Aspen Country Day School

What Aspen Country Day School does

Aspen Country Day School is a nonprofit, NAIS-accredited independent school serving PreKindergarten through Eighth Grade at its Castle Creek campus at 300 Music School Road in Aspen, Colorado. Founded in 1969 and welcoming its first students in September 1970, the school organizes its program around the 'Power of Three' philosophy, which integrates three equal pillars — Academics (language arts, mathematics, science, humanities, world languages in French and Spanish), Creative Arts (drama, music, visual art), and Outdoor Education (two progressive expeditions per year starting in Kindergarten) — into a unified PreK-8 offering delivered in three divisions (Early School, Lower School, Middle School).

The school operates a single on-campus delivery model supported by five daily bus routes spanning Glenwood Springs, Carbondale, Willits, Basalt, and Old Snowmass, with buses driven by teachers and staff. Technology stack is third-party and assessment-focused rather than proprietary, including NWEA MAP Growth and IXL for academic diagnostics, Mathematical Diagnostic Testing Project (MDTP) for math readiness, Learning Ally for accessibility, and The Social Institute #WinAtSocial for social-emotional learning. Curriculum innovations during the 2025–26 academic year include new Middle School Humanities courses unifying English and History, the RedThread English Language Arts curriculum for K-5, a new Creative Arts program for Middle School, expanded Middle School math pathways, and an expanded Early School.

Revenue is generated primarily through tuition ($42,000 per year for full Sixth Grade tuition, with a reduced Roaring Fork Scholars rate of $10,000 per year for qualifying valley students) supplemented by philanthropic donations and a $25 million 'True to Tomorrow' capital campaign supporting faculty housing, academic programming, and teacher wellness. The customer base consists of families in the Roaring Fork Valley seeking an alternative to public education, plus relocating families drawn to the school for its mountain setting and 'big-city quality' positioning. The school markets through its website, social channels (Instagram, Facebook, Vimeo), scheduled campus tours via Calendly, and partnerships with community organizations such as Mountain Parent, Aspen Recreation, and the Aspen Chamber.

Name

Aspen Country Day School

Legal name

Aspen Country Day School

Website

https://aspencountryday.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1969

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Aspen Country Day School is a nonprofit, NAIS-accredited PreK-8 independent school in Aspen, Colorado, serving Roaring Fork Valley families through its 'Power of Three' philosophy integrating academics, arts, and outdoor education.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Independent K-8 Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Child Day Care Services (8351)

akta.pro primary industry

Nonsectarian Independent Day Schools (EDAJABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

General Preschools (Play-Based) (EDACABAA), Play-Based Early Learning Academies (EDACADAE)

Keywords

• Private school education
• K-8 independent schooling
• Outdoor education programs
• Arts integrated curriculum
• Prekindergarten education

Headquarters

HQ city

Aspen

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Tuition: Primary revenue stream from tuition payments for PreK-8 private school education. Current full tuition for Sixth Grade is $42,000 per year. Roaring Fork Scholars program offers reduced tuition of $10,000 per year for qualifying students.
2. Philanthropy and Donations: Capital campaign funding and philanthropic donations from foundations and individuals supporting school initiatives including faculty housing and academic programming. 'True to Tomorrow' is a $25 million capital campaign.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Aspen Country Day School delivers private PreKindergarten through Eighth Grade education through three divisions (Early School, Lower School, Middle School) on a single Castle Creek campus in Aspen, Colorado. The school's signature "Power of Three" philosophy integrates rigorous academics, creative arts, and a nationally recognized outdoor education program featuring two expeditions per year starting in Kindergarten. Tuition-based enrollment is the primary deliverable, with supplemental Roaring Fork Scholars grants and learning support services.

Product overview

Aspen Country Day School is a PreKindergarten through Eighth Grade private independent school operating three divisions (Early School, Lower School, Middle School) at its Castle Creek campus. The school offers a unified educational product built on the 'Power of Three' philosophy integrating academics, arts, and outdoor education. Core offerings include rigorous academic programs in language arts, mathematics, science, humanities, and world languages (French and Spanish), complemented by creative arts (drama, music, art) and a nationally-recognized outdoor education program. Add-on programs include the Roaring Fork Scholars tuition grant, Learning Support & Enrichment services, and the Middle School Model with advisory and Humanities integration. The school is currently expanding its Creative Arts program and implementing curriculum innovations including the new Humanities and RedThread English Language Arts curriculum. The institution is supported by the $25 million True to Tomorrow capital campaign.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• PreK-8 Private School Education Comprehensive private school education serving PreKindergarten through Eighth Grade, with three divisions: Early School (PreK), Lower School (K-5), and Middle School (6-8). Built on the 'Power of Three' philosophy combining academics, arts, and outdoor education, delivered on the Castle Creek campus in Aspen, Colorado for families in the Roaring Fork Valley.
• Outdoor Education Program National leader in outdoor education with two expeditions per year starting in Kindergarten. Students build confidence, resilience, and joy in the outdoors through progressive experiences including backpacking, ski touring, rock climbing, and rafting. Served as a core pillar of the school's curriculum since 1969.
• Roaring Fork Scholars Program Tuition grant program for Fourth Grade and up for students demonstrating achievement in academics, arts, and outdoor education. Annual cost set at $10,000 per year through Eighth Grade, including tuition, lunch, and school bus. Requires three years enrollment at a Roaring Fork Valley school.
• Learning Support & Enrichment Student support program led by Director Sara Lowe, providing scaffolding for students needing extra support for foundational skills or stretch toward highest potential. Uses data-driven Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS), including Acadiance and MAP Growth assessments, to support and enrich every student.
• Middle School Creative Arts Program New Middle School Creative Arts program offering immersive semester courses meeting twice per week with small groups of 12 students across Music & Studio Recording, Studio Art, Theatre & Literary Arts, and Design & Engineering, blending Sixth through Eighth Graders.
• Drop Everything and Read (D.E.A.R.) Weekly Middle School tradition where students pause their day, put aside class assignments, and settle in with self-selected reading for pleasure. Held each Wednesday for 15-20 minutes to foster love of reading and build imagination.
• Middle School Humanities Program New unified Humanities courses for Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth Graders that combine English Language Arts and History/Social Studies, connecting literature with historical context to develop critical thinking during the adolescent years.
• RedThread English Language Arts Curriculum (K-5) New English Language Arts curriculum launching in Kindergarten through Fifth Grade in 2025, designed to guide teachers in creating enthusiastic, strong readers and writers.
• Differentiated Middle School Math Paths New math paths in Middle School for the 2025-26 academic year, giving Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth Grade students more choices in their mathematics course progression to support engaging education and preparation for next steps.
• School Bus Transportation Network Five daily bus routes serving PreK through Eighth Grade students traveling from throughout the Roaring Fork Valley including Glenwood Springs, Carbondale, Willits, Basalt, and Old Snowmass, with all buses driven by teachers and staff acting as faculty chaperones.

Quantifiable outcome

• Students do twice as much homework as public school counterparts
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

AI capability1 record

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS)coreOthersNAIS sets standards and oversees private schools nationwide. Aspen Country Day School is the only PreK-8 program in the Roaring Fork Valley accredited by NAIS, distinguishing it as meeting the highest standards for independent schools.
• Association of Colorado Independent Schools (ACIS)coreOthersACIS provides accreditation and represents independent schools in Colorado. Aspen Country Day School holds ACIS accreditation as part of its quality assurance.
• Anderson Ranch Arts CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnderson Ranch in Snowmass Village is mentioned as a potential partner for visiting artists to enhance the Creative Arts program. Field trips to Anderson Ranch are already being conducted.
• Jazz AspenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal arts organization in Snowmass mentioned as potential partner for visiting artists and enrichment experiences within the Creative Arts program.
• Aspen FilmminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal film organization mentioned as potential partner for creative arts enrichment and visiting artist experiences.
• Theatre AspenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal theatre organization mentioned as potential partner for performing arts enrichment and visiting artist programs.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Telluride Mountain School: Independent PreK-12 school in Telluride, Colorado. Direct peer in another Colorado ski-resort community with comparable mission, family profile, and small-school dynamics.
• Jackson Hole Community School: Independent PreK-12 school in Jackson, Wyoming. Closely comparable as another affluent mountain-resort independent school with a strong outdoor/experiential learning emphasis.
• Vail Mountain School: PreK-12 independent day school in Vail, Colorado. Highly comparable as another mountain-resort independent school serving affluent families in a similar tourism-driven economy with comparable tuition levels.
• Sun Valley Community School: Independent PreK-12 school in Sun Valley, Idaho. Comparable mountain-resort independent school with experiential and outdoor education programming serving similar family demographics.
• Colorado Rocky Mountain School: Boarding and day school in Carbondale, Colorado — directly within the Roaring Fork Valley. Highly relevant geographic peer with comparable outdoor education emphasis.
• Steamboat Mountain School: Independent K-12 school in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Comparable mountain-resort independent school serving similar family demographics in a Colorado ski community.

Others

• National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS): National nonprofit outdoor education provider based in Lander, Wyoming. Not a direct competitor but thematically adjacent; shares the outdoor/wilderness education ethos that distinguishes ACDS's curriculum.

Regional players

• Alexander Dawson School: Independent PreK-8 school in Lafayette, Colorado (Boulder/Denver area). Directly comparable in grade span (PreK-8) and independent-school positioning though serving a different (urban/suburban) market than ACDS.

Broad incumbents

• Kent Denver School: Larger, established independent K-12 school in the Denver metro area (Englewood, CO). Comparable as a high-quality Colorado independent school but with broader scale and metro positioning.
• Colorado Academy: Established independent PreK-12 school in Denver, Colorado. Comparable as a leading Colorado independent school serving a similar affluent family base, though at significantly larger scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubevimeo.com/aspencountryday
• Facebookfacebook.com/aspencountryday
• Instagraminstagram.com/aspencountryday
• Xx.com/aspencountryday

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Aspen Country Day School