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Best Colorado Private Schools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 502 private schools serving 71,429 students in Colorado (there are 1,896 public schools, serving 864,893 students). 8% of all K-12 students in Colorado attend private schools (compared to the national average of 10%).
The average private school tuition is $12,946 for elementary schools and $16,724 for high schools (view national tuition averages).
The top-ranked private schools in Colorado include Colorado Academy, Fountain Valley School of Colorado, and Dawson School.
The average acceptance rate is 84% (view national acceptance rates). Minority enrollment is 25% and the student-teacher ratio is 11:1.
48% of schools are religiously affiliated, with most being Christian or Catholic.

Overview

This State (CO)
US
# Schools
502 Schools

Student Body:

# Students
71,429 Students
5,691,246 Students
% Average Students of Color
25%
34%

Student By Grade

Academics and Faculty:

# Teachers
6,312 Teachers
508,046 Teachers
Average Student-Teacher Ratio
11:1
11:1
% Average Faculty w/Advanced Degree
57%
55%
Average Class Size
15 students
15 students
Average Number of AP Courses
12 courses
13 courses
Average SAT score
1258
(Out of 1600)
1234
Average ACT score
25
(Out of 36)
26

Tuition and Acceptance Rate:

Average Yearly Tuition Cost
$14,682
$14,923
Average Summer Program Cost
$1,629
$1,149
Average % on Financial Aid
29%
35%
Average Financial Aid Grant
$6,269
$7,216
Average Acceptance Rate
84%
82%
Average Endowment Size
$32.54 million
$62.86 million

Students by Ethnicity:

0.62
0.65
# American Indian Students
404 Students
29,824 Students
% American Indian Students
1%
1%
# Asian Students
1,605 Students
264,948 Students
% Asian Students
2%
5%
# Hispanic Students
5,908 Students
506,932 Students
% Hispanic Students
9%
9%
# Black Students
1,900 Students
415,837 Students
% Black Students
3%
7%
# White Students
33,698 Students
2,930,905 Students
% White Students
48%
52%
# Hawaiian Students
65 Students
20,066 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
n/a
n/a
% of Two or more races Students
n/a
n/a
# Others Students
26,098 Students
1,472,563 Students
% of Others Students
37%
26%
All Ethnic Groups

Extracurriculars and Sports:

Average Number of Extracurriculars
7 extracurriculars
9 extracurriculars
Average Number of Sports
6 sports
7 sports

Top-Ranked Colorado Private Schools by County (2026)

County
# Schools
# Students
% of K-12 Students in Private Schools
33
4,431
5%
1
11
<1%
57
10,295
8%
52
4,880
10%
16
1,796
11%
2
117
5%
2
52
1%
77
13,466
13%
38
8,006
11%
7
906
10%
51
6,309
5%
3
82
2%
6
821
7%
2
54
3%
1
61
3%
59
10,386
11%
1
40
4%
9
723
9%
30
3,641
7%
10
1,089
5%
1
70
4%
3
130
3%
3
293
4%
2
98
2%
1
10
<1%
1
295
16%
9
693
2%
2
209
6%
2
421
30%
2
97
3%
1
82
4%
11
1,683
3%

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top-ranked private schools in Colorado?
The top-ranked private schools in Colorado include Colorado Academy, Fountain Valley School of Colorado, and Dawson School.
How many private schools are located in Colorado?
There are 502 private schools are located in Colorado.
How much do private schools cost in Colorado?
The average private school tuition in Colorado is $12,946 for elementary schools and $16,724 for high schools
How diverse are private schools in Colorado?
Approximately 25% of students in Colorado private schools are minority students (compared to the national percentage).
What percentage of students in Colorado go to private school?
8% of all K-12 students in Colorado attend private schools (compared to the national average of 10%).
What percentage of private schools are religiously affiliated in Colorado?
48% of private schools in Colorado are religiously affiliated, with most being Christian or Catholic.
Which private schools in Colorado are often viewed compared to one another?

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