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Strengths Outdoor Education, Visual and Creative Arts, Languages
Clubs Arts and Creative, Community and Service, Leadership and Professional
Stages Preschool, Kindergarten, Elementary, Middle School, High School
Introduction
Telluride Mountain School is a PreK-12 independent, fully accredited school in Telluride, Colorado. The early years follow Montessori principles, while the upper grades pursue the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program for juniors and seniors. In grades 7–12 the program emphasizes rigorous mathematics, in-depth research skills, applied scientific inquiry, seminar-style humanities, and Spanish language immersion, alongside ongoing arts, athletics, and technology. The IB Core includes the Extended Essay, Theory of Knowledge, and Creativity, Activity, and Service. IB examinations are externally moderated and can earn college credit; diplomas are issued in the summer after graduation. Experiential and outdoor education, including immersion projects and field-based learning, complements academics. The school offers strong visual arts and music programs, with the Rock and Roll Academy providing music instruction in a multimedia environment. Community service and service learning are integral, and the Student Life Curriculum supports leadership, mindfulness, and wellbeing through clubs such as robotics and theater.
Lawson Hill, 200 San Miguel River Drive, Telluride, CO 81435
The Essentials
Telluride Mountain School has 98 pupils, typical class sizes of 8, instruction in English.
Location
Lawson Hill, 200 San Miguel River Drive, Telluride, Colorado 81435. Telluride Mountain School is located in the Lawson Hill area of Telluride.
Stages
Montessori (Pre-k); Lower School (1-6); Upper School (7-12).
Type
Independent, fully-accredited PreK-12 school.
Country affiliation
United States
Fees
Annual tuition at Telluride Mountain School ranges from USD 29,900 to USD 35,500 for 2026/27.
Application and enrollment fees
- Application fee (first-time applicants): USD 50. - Enrollment (registration) deposit, non-refundable: USD 500 (Montessori); USD 1,200 (Grades 1–8); USD 2,000 (Grades 9–12). Deposits are required within the school's stated acceptance timeline and must be accompanied by a signed enrollment contract.
Tuition fees — day students (by school level)
- Grades 1–4: USD 22,900 per year. - Grades 5–8: USD 24,900 per year. - Grades 9–12: USD 26,500 per year.
Montessori (Preschool and Kindergarten) tuition (program options)
- Three-Day Morning Program (3 days, 8:45 AM–1:30 PM): USD 8,000 per year. - Three-Day Primary Program (3 days, 8:45 AM–2:45 PM): USD 8,900 per year. - Four-Day Primary Program (T–F, 8:45–1:30): USD 9,200 per year. - Four-Day Primary + Nap Program (T–F, 8:45–2:45): USD 11,100 per year. - Five-Day Primary Program (M–F, 8:45–1:30): USD 9,990 per year. - Five-Day Primary + Nap Program (M–F, 8:45–2:45): USD 13,700 per year. - Kindergarten Program (M–F, 8:45–2:45): USD 14,900 per year.
Other program fees and common additional costs
- Classroom supplies: tuition includes durable and consumable classroom supplies; laptop computers are not included in tuition and are the family's responsibility. - Experiential education / trips: costs for fall multi-day outdoor education trips are included in tuition; spring multi-day experiential trip costs are only partially included (families are responsible for approximately half of spring trip costs); modest fees may be charged for off-campus excursions. Fundraising opportunities are used to help cover experiential trip costs. - Winter sports / ski program: the optional in-house winter sports program is charged separately from tuition; lift tickets are not included and there may be modest transportation charges. Montessori winter sports (one afternoon per week for six weeks starting in January) is optional and costs USD 300 for Preschool and USD 360 for Kindergarten. - Modest fees for specific co‑curricular activities, off‑campus excursions, or optional programs may be billed in addition to tuition.
Billing schedule and payment terms
- Grades 1–12 billing options: - Single annual payment due in July. - Two-installment plan (payments due in July and September). - Monthly billing option over 10 months (July through April) is available; monthly billing is subject to a processing fee of USD 20 per month. Tuition may be paid by check, automatic withdrawal, or credit card.
- Montessori (preschool and kindergarten) billing options and processing fees (program notices show the following): - Single annual payment (timing described on school billing materials). - Two-installment plans noted on school materials (timing varies in published materials). - Monthly billing over 10 months is available; published materials list either an annual processing fee or a monthly payment plan option fee for Montessori (examples shown in school materials include an annual processing fee and, on separate Montessori materials, a monthly plan option fee of USD 120 per student). Montessori tuition may be paid by check, automatic withdrawal, or credit card; credit card payments are subject to a handling fee on certain billing communications.
Refunds and contract terms
- Application fee (USD 50) is non-refundable. Enrollment deposits are non-refundable (USD 500 for Montessori; USD 1,200 for Grades 1–8; USD 2,000 for Grades 9–12). Enrollment requires a signed contract reserving the student's seat and guaranteeing payment for the entire year's tuition. These contract and deposit conditions are stated as binding in the school's admissions materials.
Accepted payment methods and payment channels
- Accepted payment methods: check, automatic withdrawal (ACH/automatic bank withdrawal), and credit card. Credit card payments may incur a handling or processing fee. The school provides a billing preference form upon enrollment.
Summary of key items parents should expect to budget for
- Annual tuition by grade level (listed above). Application fee and a non-refundable enrollment deposit at acceptance. Optional program costs (winter sports, lift tickets, experiential trip shares, occasional co‑curricular fees). Possible monthly/annual processing or handling fees when using extended billing or credit cards. Laptop computers for students are not included in tuition.
Note on available published schedules: A publicly posted, year‑specific 2026/27 or 2025/26 fee schedule was not located in the school materials accessed; the amounts and terms above are drawn from the school's posted tuition, admissions, and Montessori tuition materials. The most important fee figures and contractual items (application fee, deposit levels, tuition by grade band, billing options and processing fees, optional program charges, and accepted payment methods) are included above.
Academics
Telluride Mountain School teaches Montessori Curriculum, IB (DP) for students aged 3 to 18.
Curriculum
Telluride Mountain School is a PreK-12 independent school with Montessori for early years and the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program (IB DP) in the upper grades. The upper school (grades 7–12) prepares students with rigorous mathematics, in-depth research skills, applied scientific inquiry, seminar-style humanities, Spanish language immersion, and ongoing arts, athletics, and technology. Juniors and seniors participate in the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program, with courses offered at Standard and Higher Levels where applicable. In addition to DP coursework, the IB Core comprises the Extended Essay, Theory of Knowledge, and Creativity, Activity, and Service (CAS). IB examinations are externally moderated and can earn college credit; diplomas are issued in the summer after graduation. Experiential and outdoor education, including immersion projects and field-based learning, complements academics.
Student Teacher Ratio
Small class sizes, typically 9 or fewer students per section.
Higher Education Progression
Telluride Mountain School provides a comprehensive college counseling program starting in ninth grade. One hundred percent of TMS students gain admission to four-year colleges or universities. Graduates often pursue study at the post-secondary level in areas connected to their experiential and outdoor education experiences.
Wellbeing
Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
The school has a full-time, in-house school counselor. Social Emotional Learning is embedded in daily interactions and routines. The school is adding intentional SEL programming to help students develop greater self- and social-awareness, manage their emotions, establish healthy relationships, and make responsible choices. SEL programming includes homeroom lessons focusing on emotional vocabulary and regulation, sex education, and high school Mental Health First Aid training. Regular SEL coffee talks provide parent education and conversation on topics related to child and adolescent development. Ongoing program development will align with an external curriculum and expand health education classes.
Mental Wellbeing
The school has a full-time, in-house school counselor who provides mental health services to students. High school Mental Health First Aid training is part of the program.
FAQs
Where is Telluride Mountain School located?
Telluride Mountain School is in the Lawson Hill area of Telluride, Colorado, at 200 San Miguel River Drive, Telluride, CO 81435. It is a PreK–12 independent school that uses Montessori approaches in the early years and the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program (IB DP) in the upper grades.
What ages or grades does the school serve?
The school operates as a PreK–12 independent school. Early years use Montessori approaches, and grades 7–12 participate in the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program, with the DP Core including the Extended Essay, Theory of Knowledge, and CAS.
How big is the school and who leads it?
Telluride Mountain School has about 120 students in total and is co-educational. It opened in 1998 and the Head of School is Andy Shoff.
What does the upper school IB program include?
Juniors and seniors take IB Diploma Program courses at Standard and Higher Levels where offered. The IB Core comprises the Extended Essay, Theory of Knowledge, and Creativity, Activity, and Service, with examinations externally moderated and diplomas issued after graduation.
What are the tuition rates by grade level?
For day students, tuition is USD 22,900 for Grades 1–4, USD 24,900 for Grades 5–8, and USD 26,500 for Grades 9–12 per year. Montessori preschool and kindergarten have multiple program options with fees ranging from USD 8,000 to USD 14,900 per year depending on the program.
What are the application and enrollment fees?
The application fee for first-time applicants is USD 50. Enrollment (registration) deposits are USD 500 for Montessori, USD 1,200 for Grades 1–8, and USD 2,000 for Grades 9–12.
How does tuition billing work?
Billing can be paid as a single annual payment, in two installments, or on a monthly plan over 10 months (July through April). A USD 20 monthly processing fee applies to the monthly plan, and Montessori has similar options with its own processing or plan fees.
What other costs should families budget for?
Fall multi-day outdoor education trips are included in tuition, while spring trips are partially included (families cover about half). Winter sports programs are optional and charged separately, with modest fees for some off-campus excursions; laptops are not included in tuition.
Are application fees and deposits refundable?
No. The application fee is non-refundable, and enrollment deposits are non-refundable and require a signed enrollment contract to reserve a seat and guarantee payment for the year.
What is the typical class size?
Class sizes are small, with typically 9 or fewer students per section, which supports individualized attention within the Montessori and IB frameworks.
What is the college placement outcome for graduates?
The school offers a comprehensive college counseling program starting in ninth grade, and 100% of students gain admission to four-year colleges or universities.
What extracurriculars or clubs are available?
The school offers arts and music programs (including the Rock and Roll Academy), and active clubs like robotics and theater, with coaches who are educators first. Visual arts and music are emphasized alongside core academics.
How is student leadership and life outside the classroom structured?
There is a Student Leadership Committee, weekly Morning Meetings, and a Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) program. Students also participate in Telluride clubs, school sports, and service-learning opportunities.
How does the school incorporate service and the community?
Community service and service learning are integral to the Telluride Mountain School experience, with class trips incorporating service and outdoor education and opportunities for internships or volunteer projects in schedules.
What wellbeing or mental health support is available?
The school has a full-time in-house counselor who provides mental health services. SEL is embedded in daily routines, and high school Mental Health First Aid training is part of the program, plus regular SEL-focused parent sessions.
How is Spanish taught at the school?
Spanish is taught in both Lower School (Grades 1–6) and Upper School (Grades 7–12) by language specialists, with an intensive Spanish study and homestay component in ninth and tenth grades.
Is there a boarding option or a uniform?
There is no information in the provided data about boarding or a school uniform.
What accreditations does Telluride Mountain School hold?
Telluride Mountain School is fully accredited as a PreK–12 independent school and is accredited by ACIS, NAIS, and the International Baccalaureate Organization.
What is the school's approach to meals and food service?
Telluride Mountain School does not offer a school food service; families are encouraged to provide a healthy lunch and snacks. Staff eat with students in mixed-age groups, and older students may walk to nearby eateries during breaks.
What facilities or campus features can families expect?
Specific facilities aren't detailed in the available information, but the program emphasizes experiential outdoor education and field-based learning as core components.
