The Best Private Schools in Lewis, Colorado
Discover 3 exceptional private schools in Lewis. Find the perfect educational environment for your child with our comprehensive reviews and ratings.
School Overview
Top-Rated Private Schools
The Liberty School
Independent
The Liberty School is a highly-regarded classical Christian school located in nearby Cortez, serving students from across Southwest Colorado including the Lewis area. Founded on principles of classical education and Christian values, the school offers a rigorous academic program emphasizing critical thinking, Socratic dialogue, and character development. The school features small class sizes, dedicated faculty with advanced degrees, and a comprehensive curriculum that includes Latin, logic, rhetoric, and advanced mathematics. Facilities include modern classrooms, science labs, athletic fields, and performing arts spaces. The school maintains a strong college acceptance record with graduates attending competitive universities nationwide.
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Mountain Middle School
Public Charter School
Mountain Middle School is a highly-rated charter school in Durango that serves students from across the region, including those from Lewis. The school combines rigorous academic standards with innovative teaching methods focused on STEM education and project-based learning. Students benefit from small class sizes, personalized attention, and a curriculum that emphasizes critical thinking, collaboration, and real-world problem solving. The school features modern science and technology labs, makerspaces, and collaborative learning environments. Extracurricular offerings include robotics, coding, outdoor education, and competitive sports. The school maintains strong parent satisfaction ratings and prepares students for success in high school and beyond.
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Animas High School
Independent Charter School
Animas High School is a nationally recognized charter school in Durango that serves students from throughout the Four Corners region, including Lewis. The school employs a innovative project-based learning model that emphasizes real-world application of knowledge and skills. Students engage in interdisciplinary projects, internships, and community partnerships while preparing for college success. The curriculum includes advanced placement courses, robust STEM programs, and extensive arts integration. The school features state-of-the-art technology labs, collaborative learning spaces, and strong athletic and extracurricular programs. Animas High consistently achieves high graduation rates and college acceptance percentages.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about private schools in Lewis, Colorado
What are the specific private school options available for families in or near Lewis, Colorado, and how do their educational approaches differ?
Lewis itself is a very small community, so most private school options are located in nearby towns, primarily Durango. The schools you mentioned—The Liberty School (K-8), Animas High School (9-12), and Mountain Middle School (6-8)—are all in Durango, approximately a 25-30 minute drive from Lewis. Their approaches are distinct: The Liberty School offers a classical, Christian education; Animas High School is a tuition-free public charter with a project-based learning model; and Mountain Middle School is also a tuition-free public charter focused on STEM and expeditionary learning. For families in Lewis seeking a traditional private school experience with tuition, The Liberty School is the primary option, while the charter schools offer specialized, tuition-free alternatives. Exploring these requires planning for the daily commute from rural Lewis.
How does tuition at The Liberty School in Durango compare to state averages, and what financial aid or payment plans are typically available for families from Lewis?
Tuition at The Liberty School for the 2024-2025 academic year is approximately $7,500 for K-8, which is below the Colorado private school average (often $10,000-$20,000+). For families making the commute from Lewis, it's important to factor in transportation costs. The school offers need-based financial aid, and as a Christian school, may have scholarship funds supported by the church community. They also typically provide multi-child discounts and monthly payment plans. Colorado has state-level scholarship opportunities like the Child Care Contribution Credit for donors to scholarship-granting organizations, which can indirectly increase aid availability. It's advisable to apply for financial aid early in the admission cycle.
What unique academic or extracurricular programs do schools like Animas High School and Mountain Middle School offer that might benefit a student from rural Lewis?
For a student from a rural area like Lewis, these Durango charter schools offer unique urban resources and specialized programs. Animas High School is renowned for its rigorous project-based learning, where students engage in real-world, interdisciplinary projects often connected to the local environment and community—highly relevant to a Southwest Colorado resident. Mountain Middle School has a strong STEM focus with coding, robotics, and outdoor expeditionary learning that leverages the San Juan Mountains. Both schools provide a smaller, tight-knit community feel that can ease the transition from a small town, while offering academic and extracurricular opportunities (like internships in Durango) that are less accessible in a strictly rural setting.
What is the enrollment timeline and process like for private and charter schools serving the Lewis area, and are there geographic priorities for admission?
Enrollment processes and timelines differ. For The Liberty School (private), the process typically begins in January for the following fall, with rolling admissions thereafter. It involves an application, family interview, and student assessment. As a private entity, it does not have geographic priorities. For the tuition-free public charters (Animas High and Mountain Middle), they are open to all Colorado students but use a lottery system if applications exceed space. The lottery deadline is usually in early spring. While there is no strict geographic priority for the lottery, being from a neighboring community like Lewis does not disadvantage an applicant. Given the commute, families should apply early to secure a spot and plan logistics.
For a family in Lewis, what are the key considerations when choosing between the local public school (Lewis-Arriola Elementary) and a private/charter school in Durango?
The primary considerations are educational philosophy, community, and commute. Lewis-Arriola Elementary (part of the Montezuma-Cortez RE-1 district) offers a true neighborhood school with no commute, deeply embedded in the local agricultural community. Choosing a private or charter school in Durango involves a significant daily commitment of time and transportation (45-60 minutes round trip). The trade-off is access to specialized curricula: a classical Christian education at Liberty or innovative project-based/STEM models at the charters. Socially, a Durango school expands your child's peer network beyond the immediate rural area. Financially, the charters are free, while Liberty requires tuition. Ultimately, the decision hinges on how much your family values a specific educational approach versus the convenience and community of the local public school.
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