2024 Best High Schools in the Colorado Springs Area

• Colorado Springs, CO•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.56 out of 5  63 reviews

Alum: This school provided me with the groundwork to become a successful person outside of school. The relationships I made at Fountain Valley are ones I will maintain for the rest of my life, and I am forever grateful for the network of people that I have had the luxury of acquainting myself with. My connections I made with not only students, but also teachers was a highlight of my experience and I truly believe that this is an institution that focuses on fostering a culture that creates positive, successful, and compassionate students.... Read 63 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 241

• Student-teacher ratio 7:1

• Colorado Springs, CO•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.69 out of 5  54 reviews

Parent: Both of our children are having amazing educational experiences at CSS. In their first year, their teachers worked so hard to know them, support them, and identify their learning needs and talents. It was a transformational year for both of my kids. The teachers are exceptional, and help each student learn and develop across all areas. We have been impressed with the arts and languages, the after school options, and the commitment to learning out of the classroom. We are excited for next year!... Read 54 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 317

• Student-teacher ratio 8:1

• Cheyenne Mountain School District No. 12, CO•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.82 out of 5  190 reviews

Alum: When I attended Freshman orientation at CMHS, I had no idea what they were going to throw at me. But now that I just graduated from CMHS, I can say without a doubt that they prepared me and my peers for college and beyond. I won’t lie, the school is rather difficult in terms of its academic performance. Students have high expectations placed upon them. The staff there is nearly perfect, and the counseling office staff is beyond amazing. The admin team can be hit or miss, especially when it comes to planning events. But COVID-19 definitely didn’t help with that. On that note, my sophomore year was particularly awful due to COVID-19. I’m going to omit the entirety of my sophomore year from this review since that was not indicative of what normal high school life at CMHS was like. The overall atmosphere I would say is pretty good, but the social life of the high school can also be hit or miss. I won’t count that against the high school itself, but it is something to note. Overall, 4 stars... Read 190 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,261

• 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

• 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

• Academy School District No. 20, CO•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.99 out of 5  375 reviews

Junior: Air Academy has been an awesome school for me to attend. My teachers and coaches know me and care about me. Teachers are passionate, and classes are challenging, but not impossible. We have all kinds of great classes and learning opportunities. I have loved my science and engineering classes (and of course PE). The football and track programs are like family. I highly recommend Air Academy to anyone looking for a personal learning experience!... Read 375 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,351

• Student-teacher ratio 17:1

• Lewis-Palmer School District 38, CO•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.08 out of 5  378 reviews

Junior: Palmer Ridge High School has been a good experience for me so far. I love going to sports games and assemblies because of the school spirit that fills the student body. Whenever I may need some extra help with my classes or have a question about anything, it is very easy to either find a teacher or a student mentor. For lunch this year, I am very excited that I will be able to go off campus for lunch since I will be an upper classman. Although I enjoy my experiences at PR, there are some downsides, as with any school. One thing I wish would change would be the monitoring of student behavior. I am well aware that there is only a certain amount of man power that can be put to monitoring student behavior but I often think that it is being used in the wrong capacities. While some students are vaping in the bathrooms, others are being yelled at for running in the hallways or walking somewhere within the school without a hall pass. However, I believe the good surpasses the bad at PRHS.... Read 378 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,206

• Student-teacher ratio 22:1

• Colorado Springs School District No. 11, CO•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.27 out of 5  22 reviews

Senior: As a student of Odyssey Early College and Career Options, I can confidently say that this high school is an excellent choice for students who are looking to challenge themselves academically and prepare for college. One of the best things about Odyssey is its focus on early college coursework. Students have the opportunity to take college-level classes and earn both high school and college credits. This allows students to get a head start on their college education and save money on tuition. The teachers at Odyssey are top-notch. They are knowledgeable, supportive, and always willing to go the extra mile to help students succeed. The small class sizes allow for personalized attention and a more individualized approach to learning. One area where the school could improve is in its extracurricular activities, particularly sports. Odyssey's sports programs are quite limited, and there are not many opportunities for students to participate in team sports or competitive athletics.... Read 22 reviews

• grade A

• Students 304

• Student-teacher ratio 12:1

• Academy School District No. 20, CO•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.91 out of 5  452 reviews

Senior: Pine creek is a great option when it comes to Colorado Springs high schools. All the teachers are amazing and the classes have made me feel prepared for college. There are lots of out of school activity’s you can attend with friends such as sports games and extracurricular activity’s. The best parts of pine creek is the teachers. They are all so amazing. Another amazing part is the sports. It’s fun having a school where our athletic teams win regularly. This makes sports games really fun to attend. The worst parts includes being really crowded, bathrooms are always dirty, and the food in the lunch room isn’t the greatest. Despite these things pine creek is still an amazing place to spend your time as a high school student. I would like to see the worst parts of pine creek improve. By making these improvements pine creek would be the superior Colorado Springs high school. Overall pine creek is the best school you can send your high school students to because of all the opportunities.... Read 452 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,808

• Student-teacher ratio 20:1

• Colorado Springs, CO•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.84 out of 5  74 reviews

Parent: Students mature into the best version of themselves at St. Mary's. If you are looking for an environment that is faithful and joyful with challenging academics this is the place for your student! Students will find meaningful relationships with teachers and friends (you can't choose your student’s friends but you can choose the pool from which they select their friends). Teachers are incredibly strong and interested in your student's success. Your student will have the opportunity to play sports on competitive teams with coaches that care not only about winning but the person they are forming. An average class of 60 students typically earns $10K in scholarships! St. Mary’s is a high school that values the whole person. Thanks to the generosity of alumni, alumni parents and community members, tuition assistance is available. Contact the school to visit or set up a shadow day. As a parent, it has been a great transition from a big public school – I couldn’t be happier!... Read 74 reviews

• grade A

• Students 257

• Student-teacher ratio 11:1

• Academy School District No. 20, CO•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 5 out of 5  14 reviews

Senior: The Village is an amazing place to be as a student-athlete and just a regular student. The staff tries their absolute hardest to treat the students as if they are an adult and normal human beings. With that being said staff also make sure you are staying on top of your responsibilities and help you in any way they can. Although students have responsibilities, the staff allows the students to take care of these in their own schedule and time. Meaning, assignments are not due until the end of the semester, attendance is not taken, and students have a wide variety of assistance if needed. My best experience as a student was being able to really connect with my teachers and other students. I truthfully can't say I have had a bad experience at The Village. The only thing that I would like to see change is the amount of school spirit. For how amazing the school is and how hard everyone works, I think the school deservesa little more credit.... Read 14 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 408

• Student-teacher ratio 19:1

• Academy School District No. 20, CO•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.73 out of 5  305 reviews

Senior: When moving back to Colorado in the early summer of 2023 to start my senior year in the fall, having spent my junior year in Sweden, doing the IB diploma program, I am fortunate to say that my family decided on Discovery Canyon Campus as the school for my final year. Thus far, I have felt that it's the best high school I have attended in all my years of schooling, where I believe its positives outweigh the negatives. Moreover, the major positive about the high school at Discovery Canyon Campus in Colorado Springs is the proactive attitudes of its teachers and administration. I have felt that they have done their absolute best to accommodate my transition back into school in the U.S. and into another IB school and that they have genuinely been interested in my education. If I could point out a negative it might be the lack of seating and such for breaks, as the only seats beside the cafeteria are outside, which should change in the school putting more seating indoors.... Read 305 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 1,123

• Student-teacher ratio 19:1

• 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

• Academy School District No. 20, CO•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.9 out of 5  490 reviews

Alum: Rampart was overall a good school for me. The academics were great and most teachers were too! I loved the block schedule. The only complaints I have about this school is the sports programs and strictness. As a former member of soccer, basketball, and track teams, I would only recommend soccer here. There is a lot of favoritism and discrimination in the other programs that I did not appreciate, especially in my senior year. The school also dissed out huge punishments for ridiculous things. For example, my brother was suspended for recording a fight on his phone. A racial slur was used in class and that student was not suspended.... Read 490 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 1,455

• Student-teacher ratio 17:1

• Lewis-Palmer School District 38, CO•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.81 out of 5  265 reviews

Senior: Lewis Palmer High School was hands down the best school I have ever attended. I first attended this school my sophomore year and right from the start I was given great opportunities for classes like Astronomy and Self Defense, both of which I had never heard before. The atmosphere of the school is also very positive and there are always peers or teachers to help guide you in the right direction. The food is also phenomenal since they not only provide a hot lunch line of food like orange chicken and cheesy breadsticks, but also a snack line for food like instant ramen and French fries in case you want to buy something small. Beyond this the counselors are also very helpful and while they are sometimes unavailable they dot here best to provide as many opportunities for scholarships and schools as possible. Overall, the atmosphere is welcoming and both the staff and students are always there to lend a helping hand. 5 stars out of 5!... Read 265 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 1,151

• Student-teacher ratio 23:1

• Colorado Springs, CO•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.27 out of 5  33 reviews

Senior: This school not only provides a phenomenal education, but it also provides unique and non evasive ways of building your relationship with Christ. The possibilities are endless as I have participated in four sports, and numerous clubs throughout high school. The teachers are very friendly, and will gladly help you with any thing you need. Not only does PPCS teach normal classes, but they also teach cooking, personal finances, basic life skills, and so many more classes that aided me in my adult life. The class sizes are small which provides an easy, personalized way of learning, and it has helped me so much in preparing for college and everyday life!... Read 33 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 383

• Student-teacher ratio 11:1

• Manitou Springs School District, CO•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.73 out of 5  136 reviews

Senior: Great people with a tight-knit culture. It's a fairly small school, which creates an atmosphere of everyone knowing everyone and being friends with each other. Most teachers are wondeful, though staff retention is a little rough. Academics aren't bad, with plenty of AP options and a few dual enrollment courses, but not super rigorous. There's a lot of school spirit with some super fun traditions, and student council and other clubs do well engaging the student body. There are tons of options to get involved, and there's no pressure to stay in your niche. You can be an athlete and a band kid and a service club leader all at once; there's a lot freedom to pursue your interests and/or explore something new. As a student who regularly interacts with district and school admin, they genuinely really care about the students and know them by name, which is super special. Ensuring students are safe, healthy (mentally and physically), and supported is a huge priority.... Read 136 reviews

• grade B+

• Students 401

• Student-teacher ratio 12:1

• Academy School District No. 20, CO•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.77 out of 5  458 reviews

Senior: Liberty has been a lot of fun. The programs and classes that are offered here are so much more than any other high school I've heard of. I can get my lifeguard certification, CNA certification, scuba diving certification, EMT as well. The wood shop and mechanics shops are also really fun. Over all the teachers are wonderful and the students are as expected. Definitely a good school to go to!... Read 458 reviews

• grade B+

• Students 1,665

• Student-teacher ratio 17:1

• 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

• Colorado Springs School District No. 11, CO•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.74 out of 5  277 reviews

Alum: It is a good school with great academic opportunities. School dances could use some work but got better as we had more. You definitely can't expect others to bring the energy and fun you have to do it, especially if you want to have a good time. I believe the school is generally growing in the right direction across sports, clubs, and academics.... Read 277 reviews

• grade B+

• Students 1,323

• Student-teacher ratio 19:1

• Colorado Springs, CO•

• Private School•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 4.25 out of 5  12 reviews

Parent: For over 50 years, ECA has offered a safe environment and a solid Christian education, moving in the past decade or so toward a Christian Classical model. We have appreciated the community most of all! It's small and therefore limited in extracurriculars. But administration has a solid post-covid growth plan that is already being implemented and will hopefully attract more families/faculty to grow programs.... Read 12 reviews

• grade B+

• Students 269

• Student-teacher ratio 8:1

• Colorado Springs School District No. 11, CO•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.91 out of 5  404 reviews

Works Here: I work here occasionally as a substitute teacher and I am very impressed with this school!! It can be a little difficult determining safety, as it is in the middle of downtown with lots of walking required to get to different buildings, parking, and lunch; however I have seen a good amount of security officers that stay present and monitor students. It is an extremely diverse school and there are many different clubs to join. The students are respectful and seem to have a determination for learning. 10/10!!... Read 404 reviews

• grade B+

• Students 1,552

• Student-teacher ratio 21:1

• Colorado Springs, CO•

• Private School•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 3.76 out of 5  88 reviews

Senior: A very good school for those who genuinely want to learn about and grow their faith. I started going here in middle school because I felt that in order to spiritually mature I need genuine spiritual mentorship and teaching, and that is exactly what this school will give you along with an excellent curriculum. My parents love this school for giving me a significant edge in the world after high school as compared to other schools.... Read 88 reviews

• grade B+

• Students 744

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

• Fountain-Fort Carson School District 8, CO•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.87 out of 5  372 reviews

Alum: I often moved from school to school throughout my education, FFCHS is one of the best high schools I have gone to. The staff is incredibly friendly and supportive as well as helping me catch up with my fellow peers. One thing I think this school was phenomenal at was student to teacher ratios, I believe the biggest class I had was a 20:1. With smaller classes it makes it easier for students to reach out to their teachers for help or questions when they were falling behind. The only thing I didn’t like was how long it took for FFCHS to receive my transcript from my previous high schools.... Read 372 reviews

• grade B

• Students 1,969

• Student-teacher ratio 17:1