Alpine Valley School vs. Vertical Skills Academy
Should you attend Alpine Valley School or Vertical Skills Academy? Visitors to our site frequently compare these two schools. Compare their rankings, scores, reviews and more to help you determine which school is the best choice for you.
School Overview
School
Top Rankings
n/a
Vertical Skills Academy ranks among the top 20% of private schools in Colorado for:
Category
Attribute
Acceptance Rate
Advanced Degrees
Overview
Alpine Valley School is a self-directed school in Wheat Ridge, Colorado, serving students ages 5-18 from across the Denver metro area - a place where kids decide what, when, and how they learn.
Founded in 1997, AVS has no required classes, no tests, and no grades. Students follow real curiosity at their own pace, supported by staff members who serve as mentors and resources rather than instructors.
The community is intentionally small - about 30-35 students of mixed ages with five staff members - and it runs itself: every member of School Meeting has one equal vote, whether they're five years old or fifty-five. Freedom, Respect, Responsibility, and Integrity are our four core values, and students practice them daily.
We're a natural fit for homeschooling and unschooling families who want community and real-world structure without giving up child-led learning - and for any family whose child needs room to become who they actually are.
VSA is a nonprofit, private school in Jefferson County, Colorado for students in grades 2-8 with dyslexia and other reading or language-based disabilities, as well as dysgraphia, dyscalculia and ADHD.
We support students and families with full-day literacy immersion schooling, dyslexia tutoring program, and dyslexia summer reading program.
VSA's highly qualified teaching staff follow the Orton-Gillingham approach, along with explicit, evidence-based, multi-sensory instruction to empower students to reach their full potential.
Grades Offered
K-12
2-8
Blue Ribbon School
No
No
Offers Post-Graduate Year
No
n/a
Learning Difference Programs
n/a
Yes
Learning Programs Supported
n/a
Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, Dyscalculia
Year Founded
1997
2014
Students Body
Total Students
35 students
26 students
Student Body Type
Co-ed
Co-ed
Students by Grade
n/a
Students by Grade
Grade 2 Students
-
2
Grade 3 Students
-
3
Grade 4 Students
-
5
Grade 5 Students
-
8
Grade 6 Students
-
4
Grade 7 Students
-
2
Grade 8 Students
-
2
Academics and Faculty
Total Classroom Teachers
5 teachers
8 teachers
% Faculty with Advance Degree
50%
80%
Average Class Size
n/a
6
Student-Teacher Ratio
7:1
3:1
Classroom Dress Code
Casual
Casual
Finances and Admission
Admission Deadline
None / Rolling
None / Rolling
Tuition Cost
$7,704
$27,400
Tuition Notes
Monthly payments.
Tuition is all inclusive
% on Financial Aid
n/a
25%
Average Financial Aid Grant
n/a
$2,000
Acceptance Rate
n/a
75%
Admissions Director
n/a
Amy Thomas