Animas High School
Animas High School is a tuition-free public charter high school in Durango, Colorado, serving approximately 200 students in grades 9-12 through a project-based learning curriculum, dual enrollment, and college/career preparation programs, funded by Colorado per-pupil allocations and community donations.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2009
- HeadquartersDurango, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Animas High School does
Animas High School is a tuition-free public charter high school located in Durango, Colorado, founded in 2009 and operated as a nonprofit under a charter agreement with the state. It serves approximately 200 students in grades 9-12 from the regional Southwest Colorado area. The school's core educational product is a project-based learning (PBL) curriculum in which students address real-world problems through cross-disciplinary projects culminating in presentations and digital portfolios. Signature programs include college and career preparation with dual/concurrent enrollment, LINK Internships, XBlock elective classes, TPOLs (Testimonial Portfolio of Learning), and end-of-semester Exhibitions of Learning.
The school's underlying technology is standard education SaaS: Infinite Campus for the student information system and Google Workspace for Education (Docs, Drive, Sheets, Forms, Calendar) for instructional and administrative workflows. The institution also produces the "Beyond the Bell: Education for a Meaningful Life" podcast, a 7-episode series exploring how schools and communities build critical thinking and civic capacity. Operationally, Animas relies on Infinite Campus for SIS and scheduling, Google Forms for applications and campus tour sign-ups, and Google Docs/Drive for the student handbook, board materials, and financial transparency disclosures.
Revenue is generated almost entirely through Colorado per-pupil state funding as a public charter school, supplemented by community donations and an annual fundraising appeal. Tuition is $0, and enrollment is open to every student in the region without academic gating. Go-to-market is community-led: prospective families engage via campus tours, the website, Facebook, the "News from the Nest" email newsletter, and community events. Animas is governed by a Board of Directors with no parent organization or external owner. The institution is in an active leadership transition, with Dreher Robertson announced in February 2026 as incoming Head of School for the 2026/27 academic year, succeeding Rebecca Ruland.
Animas High School firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Animas High School
- Legal name
- Animas High School
- Website
- https://animashighschool.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2009
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Animas High School is a tuition-free public charter high school in Durango, Colorado, serving approximately 200 students in grades 9-12 through a project-based learning curriculum, dual enrollment, and college/career preparation programs, funded by Colorado per-pupil allocations and community donations.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Animas High School industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Charter School Education
- NAICS
- Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Public High Schools (EDAJAAAD)
Keywords
Where Animas High School is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Durango
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Animas High School business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Public Charter School Funding: Funded through per-pupil state funding and public education allocations as a tuition-free public charter school. Additional revenue comes from community donations and fundraising to supplement programs.
- Donations and Fundraising: Community donations and annual appeals support the full Animas Experience. Public schools including charters are underfunded, relying on generous community support.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Free Public Education |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
Animas High School product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Animas High School is a tuition-free public charter high school in Durango, Colorado serving approximately 200 students in grades 9-12. The school delivers a project-based learning curriculum where students tackle real challenges with real outcomes, supplemented by college and career preparation including dual enrollment courses, LINK Internships, Digital Portfolios, XBlock elective classes, Exhibitions of Learning, and TPOLs. The school maintains a 6:1 student-teacher ratio to ensure personalized attention in a close-knit, inclusive community.
Product overview
Animas High School is a tuition-free public charter school offering a unified project-based learning educational experience. The core offering centers on project-based curriculum with real-world applications, supplemented by college and career preparation including dual enrollment courses and internships. Key programmatic elements include XBlock elective classes, LINK Internships, Digital Portfolios, Exhibitions of Learning, and TPOLs (Testimonial Portfolio of Learning). The school also produces the 'Beyond the Bell' podcast and maintains flagship programs. The school uses Infinite Campus as its student information system and integrates with Google productivity tools for document management and scheduling.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Project-Based Learning Curriculum Core educational approach where students tackle real challenges through projects, developing critical thinking and real-world skills with tangible outcomes. Designed for high school students (grades 9-12) at Animas High School.
- College & Career Preparation Program Program offering dual enrollment courses, internships, and post-secondary planning built into the student experience to prepare for college and career success. Designed for AHS students in grades 9-12.
- Dual Enrollment / Concurrent Enrollment Advanced coursework allowing students to engage with college-level material while still in high school, earning college credits. Registration documented for Fall 2026 concurrent enrollment.
- Digital Portfolios Student digital portfolios for showcasing work and achievements throughout their high school experience. Used by AHS students to document academic progress.
- LINK Internships Internship program providing real-world work experience as part of the Animas Experience and college/career preparation curriculum for AHS students.
- Flagship Programs Distinguished programs within Animas High School that represent core educational pillars and unique learning opportunities for students.
- Beyond the Bell Podcast A 7-episode podcast produced by Animas High School exploring how schools, families, and communities nurture critical thinking, emotional intelligence, and civic responsibility. Targeted at education community and prospective families.
Quantifiable outcome
- Graduates prepared for college, career, and civic life through real-world project experience
Companies that use Animas High School
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Animas High School technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration6 records
Feature1 record
Animas High School partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Powerhouse Science Center (Powerhouse)minorPowerhouse Summer Camp Discovery program hosted on AHS campus for first time in 2026; week-long science camps for curious minds
- Durango DEVOminorDurango Devo Summer Science Camps for 1st through 5th graders held on AHS campus; ongoing partnership providing experiential education
- Dreher Robertson (Incoming Head of School)coreDreher Robertson announced as new Head of School for 2026/27 academic year, succeeding Rebecca Ruland who served since 2022
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Animas High School competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- BASIS Charter Schools: Network of tuition-free public charter schools emphasizing rigorous college-prep academics and small classes — comparable to AHS as a high-performing, college-focused public charter.
- Big Picture Learning: Network of project-based, internship-driven schools whose 'learning through internships' and exhibition-based model closely mirrors AHS's LINK Internships and Exhibitions of Learning.
- High Tech High: San Diego-based public charter school network built around project-based learning, internship, and exhibition models — the closest direct analog to AHS's PBL-plus-portfolio-plus-internship stack.
- Rocky Mountain Prep: Denver-based Colorado public charter school network serving grades K–12; comparable as a Colorado-licensed, tuition-free public charter school operator.
- KIPP Public Schools: National network of public charter schools serving grades K–12 with a college-prep mission, small school communities, and strong brand — directly comparable as a public charter operator.
- DSST Public Schools: Denver-based Colorado public charter network focused on college readiness and STEM; shares state funding model and Colorado charter regulatory regime with AHS.
Broad incumbents
- EL Education: National K–12 network and curriculum partner supporting project-based learning, portfolios, and exhibitions — a broader incumbent that shapes the same PBL category AHS operates in.
Regional players
- Telluride Mountain School: Telluride, CO-based K–12 independent school in the same Southwest Colorado mountain region, serving families seeking an alternative to district public schools.
- Durango School District 9-R: Local traditional public school district in Durango, CO that competes with AHS for the same regional students and is the authorizer-adjacent public alternative.
- Colorado Rocky Mountain School: Carbondale, CO-based independent boarding and day school serving grades 9–12; competes for the same mountain-region families seeking an alternative to traditional public high schools.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Animas High School social profiles
Digital presenceAnimas High School compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance5 records
Animas High School financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Animas High School leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Animas High School funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Animas High School M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Animas High School
What does Animas High School do?
Animas High School is a tuition-free public charter high school in Durango, Colorado serving approximately 200 students in grades 9-12. The school delivers a project-based learning curriculum where students tackle real challenges with real outcomes, supplemented by college and career preparation including dual enrollment courses, LINK Internships, Digital Portfolios, XBlock elective classes, Exhibitions of Learning, and TPOLs. The school maintains a 6:1 student-teacher ratio to ensure personalized attention in a close-knit, inclusive community.
Is Animas High School a public or private company?
Animas High School is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Animas High School founded?
Animas High School was founded in 2009. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Animas High School based?
Animas High School is headquartered in Durango, United States, in the North America region.
How does Animas High School make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Public Charter School Funding is the primary driver. The others are donations and Fundraising.
Who are Animas High School's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are BASIS Charter Schools, Big Picture Learning, High Tech High, Rocky Mountain Prep, KIPP Public Schools and DSST Public Schools. EL Education is listed as a broad incumbent. Regional players are Telluride Mountain School, Durango School District 9-R and Colorado Rocky Mountain School.
Does Animas High School have an API?
No public API is recorded for Animas High School.
What industry is Animas High School in?
Animas High School's product category is Charter School Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAJAAAD, Public High Schools. Its NAICS code is 6111 and its SIC code is 8200.