K-12
Public School
Telluride’s R-1 School District includes around 780 students. Their mission is for each student to Master rigorous academic standards required to meet the challenges of their future. To further enrich the basic curriculum in the sciences, social studies, and languages, the school also partners with local non profits such as the Telluride Historical Museum; the Pinhead Institute, which brings Ph.D. scientists into the schools to share their special areas of interests (“Scholars in the School”); the Telluride Institute; and EcoAction Partners, the region’s sustainability initia-tive, to further studies in environmental sciences. The R-1 School District also ffers a wide variety of Advanced Placement (AP) classes in social sciences, math, humanities and art. World language offerings include Spanish and French. Music is offered in grades K-12. Check out the K-12 Curriculum.
The Telluride Elementary School has been recognized by the State of Colorado as a model site for working with students with autism. The Middle School & High School are recipients of the Distinguished Governor’s Award, placing it in the top 20 percent in the state. Telluride High School was honored to receive a Colorado John Irwin Schools of Excellence Award, given to schools that demonstrate excellent academic achievement. That honor placed it in the top 10 percent of high schools in the state.
Each year the community gives between $80 – $115K worth of scholarships to our students. Some are based on financial need; others on academic accomplishment. Scholarships range from $200 to $15,000. Between 60% and 80% of students receive scholarships of some amount. www.tellurideschool.org
Telluride Mountain School
Telluride Mountain School, which started as six kids gathered around a kitchen table in 1998, has grown into a phenomenal non-profit independent school serving over 120 kids. The Telluride Mountain School strongly believes in experiential education and several times a year takes students into the canyons, wilderness areas, and rivers surrounding Telluride and beyond. Hands-on learning doesn’t stop there. Project-based learning is a part of the classroom, with students doing mock trials in history class and snow pack investigations in science class. Check out the curriculum. With such rich, multi-faceted education, the addition of the Telluride Mountain School has greatly expanded the community’s educational offerings. www.telluridemtnschool.org