically and students have learned to become comfortable talking to teachers about stress levels and whether they are assigning immense amounts of homework. The faculty overall is amazing...they are caring and extremely understanding. The school however still challenges you and pushes you past your comfort zone. Previously, complaints were often ignored and students' opinions were neglected, however this has become a much less severe problem. Ridgeview Classical Schools overall is a great school.... Read 77 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 737

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• Colorado Charter School Institute, CO•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.26 out of 5  69 reviews

Sophomore: I actually went to Colorado Early Colleges Inverness but they had no option for that campus. I really enjoyed going to high school there. The student body is tiny but I like that it gives you an opportunity to know all of the students a little bit. The faculty is fantastic! Best of all, the whole purpose of the school is to graduate all of their students with Associates degrees. We can take college classes on campus or we can take them directly from Arapahoe Community College. This is an amazing opportunity for students who will pursue a degree after high school.... Read 69 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 896

• Student-teacher ratio 18:1

• Colorado Charter School Institute, CO•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 3.9 out of 5  61 reviews

Parent: One of the best decisions we have made for our children's education is sending them to Thomas MacLaren Charter School. The curriculum, though rigorous, is preparing my children, not only for college, but a lifetime of knowledge and character. This school offers every student a well-rounded liberal arts ecucation challenging each student to do their best and be their best. Thank you Thomas MacLaren!... Read 61 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 919

• Student-teacher ratio 13:1

• Adams 12 Five Star Schools, CO•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 3.77 out of 5  70 reviews

Junior: Very academically oriented with less emphasis on sports and other extracurricular activities. They do an excellent job of preparing kids for college, with constant communication with counselors and frequent college recruiting visits to the school. There are a lot of AP classes as well to earn college credit before graduation. I wish that sports were stronger at PRA.... Read 70 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 1,488

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

• Douglas County School District No. RE-1, CO•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.02 out of 5  107 reviews

Sophomore: I've been at SkyView Academy since kindergarten and have seen it's ups and downs as a school all in all. The bad outweighed the good some years- mainly struggling during 2020 and the COVID pandemic. It struggles to keep teachers leaving it with a lot of classes having to be taught with long term substitutes making it difficult to learn when the class changes every semester or so. Since SkyView has a "tight-knit" "family-like" structure it makes it easy to connect with friends and get close relationships with teachers and peers. It may not be the most accepting to progressive ideas at points but if there is a problem at SkyView-it will be fixed, which is nice when looking at scenarios in other schools.... Read 107 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 1,355

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• Colorado Charter School Institute, CO•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 3.98 out of 5  88 reviews

Parent: Caprock is an amazing school! The teachers are very attentive to the needs of my daughters, and I feel they continue to push them beyond my expectations. Two of my daughters have graduated from Caprock with academic honors and have gone on to do amazing things. I love that students are taught responsibility and accountability from a very young age, and that the values we teach at home are the same values that are taught at school. I take great comfort in knowing that my kids are at the best school and they they are receiving the highest quality education possible.... Read 88 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 893

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• St Vrain Valley School District, CO•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 3.53 out of 5  32 reviews

Junior: I love the challenging curriculum; though it can be very difficult at times, it results in people who are able to think critically, discuss difficult topics, and think for themselves. The curriculum itself is based in a classical mindset, which means we read fantastic, time-enduring books such as the Iliad, the Aeneid, the Odyssey, Dante's Inferno, Hamlet, Oedipus, and many more, which all challenge view-points, discuss enduring and important questions, and lead to powerful insights about human nature. The small school environment means I know all of the students, a lot of which I have developed great friendships with. The teachers are able to focus on the individual as well as the entire classes' success, and care about me and my classmates genuinely as humans, not just students. There are many clubs and opportunities despite our small size, but also a great chance to be recognized in all of them because of that. I am able to be an important of many different parts of the school.... Read 32 reviews

• grade B+

• Students 828

• Student-teacher ratio 17:1

• Denver Public Schools, CO•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.02 out of 5  89 reviews

Junior: DSST: GVR high school is a good school in which educators do their best to ensure that students are well supported academically, and College readiness. The school has a very strong College team to assist students in their college searches and help students to weigh their options for colleges (getting into a good and affordable college). As good as it sounds the schools as a lot of areas in which they need to grow, For examples: There is not much variety in Clubs and after school activities, not taking accusations against certain people seriously and not properly listening to students voices regarding workload and mental state. Lots of educators are insensitive and say ignorant things which is off putting for many people. Despite this things, it is a diverse, good enough school that put students academically success above everything else.... Read 89 reviews

• grade B+

• Students 565

• Student-teacher ratio 13:1

• School District 27J, CO•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.97 out of 5  164 reviews

Senior: Hello, My name is Angelea Gast. I’m a 2023 graduate at Eagle Ridge Academy and I will be graduation this year! I’ve gone to ERA since I was a freshman and it has changed a lot. They handled Covid to the best of their ability and they have always been able to help whenever I needed it. It really is a good school as long as you keep up with your homework and have a good group of friends. There are no clicks but people normally hang out with their friends. The sports are amazing and it truly is a good school.... Read 164 reviews

• grade B+

• Students 526

• Student-teacher ratio 25:1

• Weld County Reorganized School District No. RE-4, CO•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.75 out of 5  24 reviews

Parent: We truly love this school! Academics, sports, extracurricular activities, teachers, and staff ... our experience has been amazing! We are excited that our daughters will have the opportunity to receive their associate degree from Aims Community College while still in high school. Students take college courses on Windsor Charter Academy's campus; they don't have to travel to a college campus to attend any courses. As a parent, I'm grateful that they can fully live their high school experience while also earning their degree - free of charge. Honestly, my husband and I will save four years of college costs (2 years for each child). That is a huge deal! Love this school!... Read 24 reviews

• grade B+

• Students 359

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• Harrison School District No. 2, CO•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.69 out of 5  227 reviews

Parent: James Irwin is a school that offers quality education with a character program in a positive learning environment. Both my son and daughter graduated from the high school. My daughter began in 3rd grade and my son began in 6th grade at JI schools. The only regret I have is not enrolling them earlier. James Irwin Schools set up my children for success. They're amazing human beings with a strong work ethic and noble character. My son is currently serving in the AirForce, attending college, and is a military sports representative for his base. My daughter is in college and returned to serve the JI Community as a sub for the high school. She also cares for the staff kids at the elementary level. Both of them made life-long friends. They found opportunities to develop leadership skills through extra-curricular activities. Safety was a plus! Our oldest granddaughter is now attending Kindergarten and excelling! I feel James Irwin is one of Colorado Springs' great golden nuggets!... Read 227 reviews

• grade B+

• Students 416

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• Colorado Charter School Institute, CO•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 3.71 out of 5  190 reviews

Other: All Professors, teachers, and staff that I interacted with while going to Colorado Early Colleges Colorado Springs (CECCS) were respectful and helpful, if the person who you were speaking with they would get you in contact with someone who did right away and make sure that you got the help you needed. The best part about CECCS is that they want to see every student succeed so they have recourses in order to help you incase you are struggling. The best of which in my opinion was a tutoring center with both in person and online sessions. They also have a mandatory class that every student takes that teaches you about scholarships, taxes, budgeting, career outlook etc.. The building also has an easy to understand layout which makes it easy to find where you are going which is very helpful for students coming from homeschooling.... Read 190 reviews

• grade B+

• Students 641

• Student-teacher ratio 22:1

• Pueblo County School District, CO•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.5 out of 5  98 reviews

Senior: I first came back to Swallows after leaving in first grade my ninth grade year. That was the year where schools were recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic. That year in itself was a good year where I made good friends with the other students in my classes. Starting the next year, I started taking Concurrent Enrollment classes at CSU-P, so I wasn't at the high school very much. However, I am still involved and help at different school events. Everytime I return to the school, I always feel welcomed. They also help keep you on track and motivated during the rest of the year when you are at the university. I would like to see Swallows become a better school because it provides students with amazing opportunities to start their college careers in a not so scary way.... Read 98 reviews

• grade B+

• Students 152

• Student-teacher ratio 25:1

• Colorado Charter School Institute, CO•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 3.61 out of 5  137 reviews

Senior: The Academy of Charter Schools is an excellent school. One of its strengths is its sense of community among both students and staff. Everybody is extremely close-knit with each other since everyone has known everyone for years. At the Academy, the staff care for you and try their best to help you succeed. If you offer kindness and respect to staff, you will likely be met with leniency from them. Another strength of the Academy is its CE (Concurrent Enrollment) program. Essentially, you can take college classes at Front Range Community College and have those classes count towards both high school and college credits. This is paid for by the school and lets students save thousands in tuition if they choose to go to college (personally, I will be graduating will an associates at the same time as when I graduate high school). Overall, the Academy is a very solid choice if you are looking at schools in the Westminster area.... Read 137 reviews

• grade B+

• Students 1,910

• Student-teacher ratio 19:1