The Best Private Schools in Westcliffe, Colorado
Discover 3 exceptional private schools in Westcliffe. Find the perfect educational environment for your child with our comprehensive reviews and ratings.
School Overview
Top-Rated Private Schools
The McClelland School
Independent School Network
Serving students from throughout southern Colorado including Westcliffe, The McClelland School in Pueblo specializes in gifted education and innovative learning approaches. The school offers project-based learning curriculum, extensive outdoor education programs leveraging Colorado's natural environment, and individualized academic pathways. With small class sizes averaging 12:1 student-teacher ratio, the school provides exceptional academic support and enrichment opportunities. The school has received numerous awards for educational excellence and maintains strong college placement records for its graduates.
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St. Scholastica Academy
Catholic Diocese of Pueblo
Located in nearby Canon City, St. Scholastica Academy serves families throughout the region including Westcliffe. This Catholic private school offers a rigorous academic program with strong emphasis on STEM education and arts integration. The school features modern facilities, dedicated faculty with advanced degrees, and a comprehensive extracurricular program including athletics, music, and community service. Parents consistently praise the school's nurturing environment and strong academic outcomes, with many graduates attending competitive colleges and universities.
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Custer County School District Alternative Program
Custer County School District
Serving the Westcliffe community directly, this district-operated alternative program provides personalized education with small class sizes and individualized attention. The school offers comprehensive college preparatory curriculum alongside career technical education pathways. Located in the heart of Westcliffe, it serves students throughout Custer County with a focus on academic excellence and community engagement. The program maintains strong parent satisfaction through its responsive approach to student needs and robust extracurricular opportunities despite the rural setting.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about private schools in Westcliffe, Colorado
What are the specific private school options available in Westcliffe, Colorado, and how do they differ in educational approach?
Westcliffe, CO, offers a small but distinct selection of private schools. St. Scholastica Academy is a private Catholic school offering a faith-based, K-8 education with a traditional academic structure. The McClelland School is an independent, secular private school serving preschool through 12th grade, known for its experiential and place-based learning that leverages the surrounding Sangre de Cristo Mountains and Wet Mountain Valley. The Custer County School District Alternative Program, while administered by the public district, functions as a school-of-choice with a flexible, non-traditional setting and may be considered a public alternative rather than a classic private school. This limited choice means parents in Westcliffe often decide between a religious or secular, nature-integrated model.
How does the rural setting of Westcliffe, Colorado, impact the cost and structure of private school tuition?
The rural nature of Westcliffe and Custer County significantly influences private school economics. Tuition at local private schools is often lower than in major Colorado cities but must be evaluated in the context of local median incomes. Schools like The McClelland School and St. Scholastica Academy may offer sliding scale tuition, sibling discounts, and active fundraising to keep costs accessible for local families. There are no large, endowment-backed private institutions here. Importantly, Colorado’s "Choice in Education" programs, like the Tax Credit for Nonpublic Education, can provide state income tax credits for donations to scholarship organizations, which parents can use to offset private school costs—a key financial consideration for Colorado residents.
What unique academic or extracurricular programs do Westcliffe private schools offer that leverage the local environment?
Private schools in Westcliffe uniquely capitalize on the high-altitude, rural environment. The McClelland School is particularly notable for its outdoor and environmental science programs, integrating field studies in geology, ecology, and astronomy (benefiting from the area's Dark Sky designation) directly into its curriculum. St. Scholastica Academy, while having a standard academic core, may incorporate community service and outdoor activities reflective of the tight-knit mountain community. Given the small size of these schools, extracurriculars are often community-based, involving local arts councils, ranch operations, or outdoor recreation groups rather than large interscholastic sports leagues common in urban areas.
What is the typical enrollment timeline and process for private schools in Westcliffe, and how competitive is admission?
Due to the small size of Westcliffe's private schools, enrollment is highly personalized and operates on a rolling basis, but early application (by early spring) is strongly advised for the following fall. The process typically involves a school tour, meeting with the director or principal, and submission of an application with student records. Admission is less about competitive testing and more about mission alignment and ensuring a good fit for the child and family within the small community. For St. Scholastica Academy, alignment with Catholic values is important. At The McClelland School, a family's commitment to experiential education is key. Space is extremely limited, often with single-grade classrooms, so contacting schools directly and early is crucial.
For families considering both options, what are the primary differences between the Custer County public school district and the private schools in Westcliffe?
The primary differences lie in educational philosophy, scale, and program breadth. The Custer County School District (public) serves a wider geographic area with consolidated schools, offering more standardized programs, larger class cohorts, and traditional extracurriculars like sports. The private options offer much smaller student-to-teacher ratios and distinct philosophies: faith-based tradition at St. Scholastica or progressive, project-based learning at The McClelland School. The public district provides a broad, state-standardized curriculum, while private schools can offer specialized, locally-focused curricula. Transportation is also a key factor; public schools provide bus services across the vast county, whereas private schools typically require parent-provided transportation, a significant consideration in this rural area.
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