Alpine Valley School

Alpine Valley School A self-directed democratic school in the Denver Metro Area. Alpine Valley School was founded in 1997 Founded in 1997, our school is located in metro Denver.

Alpine Valley School is a private day school serving students from K-12. Alpine Valley follows the Sudbury model of education, which relies on students' natural curiosity and creativity.

School is back in session, and the first week did not disappoint! πŸ‚The cardboard has been flying this week, so many crea...
08/21/2026

School is back in session, and the first week did not disappoint! πŸ‚

The cardboard has been flying this week, so many creations came through that the community decided a dedicated role was in order. Meet the newly invented Master of Cardboard, a student-created position to keep our cardboard supply organized and put to good use.

Down the hall, a crew has been deep into building a radio antenna. We kicked off our first chore days of the year, gathered for a lively School Meeting, and packed in meeting after meeting as groups across the school got organized for what's ahead.

And in the kitchen, one student baked an entire chocolate cake from scratch, solo, and enjoyed a very respectable slice (not the whole thing, promise).

We are so incredibly grateful to be back in community again, celebrating our 30th year together. So many exciting things are already in motion, and we can't wait to share them with you.

We'll be back with photos every Friday we're in session this year, so stay tuned! 🧑

08/17/2026

Almost every student at Alpine Valley School moves through a recognizable arc of growth: the thrill of total freedom, a season of figuring out what they actually want, real ownership of their community, and eventually the confidence to advocate for the whole model. We've watched it unfold since 1997.

We finally wrote the whole map down, including the stage that worries parents most and why it's actually one of the best signs a student can show.

Read "The Ages and Stages of Self-Directed Education" on our blog: www.alpinevalleyschool.com/blog/2026/8/17/the-ages-and-stages-of-self-directed-education

07/11/2026

One week away! πŸŽ‰ Join us Saturday, July 18 from 10am–12pm for our Open House at 4501 Parfet St, Wheat Ridge. It's a relaxed morning, not a sales pitch: wander campus, grab a coffee, and talk with the students, parents, and alumni who know Alpine Valley School best.

This year is extra special. The 2026-27 school year marks our 30th anniversary, making us one of the longest-running self-directed schools in the country.
Curious what school looks like when kids help shape their own days and have a real voice in how things run? Come ask us anything. RSVP and we'll mail you our booklet, "Let Them Emerge," plus a few other goodies.

Free and open to everyone. See you there: https://www.alpinevalleyschool.com/open-house

Mark your calendar! πŸ“… Our once-a-year Open House is Saturday, July 18, from 10am to noon. Come spend a relaxed morning o...
06/24/2026

Mark your calendar! πŸ“…
Our once-a-year Open House is Saturday, July 18, from 10am to noon.

Come spend a relaxed morning on campus β€” wander around, grab a coffee and a treat, and chat with the parents, and alumni who know this place best. No formal presentation, no sales pitch. Just a chance to see what a school feels like when kids have a real say in how their days unfold.

Curious what learning looks like without grades, tests, or a set curriculum? Come ask us anything.

This year is extra special: 2026-27 marks our 30th anniversary as one of the longest-running self-directed schools in the country.

RSVP and we'll mail you a free copy of our booklet, "Let Them Emerge."

πŸ“ 4501 Parfet St, Wheat Ridge
Free and open to everyone.

Details + RSVP: www.alpinevalleyschool.com/open-house

06/18/2026

We could tell you what Alpine Valley School is like. But these parents do it better. In their own words β€” what this community has meant to their families.

06/18/2026

Where do Alpine Valley School graduates end up? Everywhere. A look at the paths our alumni have taken β€” college, careers, creative work, and lives they built on their own terms.

06/18/2026

The first year at AVS is different. Alumni share what that transition was really like β€” adjusting to real freedom, finding your own path, and realizing you were capable of more than you knew.

06/18/2026

At most schools, the adults make the rules. At AVS, everyone does. Students and staff create the laws of the school together β€” and take them seriously. This is what real shared governance looks like.

06/18/2026

Leaving traditional school isn't always easy. Staying was harder. Students who made the switch to AVS share what they left behind β€” and what they found.

06/18/2026

Memorizing facts is easy. Learning how to learn β€” that's the hard part. And the part that actually matters. AVS graduates and students on why this skill changes everything.

Address

4501 Parfet Street
Wheat Ridge, CO
80033

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 3:30pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 3:30pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 3:30pm
Thursday 8:30am - 3:30pm
Friday 8:30am - 3:30pm

Telephone

+13032710525

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