Frequently Asked Questions

List of 19 items.

• How may I request more information about Colorado Academy?

  Simply click on Request Info, and we will send you information. You may also attend our annual Fall Admission Previews or our Spring Tours the year before you are interested in applying.
  
  In addition, our Admission Team has curated a Virtual Tour Experience by division. Spend 20 minutes exploring the menu of options on these pages and you will gain great insight into the CA community and culture:
  

  • Lower School Admission: Pre-K-Grade 5
  • Middle School Admission: Grades 6-8
  • Upper School Admission: Grades 9-12

• How do I apply?

  Prospective families apply to CA using our secure, online application. Simply create your own username and password, complete the information, and submit when you are finished.

• How may I schedule a tour?

  If you're interested in Colorado Academy for the 2025-2026 school year, please submit Step 1: Student Form and you will be able to schedule a campus tour through the Applicant Checklist.
  
  Prospective families are also welcome to attend any of our SPEAK events. Our arts and athletic events are open to the public and you are welcome to attend a game, concert or theater production listed on the Arts Calendar or Athletics Calendar. 
  

• When is the deadline for applying?

  The Admission Application Deadline is January 15. This includes completion of all steps including transcripts, parent/guardian form, recommendations, student visit, etc.
  
  CA continues to welcome applications to the wait pool after the January 15 deadline, but we hold off on scheduling student visits for wait pool applicants unless we anticipate an opening in the grade level.

• What admission tests are required?

  For Pre-Kindergarten, Kindergarten, and Grade 1 applicants, developmental readiness is assessed by our teachers during the Student Visit, and no other formal testing is required.

  
  For Grades 2-5, CA is test-type flexible. This means that we will accept the results from any testing that an applicant has completed within the last two years. Examples include the CogAT, WISC, DAS, MAP, ISEE, ERB, and state-specific standardized testing, among others. There is no need for the applicant to take more than one test, and the Admission Committee does not prefer one test over another.

  • If submitting CogAT, MAP testing and/or other standardized testing (such as the ERB) from the applicant's current school, request that the school send those results along with report cards and attendance records through the Transcript Request Form.
  • You may upload test scores directly to the Applicant Checklist, or else submit to admission@coloradoacademy.org. As an option, you may register your child for testing with an evaluator from the DATC (Denver Area Testing Consortium). Please contact Paige Siemers to request assistance if the fee is a hardship. 

  For Grades 6-12, CA is test-type flexible. This means that you may submit results from any standardized testing or educational evaluation that a student has completed in the last two years. Examples include the WISC, DAS, CogAT, Stanford Binet, MAP, ERB, ISEE, SSAT, HSPT, PSAT 8/9, and Pre-ACT, and state-specific standardized testing, among others. There is no need for the applicant to take more than one test, and the Admission Committee does not prefer one test over another.
  
  If the applicant does not have testing to submit from the last two years, here are some options:
  -Register for the ISEE or SSAT.
  -Register for testing with an evaluator from the DATC (Denver Area Testing Consortium).
  
  Please contact paige.siemers@coloradoacademy.org to request assistance if any test fee is a hardship.
  

• How many spaces are available each year by grade?

  Major entry points, when we add a new section to each grade, are Pre-Kindergarten, Kindergarten, Third Grade, Sixth Grade, and Ninth Grade.
  
  Prospective students may apply to CA at any grade level except Grade 12. The Admission team provides guidance to families about the likelihood of openings based on re-enrollment of current CA families each year. 

• How many students are in each grade?

  Typically, our Pre-Kindergarten enrolls no more than 36 students, and our 12th Grade class has approximately 110 students. We add new students at most every grade in between, with Pre-Kindergarten, Kindergarten, Grade 3, Grade 6, and Grade 9 as major entry points.

• What is the age requirement for Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten?

  Children must turn four years old by September 1 of the year they are entering Pre-Kindergarten, and five years old by September 1 of the year they are entering Kindergarten.

• What are you looking for in an applicant?

  CA's mission is to create curious, kind, courageous, and adventurous learners and leaders. We are looking for students who ask questions, who love to read, who work well with others, who express themselves in creative ways, who are respected by their teachers and peers, who are interested in playing sports and creating art, and who love to learn and problem solve.
  
  Our goal is to help shape students into people who will contribute to their communities in productive and interesting ways.

• How to schedule the Student Visit?

  During the regular admission season (September-January), you will be able to schedule the Student Visit after submitting Step 1: Student Form.

• Where is the Admission Office located?

  The Admission Office is located in the historic Welborn House. 

• Do siblings or children of alumni receive admission preference?

  Siblings of current students receive preference in the admission process, provided that they are qualified and there are enough openings at that grade level. Children of alumni are reviewed favorably by the Admission Committee, but there is not a specific policy preference given to children of alumni over unaffiliated applicants.

• Should I include an outside letter of reference in addition to the required recommendations?

  Outside letters of reference are only helpful when the person writing the letter knows the student well and can attest to the student’s character, academic motivation, and/or skills. CA requires recommendations from the current Principal or Counselor, English and math teachers. We have optional recommendation forms available for coaches, music instructors, arts teachers, and other academic teachers.

• How much is tuition? Books? Transportation?

  2024-2025 tuition rates are $31,770 for Pre-Kindergarten; $36,180 for Kindergarten-Grade 5; $39,190 for Grades 6-12.
  
  CA strives to be as comprehensive with tuition as possible. Financial aid is available for families who qualify based on need. Additional fees include approximately $150/year for Middle School textbooks and $250/year for Upper School textbooks/supplies and approximately $1,100 for a laptop purchased through the school starting in ninth grade. Round-trip CA bus service costs between $1,900-$3,350 depending on proximity to school.
  
  Read more about Extra Fees. These fees can often be considered in the financial aid process.

• How is financial aid awarded? What is the deadline?

  Financial aid is based on a family’s ability to pay tuition as determined by CA’s Financial Aid Committee and an outside service: Clarity Financial.
  
  By February 15, parents must submit two years’ worth of tax returns and W-2’s and complete an online Financial Aid Application outlining income, assets, and debts. The financial aid process is separate from the admission process.
  
  While the Financial Aid Application opens in November, we recommend starting the application after January 1 as it is helpful to have end-of-year tax documents available to complete the form.
  

• When will I be notified of my admission status?

  In agreement with other Association of Colorado Independent Schools (ACIS), CA's admission decisions are sent by email in late February.

• What does it mean to be placed in the wait pool?

  CA does not always have enough space in each grade to take all the applicants we would like to accept. Wait pool status means that the Admission Committee would like to admit the student once an opening occurs.

• We missed the January 15 deadline; can we still apply for the coming school year?

  CA always welcomes an application. Depending on the time of year and space availability, your application will be considered for an opening or for the wait pool.

• Where can I find a calendar for the next school year?

  Please go to Calendars.