Built to Inspire

A safe, beautiful campus.

Explore Campus

Lifelong Community

Mentorship, friends, and opportunity.

Student Life

College Preparatory

A relevant curriculum with an emphasis on college readiness and placement.

Academic Approach

Hands-On Experience

Giving students an active role in their education.

Experiential Learning

More Than a School

Dawson is a community. A community of K-12 educators, faculty, and parents who believe education should not only prepare students for academic success - it should prepare them for life. We recognize our students as individuals. We value their abilities. We teach them to savor life, and graduate students ready to meet success.

Experiential Learning

Lower School

Middle School

Upper School

Celebrating the Class of 2026

Learn More About College Counseling

Dawson at a Glance

For over 50 years, we've been Colorado's top K-12 private school, and we owe it all to our gifted faculty and dedicated staff.

107-Acre

Campus Surrounded by Open Space

A+

Overall Niche Grade

#2 STEM

High School in Colorado

8-Year

Average Teacher Tenure

6:1

Student-to-Faculty Ratio

15

Average Class Size

30:1

Student-to-College Counselor Ratio

100%

Graduation Rate & College Acceptance

93%

Of the Class of '26 Were Accepted to at Least One of Their Top 3 Schools

150 Hrs

Average Time Spent Outside the Traditional Classroom

16

AP Courses

Over 80

Courses & Electives

25,000 FT²

Innovation Center

15

Interscholastic Sports & Arts Programs

Free

After-School Care for K-5 Students

Busing

Provided To/From School & Competitions

Outstanding College Outcomes

Dawson students earn admission to, and choose top colleges across the country.

Top 50 Universities
Ivy/Ivy Plus Institutions
Top Value Colleges
Most Innovative Universities

Full List of Acceptances & Matriculations

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

SCAD: The University for Creative Careers

Dawson is our partner in education

"The combination of Dawson’s elevated academic expectations, interactive learning opportunities, dedicated teachers, small class sizes, beautiful campus, safe environment, and tight-knit community cultivates an atmosphere where our daughters can excel intellectually, socially, and emotionally. They are learning to work hard, problem-solve, and help others while having fun and building meaningful relationships."

- Julie Collins, Dawson parent

"We felt like Jake wasn't being challenged during his freshman year of high school, and we were looking for ways to provide him with more enrichment. Once he started at Dawson, the level of engagement and the opportunities available were far greater than those he had at public school. When it came time to apply to college, the difference was just as clear. In our previous experience, our daughter’s college counselor was responsible for 300 students and barely knew her name. At Dawson, the college counseling team knew Jake well and was able to write a truly personal, compelling recommendation."

-Jake and Suzanne Levy, Parents of Dawson Alum Jake Levy, Class of 2025, Harvey Mudd College

I had amazing access to teachers

"Dawson is where I learned that you can be passionate about the things you do in school. Dawson does a really great job of helping kids figure out what they really care about. I could talk to faculty about work I was struggling with or just talk to them about the things I was interested in."

- Madison Pelletier, Class of 2016, Graduate of NYU and University of Cambridge

My classmates are still my closest friends

"I came to Dawson in 5th grade from public school and am so grateful for the opportunity. At Dawson, I was challenged academically and encouraged to try new things. My passion for golf was supported and nurtured, which took me to Cal Poly, but most importantly, it's where I found friends and mentors that are still some of my most cherished relationships."

- Cole Nygren, Class of 2012, Cal Poly graduate and US Amateur Golfer

Our experience at Dawson has been incredible

"We originally came to Dawson for the smaller class sizes with that, the attention and accountability for our son. We’ve returned year after year because of the community Dawson creates and the friends we’ve made along the way."

- Michelle Yano, Parent Dawson Alum Cade Yano, Class of 2025, University of Puget Sound

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