Tara Performing Arts High School (Top Ranked Private School for 2026-27)

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About the School

Tara students travel the world, perform on stage, and wrestle with big ideas, often all in the same semester.
The performing arts sit at the center of our curriculum, not as an extracurricular, but as a lens through which students learn to think, collaborate, and engage with everything around them.
Faculty who are genuinely passionate about their subjects, combined with first-hand encounters with culture and history, push that curiosity further.
Tara graduates go on to become economists, environmental lawyers, educators, and policy makers.
Most of them aren't actors.
But they know how to read a room, hold their nerve, and care about the people around them.
What you learn at Tara stays with you.

Quick Facts (2026-27)

Top Ranked CO School
School Type: Special Program Emphasis
Grades: 9-12
Enrollment: 55 students
Yearly Tuition: $19,316
Acceptance rate: 30%
Application Deadline: None / Rolling
Source: ✓Verified school update

School Rankings

Tara Performing Arts High School ranks among the top 20% of private schools in Colorado for:

School Facts

School Type

School with Special Program Emphasis

School Membership(s)School Assoc.

Association of Waldorf Schools of North America
National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS)

Religious Affiliation

Other

Grades Offered

Grades 9-12

Students By Grade

View Data

Distribution of Students By Grade
Grade	Tara Performing Arts High School
9	14
10	16
11	9
12	16

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Year Founded

1994

Student Body

Total Students

55 students

Student Body Type

Co-ed

% Students of Color

11%

State avg.: 25%

Academics & Faculty

Total Classroom Teachers

15 teachers

Student-Teacher Ratio

4:1

National avg.: 11:1

Tuition & Acceptance Rate

Admission Deadline

None / Rolling

Yearly Tuition Cost

$19,316

View national tuition avg.

Acceptance Rate

30%

National avg.: 82%

College Acceptance Rate

90%

Admissions Director

Courtney Nicoletti

Application URL

Online Application

School Notes

School Mascot: Gnome (unofficial)

Tara's mission is to awaken students' minds and hearts, to foster their sense of connection to each other and the world, to engage them in meaningful work and activities, and to excite them about life itself.
Tara is dedicated to providing opportunities for emotional growth and renewal through deep involvement in the performing arts and celebration of the cycle of the festival year. In addition to supporting lively intellectual development through a demanding experiential Waldorf academic curriculum, the school cultivates world citizenship through travel and immersive study. At Tara, students engage in life in full consciousness, free of substance use and addictive distractions, which allows them to be truly present for their education and to participate in artistic process as a way to explore the challenges of living in our complex age.
The Tara educational path asks students to step into the light as individuals and to learn to take the kind of risks involved in being fully human.
"I came to Tara as a boarding student because of some vague feeling that told me I had found something special. I stayed because it was beyond my wildest dreams of what a school could be. The community welcomed me with open arms and became my family, as I was so far away from my own. Tara has taught me to engage with the world and take responsibility for my learning. It nurtures my creativity, challenges my mind, expands my heart, and strengthens my ideals every day. Most importantly, it has allowed me to discover myself and has given me the tools to mold myself into the person I hope to be." Twelfth grade student

Sample of notable school alumni/alumnae:
- Alumnus 2005 - Graduated with a voracious hunger for knowledge. -
- Alumnus 2001 - Found the academic subjects enlivening and rigorous. -

Source: Verified school update

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much does Tara Performing Arts High School cost?

Tara Performing Arts High School's tuition is approximately $19,316 for private students.

What is the acceptance rate of Tara Performing Arts High School?

The acceptance rate of Tara Performing Arts High School is 30%, which is lower than the national average of 84%. Tara Performing Arts High School's acceptance rate is ranked among the top private schools in Colorado with low acceptance rates.

Who are famous alumni from Tara Performing Arts High School?

Tara Performing Arts High School famous alumni include: Alumnus 2005 - Graduated with a voracious hunger for knowledge. and Alumnus 2001 - Found the academic subjects enlivening and rigorous..

What is Tara Performing Arts High School's ranking?

Tara Performing Arts High School ranks among the top 20% of private schools in Colorado for: Lowest average acceptance rates.

When is the application deadline for Tara Performing Arts High School?

The application deadline for Tara Performing Arts High School is rolling (applications are reviewed as they are received year-round).

In what neighborhood is Tara Performing Arts High School located?

Tara Performing Arts High School is located in the Rural North Boulder neighborhood of Boulder, CO. There are 1 other private schools located in Rural North Boulder.

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Did You Know?

The average private school tuition in Boulder, CO is $29,237 for elementary schools and $30,009 for high schools (read more about average private school tuition across the country).

The average acceptance rate in Boulder, CO is 73% (read more about average acceptance rates across the country).