Colorado Academy

I have been a parent at the school for 16 years and my experience, and more importantly that of my children, has been outstanding. The CA community has been a wonderful part of our lives and I have watched our children grow academically, artistically, athletically, and ethically during this time. The families who attend CA are committed to providing their children with the best education possible in the Denver area, in an environment which is nurturing, caring, watchful, and exciting. Children are encouraged to take risks that allow them to learn from both their successes and their failures, in an environment where they feel supported.
—Submitted by a parent

As a parent of two children who graduated in the prior decade and with one now enrolled at CA for high school, I have to say that while the school is somewhat different, it remains excellent -- in a new, fresh way. Most of the teaching crew remains unchanged, thank goodness, but a new energy has been added. It is wonderful to see deep thinking, high expectations and creative processes still valued. My older kids took a solid base of knowledge and critical thinking skills into top-notch colleges and successful careers. We feel comfortable that #3 will do precisely that. There continues to be an appreciation of the arts and outside achievement by students, and I do not see a family's financial status used to value individual students -- I would run the other way if I did. Reality is that money has always been part of any "prep school" culture, but fortunately at CA all kids are treated equally. In fact, there is more of an equalization in affordability across programs such as Interim than in the past. What matters at this school is the individual and their potential as a young adult. My three couldn't be more different, yet they have been equally valued and cherished at CA.
—Submitted by a parent

The reviewer saying there's no discipline at CA is completely wrong. I've been a CA parent for 12+ years, and I can tell you my child was certainly disciplined when something went wrong! I have been an award-winning teacher myself and can recognize great teachers when I see them. CA has them in spades, like my child's current English teacher. Is every teacher there great? No, but none of them have been less than very good. This is to say nothing of the sports and arts opportunities available. You don't have to be a "drama kid" to be in a play nor a jock to play on a team. All students do these things. Plus private music lessons right on campus. No wonder there's a long waiting list to get in!
—Submitted by a parent

A couple of the negative reviews below do not make sense to me because there is very low teacher turnover, extremely low student turnover and there is a huge waiting list to get into the school. Students, teachers have all told me they love this school and love teaching here. I have two kids at this school & it is much more diverse than our neighborhood school. It is more a school that teaches to the whole child incorporating collaboration and community as well as character development. This school offers so much more than the public school my child tried with the benefit of changing and improving things quickly if there is a need. Discipline is enforced if there is an issue. Chronic behaviour issues are not tolerated. My child liked this school much better than the other excellent school we went to. They do expect and foster academic excellence with some active learning.
—Submitted by a parent

My children, each of them very different from one another, have thrived at Colorado Academy. We have found a warm and welcoming community and a school that really does what other schools only talk about. The way it provides service learning, works with other schools and community groups to ensure this kind of quality education for students of all backgrounds, and creates a really caring community is genuine. All of this comes on top of an amazing education. Providing a CA education for our children is one of the best gifts we can give them.
—Submitted by a parent

This is a fantastic school! Everything about CA is great, the teachers the students, the classes, etc. I agree that the opinion that the school is for brats is absolutely preposterous. Best school in denver if you ask me.
—Submitted by a student

I went to CA for middle school and loved it. The environment is great and teachers there really care about their students.
—Submitted by a student

I went to CA for K-12 and I can tell you with unreservedly that CA is a welcoming, friendly, and positive community which prized academic achievement, personal development and all that other good stuff. Seriously. The accusation that it is somehow for 'spoiled' 'mostly white' kids is ridiculous.
—Submitted by a student

I went here for middle school and I did not like it I had to change schools for high school and many of my classmates also made this decision.
—Submitted by a student

This is an excellent school. Too few schools are as strategic and intentional about teaching kids according to how kids learn. They not only offer knowledge but teach kids how to learn. school.
—Submitted by a parent

As a high school student at Colorado Academy who came from the public school system, I have the utmost respect for CA as an academic institution. The CA Upper School has rigorous course-work, a rich history of tradition, an amazing faculty, an enriching extracurricular menu, and a very welcoming community. I highly reccomend it to any prospective family looking for a school in which to educate their family. Two thumbs up!
—Submitted by a student

Brought our daughter to CA from a very good Jeffco public school. There is a world of difference in the classroom environment and the level our daughter is learning. Parents and teachers of CA students demand respect and hard work and they get just that. The teachers are not managing to children who can't behave in the classroom and as a result, they are focused on teaching. At CA, students get the full scope of school that is long gone. They have music, art and PE. We are not running our daughter all around town after school to give her those experiences and opportunities. Lastly, drive by a public school, see how the students react and look, then visit CA. A world of difference.
—Submitted by a parent

I was a student at Colorado Academy for many years. This is a wonderful school where in this increasinly litigious and sometimes repressively-PC era the education of the student is never compromised. We explored contenious or controversial ideas and learned how to form our own opinions. One could be different, raise an unusual point in an unusual way (I once gave a report about Chernobyl in iambic pentameter) and be included in the intellectual discussion. The teachers demanded more from their students than many of my college professors. It was a shock in my freshman English class to be given a specific paper topic to address after reading a novel--we moved passed that kind of hand-holding in the 9th grade! The teachers pushed us, we worked hard (I alloted ~2hrs/school week for TV--ER and Dawson's Creek) and we learned to critique, to analyse, to compose and to create.
—Submitted by a former student

A school for wealthy, mostly white families. Quality of teachers is good, but the school lacks any discipline and the faculty is disrespected by the administration. Kids get away with whatever they want as the parents believe that they get what they want because they pay for it. As a result, there is little if any disciplinary action taken. Basically, a school for spoiled brats.
—Submitted by a teacher