St. Columba School Photo - St. Columba School, where students are known, respected, and cared for by faculty, staff, and peers; where exploring ideas and loving learning are cool; where happiness and challenge walk hand-in-hand; where leadership and extracurricular opportunities abound; and where the presence of the Catholic tradition stamps a profound and lasting influence on the educational experience of our young scholars.

Best Durango Private Schools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 7 private schools serving 578 students in Durango, CO (there are 15 public schools, serving 5,024 public students). 10% of all K-12 students in Durango, CO are educated in private schools (compared to the CO state average of 8%).
The top-ranked private schools in Durango, CO include Colorado Timberline Academy, St. Columba School, and Durango Early Learning Center.
The average acceptance rate is 58%, which is lower than the Colorado private school average acceptance rate of 84%.
29% of private schools in Durango, CO are religiously affiliated (most commonly Catholic and Methodist).

Top-Ranked Durango Private Schools (2026)

School
Location
Quick Facts
Colorado Timberline Academy
Colorado Timberline Academy Photo - Weekend Trip to Bisti Badlands in New Mexico
Alternative School
(1)
454 Academy Drive
Durango, CO 81301
(970) 247-5898
Gr: 9-12 | 30 students Avg. class size: 6 students Sports: 10 | Extracurrculars: 3 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Durango Early Learning Center
Alternative School
890 East Third Ave
Durango, CO 81301
(970) 259-1483
Gr: NS-3 | 71 students Avg. class size: 15 students Tuition & acceptance rate listed
St. Columba School
St. Columba School Photo - St. Columba School, where students are known, respected, and cared for by faculty, staff, and peers; where exploring ideas and loving learning are cool; where happiness and challenge walk hand-in-hand; where leadership and extracurricular opportunities abound; and where the presence of the Catholic tradition stamps a profound and lasting influence on the educational experience of our young scholars.
(Catholic)
1801 E 3rd Ave
Durango, CO 81301
(970) 247-5527
Gr: PK-8 | 290 students Extracurrculars: 6 Tuition listed
Children's House Of Durango
Montessori School
(1)
1689 W 3rd Ave
Durango, CO 81301
(970) 259-1089
Gr: PK-K | 47 students
Durango Montessori School
Montessori School
1309 E 3rd Ave Unit 6
Durango, CO 81301
(970) 769-3590
Gr: PK-5 | 50 students
First Umc Christ Childs School
Daycare / Preschool (Methodist)
2917 Aspen Drive
Durango, CO 81301
(970) 247-4213
Gr: NS-PK | 60 students
The Liberty School
The Liberty School Photo
Special Education School
3107 Western Avenue
Durango, CO 81301
(970) 385-4834
Gr: 2-8 | 30 students Sports: 7 Tuition listed
[+] Show Closed Private Schools in Durango, Colorado

Durango, Colorado Private Schools (Closed)

School
Location
Quick Facts
1775 Florida Rd
Durango, CO 81301
(970) 259-1189
Gr: PK-8 | 41 students

Overview

This Town (Durango)
This State (CO)
# Schools
7 Schools

Student Body:

# Students
578 Students
72,824 Students
% Average Students of Color
10%
25%

Academics and Faculty:

# Teachers
57 Teachers
6,373 Teachers
Average Student-Teacher Ratio
10:1
11:1
% Average Faculty w/Advanced Degree
89%
56%
Average Class Size
11 students
15 students
Average Number of AP Courses
11 courses
12 courses
Average SAT score
1290
(Out of 1600)
1245
Average ACT score
23
(Out of 36)
25

Tuition and Acceptance Rate:

Average Yearly Tuition Cost
$21,205
$14,541
Average % on Financial Aid
40%
29%
Average Acceptance Rate
58%
84%
Average Endowment Size
$27.5 million
$30.83 million

Students by Ethnicity:

0.55
0.63
# American Indian Students
4 Students
418 Students
% American Indian Students
1%
1%
# Asian Students
3 Students
1,638 Students
% Asian Students
1%
2%
# Hispanic Students
16 Students
6,130 Students
% Hispanic Students
3%
9%
# Black Students
6 Students
1,931 Students
% Black Students
1%
3%
# White Students
269 Students
33,986 Students
% White Students
52%
48%
# Hawaiian Students
n/a
67 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
220 Students
26,521 Students
% of Others Students
42%
37%
All Ethnic Groups

Extracurriculars and Sports:

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top-ranked private schools in Durango, CO?
The top-ranked private schools in Durango, CO include Colorado Timberline Academy, St. Columba School, and Durango Early Learning Center.
How many private schools are located in Durango?
7 private schools are located in Durango.
How diverse are private schools in Durango?
Durango private schools are approximately 10% minority students, which is lower than the Colorado private school average of 25%.
What percentage of students in Durango go to private school?
10% of all K-12 students in Durango are educated in private schools (compared to the CO state average of 8%).
What percentage of private schools are religiously affiliated in Durango?
29% of private schools in Durango are religiously affiliated (most commonly Catholic and Methodist).
Which private schools in Durango are often viewed compared to one another?

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