2023 Best Schools in Colorado

• Adams 12 Five Star Schools, CO•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 4.4 out of 5  42 reviews

Senior: The academics are exceptional, and for the most part the teachers are super great and helpful! Social life can be a little bit difficult because it is a small school, but I definitely found my group of people. One thing I would like to see change is the way the administration deals with bullying, harassment, and false allegations. Kids that behave this way often don’t get consequences, which doesn’t help the situation.... Read 42 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,551

• Student-teacher ratio 19:1

• Boulder Valley School District, CO•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 3.85 out of 5  461 reviews

Senior: Peak to Peak is a very encouraging environment. As a student, I feel very prepared for college through their college prep courses and taking AP exams, as the teachers are amazing! I feel like I’ve learned so much and grown in so many skills, I really do recommend trying to go here. I think the only downside to this school is the culture of overachieving and the pressure to make grades determine your worth. I can say for certain that many students I know deal with this, even myself. Asides from that, however, everyone is very unique in their own ways, and the teachers are astounding at their work and teaching.... Read 461 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,453

• Student-teacher ratio 20:1

• Denver Public Schools, CO•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.83 out of 5  248 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 248 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 578

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

• Denver Public Schools, CO•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.77 out of 5  26 reviews

Senior: The teachers at Dsst: Byers High School become close friends/family. I love that my teachers cared for each and one of my classmates, and took the time to know us personally. This type of relationship is great, since it makes it easier to ask for help and better advocate for yourself. To add on, there are many options for classes to take in order for each student to be challenged at a reasonable level. There are many activities and extracurriculars to join, and even opportunities to start your own club! Here at Byers inclusivity and respect are highly encouraged, there are many affinity/cultural clubs open to the whole student body. Overall, I had an amazing experience at Dsst: Byers High School, and it definitely set the bar high when looking for colleges to apply to.... Read 26 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 569

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

• Cheyenne Mountain School District No. 12, CO•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.68 out of 5  117 reviews

Sophomore: The Vanguard School has an excellent array of academics, with general courses for struggling students and AP or college credit courses for students needing a challenge in any of the liberal arts. The advanced course teachers who have been at this school for a long time are the best college preparatory teachers I have seen. These teachers have helped me go from an A student in general courses to a A+ student almost all honors courses. There are not many clubs at the school because it is so small, but the clubs it has is bound to have something for everyone because they are led by a diverse group of students. That being said, the people at the school are generally respectful, despite the many backgrounds they come from. I have enjoyed the no-pressure sports of the school, which has encouraged me to improve in all my track and cross-country endeavors.... Read 117 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 284

• Student-teacher ratio 9:1

• Poudre School District, CO•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 3.9 out of 5  107 reviews

Senior: Liberty is a fantastic school if you're looking for a really good education. It has an amazing faculty and course structure. It's small, so everyone knows everyone else. Everyone who goes to Liberty wants to be there, which is really nice because it creates an supportive and academic environment. The people at Liberty are really nice, and it's easy to make friends. It has a pretty good variety of classes, although most of the focus is on STEM. There isn't a big variety of art classes or languages, although there are some. The English classes at Liberty are fantastic, and possibly the best part of the whole school. However, if you want to do a lot of extra curriculars outside of school, Liberty is probably not the school for you. Time spent doing homework can range anywhere from one hour (on a good day) to four hours. It can be really hard to balance school life with just life. Liberty is a lot of work. I would say it's worth it!... Read 107 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,163

• Student-teacher ratio 20:1

• Littleton Public Schools, CO•

• K-8

• •
  Rating 5 out of 5  1 review

Parent: We love the school, my kids came from a private school where they spoon fed the kids. But in LA the teachers helped the students to grow academically and to be more accountable, especially in middle school. LA is one of the best schools.... Read 1 review

• grade A

• Students 456

• Student-teacher ratio 13:1

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

• K-12

• •
  Rating 3.69 out of 5  78 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 78 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,673

• Student-teacher ratio 22:1

• Cherry Creek School District, CO•

• K-8

• •
  Rating 5 out of 5  3 reviews

Parent: We absolutely love this school and community! The administration has been so helpful with navigating the curriculum, and there are so many volunteer opportunities. We are very grateful to be at the school. The communication within staff is phenomenal and any question I've ever had has been answered in a timely fashion.... Read 3 reviews

• grade A

• Students 593

• Student-teacher ratio 19:1

• Cheyenne Mountain School District No. 12, CO•

• K-6

• •
  Rating 4.33 out of 5  6 reviews

Alum: I graduated from The Vanguard School in 2015 and attended all 13 school years (K-12) at Vanguard. I count myself incredibly lucky to have gone to such a rigorous school with such caring teachers and tight-knit community. I participated in several sports including karate, tennis, cross country, track, and basketball, and was involved heavily in the music and art departments. Now, as an adult with a 4-year degree and a job I love, I am incredibly thankful to The Vanguard School and all the teachers and administration there for pushing me to be my best in all things.... Read 6 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,060

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• Boulder Valley School District, CO•

• K-8

• grade A

• Students 348

• Student-teacher ratio 13:1

• 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

• Students 688

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

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

• PK, K-8

• •
  Rating 4.33 out of 5  6 reviews

Parent: We couldn't have asked for a better school for our kid! It is fantastic! Academics are excellent and teachers are great. The culture at the school is amazing. Everyone is passionate about educating their children.... Read 6 reviews

• grade A

• Students 702

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

• Academy School District No. 20, CO•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.64 out of 5  230 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 230 reviews

• grade A

• Students 585

• Student-teacher ratio 11:1

• Aspen School District No. 1, CO•

• PK, K-8

• grade A

• Students 135

• Student-teacher ratio 10:1

• Academy School District No. 20, CO•

• K-6

• •
  Rating 4 out of 5  18 reviews

Alum: An incredible school with the best teachers I have ever known. They treat each child as an individual and strive for their growth and cultivation. Though some aspects of the student life, such as diversity or culture, may be a bit lacking, the academics and foundation of the school make up for it. They strive to teach their students and to prepare them for higher education. If your student is passionate about school and pursuing their education with fervor, TCA is the place to be. If not, they may be hard pressed to enjoy their time here. Overall, a great school!... Read 18 reviews

• grade A

• Students 2,172

• Student-teacher ratio 17:1

• Adams 12 Five Star Schools, CO•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 3.71 out of 5  63 reviews

Junior: I have really enjoyed going here! The school is very small, which gives students more one-on-one time with teachers. The school is a college prep school which is very helpful for preparing to go to college. The students are so kind and the community is great!... Read 63 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,488

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• Denver Public Schools, CO•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.05 out of 5  79 reviews

Alum: DSST has an exceptional amount of diversity, which in turn, creates a more accepting and cultured environment. I have not seen or experienced any kind of bullying here; in fact, being different is a good thing. The teachers are passionate and care about the students there, and spend many hours after and before school assisting students in both school and home problems. They definitely prepare you for college; they actually over-prepare you and freshman year seems like cake! The sports program isn't the greatest, but the academics are. One criticism I have is that they have a large focus on getting into college, but not how to stay. The majority of my graduating class is no longer enrolled in college, and they did not complete their freshman year.... Read 79 reviews

• grade A

• Students 580

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

• Colorado Charter School Institute, CO•

• K-5

• •
  Rating 5 out of 5  1 review

Parent: James Irwin Charter Academy is an amazing K-5 school that teaches cursive in kindergarten! Every time I visit I have the opportunity to observe the classrooms and am always so impressed at the teacher's ability to manage and lead the students, and how engaged the students are!... Read 1 review

• grade A

• Students 304

• Student-teacher ratio 25:1

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

• K-8

• •
  Rating 5 out of 5  3 reviews

Parent: Great Experience. Good staffs. academic facilities ate good. Very good teacher and really helpful my daughter has learnt a lot of things. I am very happy with school teacher and staff. Thank you for helping my daughter to improve her learning and her confidence. In my opinion, school can be a great place if we know how to take advantage. We can meet people and make friends.... Read 3 reviews

• grade A

• Students 544

• Student-teacher ratio 17:1

• St Vrain Valley School District, CO•

• PK, K-8

• grade A

• Students 249

• Student-teacher ratio 11:1

• Online School•

• Academy School District No. 20, CO•

• 7-12

• •
  Rating 4.08 out of 5  169 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 169 reviews

• grade A

• Students 512

• Student-teacher ratio 24:1

• Colorado Charter School Institute, CO•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 3.93 out of 5  57 reviews

Parent: Excellent education. If your child is focused and loves to learn, this school is amazing. Class sizes decrease as students move from elementary to middle school, and then again from middle school to high school. Elementary school students have PE, Music and Art EVERY DAY! Mandatory string instrument, with orchestra taught every day beginning in 6th grade. All students take 4 years of Latin beginning in 6th grade.... Read 57 reviews

• grade A

• Students 919

• Student-teacher ratio 13:1

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

• PK, K-8

• grade A minus

• Students 605

• Student-teacher ratio 22:1

• Steamboat Springs School District No. RE-2, CO•

• K-8

• grade A minus

• Students 109

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1