The Best Private Schools in Silverton, Colorado
Discover 3 exceptional private schools in Silverton. Find the perfect educational environment for your child with our comprehensive reviews and ratings.
School Overview
Top-Rated Private Schools
The Mountain School
Independent
The Mountain School is a highly-regarded independent school located in Durango, approximately 45 miles from Silverton. Founded in 1999, the school emphasizes expeditionary learning and outdoor education, making it particularly well-suited for students from mountain communities. The curriculum integrates rigorous academics with hands-on field experiences, environmental stewardship, and character development. The school serves students from preschool through 8th grade and is known for its small class sizes, dedicated faculty, and strong community values. Many families from Silverton and surrounding mountain towns choose this school for its unique educational approach that complements the region's outdoor lifestyle.
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Animas High School
Independent Charter
Animas High School is a nationally-recognized charter high school in Durango known for its innovative project-based learning approach. Serving students in grades 9-12, the school emphasizes critical thinking, collaboration, and real-world application of knowledge. The curriculum is college-preparatory with strong STEM offerings and has consistently produced graduates who attend competitive colleges and universities. The school's location in Durango makes it accessible to students from Silverton, with many mountain community families utilizing the school's transportation options or arranging carpools. Animas High has received numerous accolades for its educational model and student achievement outcomes.
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St. Columba School
Catholic Diocese of Pueblo
St. Columba School is a long-established Catholic private school serving students from preschool through 8th grade. Located in Durango, the school has been providing quality education to families throughout southwestern Colorado for over six decades. The school offers a comprehensive curriculum that balances strong academics with faith formation, including dedicated STEM programs and fine arts education. With small class sizes and experienced faculty, St. Columba maintains high academic standards while fostering character development. The school serves as an educational option for families from Silverton seeking private education with transportation arrangements commonly made for mountain community students.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about private schools in Silverton, Colorado
What are the private school options for K-12 students in Silverton, Colorado, and are they located in town?
Silverton, Colorado, is a small, remote mountain town, so on-site private school options within the town limits are extremely limited. The most commonly considered options are The Mountain School (a private K-8 school in Silverton itself) and St. Columba School (a private Catholic K-8 school in nearby Durango, about 50 miles away). For high school, Animas High School is a public charter school in Durango, not a private school. Many Silverton families looking for private high schools often consider boarding schools or make significant commutes to Durango or beyond, which is an important logistical consideration in the San Juan Mountains.
How does the high-altitude, rural environment of Silverton, CO, influence the curriculum and activities at local private schools?
The unique environment of Silverton, at over 9,300 feet in the San Juan Mountains, deeply influences local private education. Schools like The Mountain School often incorporate place-based and experiential learning into their core curriculum. This can include outdoor science and ecology studies, winter sports and avalanche safety, local mining history, and environmental stewardship projects. The small community size also fosters extremely close-knit classrooms and strong community partnerships, but it limits the breadth of specialized facilities or extracurricular teams compared to urban areas.
What is the typical tuition range for private schools serving Silverton, Colorado, families, and are there any state-specific financial aid programs?
Tuition for private schools accessible to Silverton families varies. The local Mountain School typically has a lower tuition range (approximately $5,000-$10,000 annually) due to its community-based model and smaller scale. St. Columba School in Durango may range from $6,000 to $9,000 for parishioners and slightly more for non-parishioners. Colorado offers the Child Care Contribution Tax Credit for donations to certain scholarship funds, and some schools participate in the Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative for middle-income families. However, Silverton families should also heavily factor in potential commuting costs to Durango, which can be substantial in time, vehicle wear, and fuel.
How do enrollment timelines and processes work for Silverton-area private schools, given the town's unique demographics and limited slots?
Due to very small class sizes, especially at The Mountain School in Silverton, enrollment is highly limited and operates on a first-come, first-served basis with strong priority often given to existing families and siblings. The application process typically begins in the winter (January-February) for the following fall. For schools in Durango, Silverton families must apply as out-of-district students. It's critical to initiate contact very early, as some grades may have only a handful of available spots. Many schools also require a campus visit and family interview, which requires planning for the trip to Durango.
For a family in Silverton, what are the key practical differences between the local public school, the local private school, and commuting to a private school in Durango?
The key differences involve logistics, educational approach, and community. Silverton's public school (Silverton School) is a consolidated K-12 campus offering convenience and deep community integration. The local private option (The Mountain School) offers a specific, often alternative, pedagogical approach (like experiential outdoor learning) with very small class sizes but may have fewer upper-grade resources. Commuting to a Durango private school (a 100-mile round trip) provides more program variety, possibly religious education, and larger peer groups, but at the cost of 2+ hours of daily driving, exposure to mountain pass hazards, and less connection to the immediate Silverton community. The decision heavily hinges on a family's tolerance for commute and their specific educational priorities.