Everything You Need to Know about Colorado Academy

An independent pre-K–12 preparatory school, Colorado Academy is located on a wooded 94-acre campus in southwest Denver. The nonsectarian and co-educational school places great importance on academics, athletics, and the arts, with all classes on a six-day rotating schedule.

At the heart of learning at Colorado Academy are the “Six Cs”:

·  Character development

·  Critical thinking and problem solving

·  Collaboration

·  Communication

· Cultural competence

· Creativity

Originally founded in 1906 as the Hill School for Boys, the school changed direction in 1923 and was renamed the Colorado Military School, adding military training to the curriculum. The school moved location in 1947 from near the University of Denver to its present site in Lakewood. In 1955, it moved away from military influence and became a prep school for boys. Renamed Colorado Academy, it became co-educational in 1971.

Useful Facts and Figures about Colorado Academy

The largest enrollment at Colorado Academy is in the Upper School (grades 9-12) with 412 students, followed by the Lower School (Pre-K–5) with 348, and the Middle School (grades 6-8) with 231. Of the entire student body, around 25 percent comes from diverse racial or ethnic backgrounds.

Colorado Academy teachers average 17 years of classroom experience, and 73 percent hold advanced degrees.

The school has a flawless record of students gaining college and university admission, with 100 percent of graduates going on to attend four-year colleges and universities.

The average classroom size is 15 students, and facilities include dedicated school buildings for each of the three schools, complete with classrooms, science labs, computer rooms, and common areas. There are two on-campus libraries, art and music centers, a theater, a dining hall, and a 66,000-square-foot athletics center.

What makes Colorado Academy the best school in Colorado

Colorado Academy has been many families’ school of choice for a myriad of reasons. The emphasis on the “three As”—academics, arts, and athletics—has attracted many parents who wish to see their children develop the vital skills these three pillars of learning can provide.

Culture and inclusivity are another huge source of pride for the school. Not only are students and families of all backgrounds represented and respected at the school, but the curriculum in every grade includes multiple social, cultural, political, and historical perspectives to provide students with all concepts and contexts.

As well as providing students with the tools to excel academically, Colorado Academy emphasizes teaching and instilling leadership, confidence, tenacity, service, and perseverance—all qualities that will stand students in good stead throughout life.

Colorado Academy Affordability

At Colorado Academy, 19 percent of families receive financial aid to ensure their children can receive an education at the school. This is financed from a budget from around $3.7 million.

Financial aid is available to both new and current students and is determined by certain factors such as income, assets, liabilities, and family size. While there are no repayment requirements, families must go through the financial aid process every year as tuition fees and circumstances change. The necessary paperwork for aid should be filed before February 15 in order to get first priority, as any submissions after this date will be placed on the waitlist.

DGBM Taylor Family Foundation Involvement at Colorado Academy

The Taylor family have been honored to support Colorado Academy. Dylan Taylor said, “We believe that if you are going to be part of a community, you need to give more than you take. You need to make sure that the institution endures and it can continue to do the great work going forward.” This is why the family made a donation to the Athletic Center to build the Legacy Hall.

The Legacy Hall is a place where the athletic achievements of teams and individuals from the school can be remembered and celebrated, adding personality to the hallway within the Athletic Center.

Said Colorado Academy head of school Dr. Mike Davis, “We walk through this great Legacy Hall where you see the history of the school: historic photos of recent graduates but also long-past athletes and you see this tradition of excellence, the value of competition, the value of learning teamwork, sportsmanship, and collaboration. All these things come together in this . . . amazing building.”

Gabrielle Taylor said, “We ask ourselves: ‘How can we leave it better than when we found it?’” while Dylan succinctly summed it up, “If you’re fortunate enough to be involved in a community with a rich legacy, it is incumbent upon you to ensure that legacy endures, and I think connecting that legacy to the future is really important.”