Evergreen CO School Guide: How to Pick the Best School for Your Kid

Evergreen CO School Guide: Choosing the right school for your kid

🎒🌲 Whether you’re dreaming of Montessori magic, public school perks, or fancy private vibes, picking a school can feel like wandering a mountain trail without a GPS—exciting but kinda confusing. No worries! Here’s your Evergreen CO School Guide: the scoop to help you find the spot where your little one will learn, grow, and make some friends. Let’s get into it!

🎨 Tiny Tots & Montessori Magic (Ages 0–8)

🧸 Montessori School of Evergreen

Think early childhood, but on chill mountain steroids. Private PK–8 school, with ultra-low ~6:1 student–teacher ratio and tuition around $23K/year, designed for curious, independent kids.

🧸 Kids Garden

A sweeter (and more budget-friendly) alternative for ages 3–5. Think Reggio meets crafts meets outdoor play—the best of both worlds without full Montessori commitment.

🧸 Mindful Beginnings Evergreen

Woodland‑inspired toddler‑and‑preschool program (ages ~1–3), focusing on play‑based, child‑led, whole‑child learning styles like social/emotional development and motor skills. Enrollment opens for next fall. 

🧸 Evergreen Academy Preschool

Licensed center (ages 6 weeks to 5 years) using the HighScope curriculum and Conscious Discipline. Emphasizes exploration, emotional regulation, and outdoor play. Highly rated by Quality First. 

🧸 Kids Garden Evergreen

Montessori‑ and Reggio‑inspired play‑based preschool for ages 3–5. Drop‑in and membership models also available for ages 1–12 (yes, 12 years old). Flexible scheduling, STEAM enrichment, outdoor nature play, and organic snacks. 

🧸 TLC Preschool of Evergreen 

The kind of place that feels like a hug. From infants to Pre-K, kids learn through play, stories, songs, and outdoor fun—plus a big focus on kindness and character. Small class sizes, big heart vibes, and mountain-town charm.

🧸 The Great Escape Preschool is Evergreen’s cozy, faith-based spot for toddlers to Pre-K. Think creative play, music, crafts, and sweet teachers who know every kid by name. Flexible schedules + a big focus on kindness = total win.

🧸 Episcopal Day School in Evergreen is all about cozy, faith‑infused learning for kids 12 months to 6 years. Small classes, hands-on themes, and a big heart make it more than preschool—it’s community.

Bottom Line? Want your kid in a full-on Montessori journey? Go with the dedicated school. Prefer artsy preschool prep with less sticker shock? Kids Garden’s golden.

📓 Elementary Schools (K–5): Top-Notch Public & Charter Options

🥇 Bergen Meadow / Bergen Valley

Literally ranked “10/10” by GreatSchools (and among the top 25 in the state)—Central Evergreen zones feed here, and Zillow listings rightly brag about this schooling just like luxury granite countertops  .

💡 Marshdale Elementary

Another Niche/GreatSchools 10/10 school. Awarded John Irwin in 2012 & 2013, with killer tech integration and strong arts/athletics/PTA partnership  .

👍 Wilmot Elementary

Rated around 8/10. Not flashy, but reliable—strong parent-school community, inclusive programs, and steady academic growth.

💎 Parmalee Elementary

Basically the “hidden gem” of Jeffco Public Schools—a top-ranked K–5 neighborhood and gifted-center school that’s consistently earning excellence awards with a caring community. About 280 students, strong academic outcomes, and fun after-school clubs

🏫 Evergreen Country Day School is a top-tier private school in Evergreen for kids preschool through 8th grade. Known for its rigorous academics, creative learning, and supportive community ($27k for K-4th grade to give you an idea of the price…)

🌱 Charter: Rocky Mountain Academy of Evergreen (RMA)

K–8 continuity plus creative curriculum. Small size, close-knit feel—battle-tested alternative if you want something more boutique.

⚠️ Clear Creek Side: King-Murphy Elementary

Lower scores but ultra-personal, with ~240 kids, new tech, gifted programs, and tight parental involvement.

Evergreen CO School Guide: Choosing the right school for your kid

🧒 Middle Schools (6–8): Where They Start Figuring Out Life

🎓 Evergreen Middle School (EMS)

Home of the Rams—academically solid (John Irwin award-winner, top ~8%) and socially rich. No formal middle-school sports through Jeffco, but the Evergreen Rec District steps in—flag football, basketball, track, cross country, volleyball—all run through local rec  .

🎨 RMAE

Continues the small-school vibe into middle school—limited teams but strong continuity and intimate arts/academics environment.

🧩 Clear Creek Middle School

Tiny (~100 students) with clubs like band, drama, science olympiad, and sports like ski, basketball, wrestling, football—all in a cozy small-town way  .

🏫 Evergreen Country Day School is

This prestigious school bumps the price up to $29k for grades 5-8.

Evergreen CO School Guide: Choosing the right school for your kid

🎓 High School (9–12): Big Leagues

🏫 Evergreen High School

Navy-and-gold pride, 931 students, 20:1 ratio  .

Academics: Blue Ribbon winner (2007, 2015), about 96% go to college, many taking AP/honors  .

Sports: Class 4A, fierce Mountain Bowl rivalry with Conifer—football’s emotional winter highlight  .

Championships: from girls swimming (2024 4A champs!) to gymnastics, volleyball, girls’ basketball, soccer, cross country, and more ().

Fun extras: mountain biking team, mock trial national champions, Mentors in Violence Prevention pilot—all speak to well-rounded excellence  .

🏫 Clear Creek High School

Smaller (~225 students), reliable programs, mascot’s Golddiggers, easy social continuity from Clear Creek Middle  .

🎯 Charter + Options

Nearby highly-regarded schools include D’Evelyn, Ridgeview, Jefferson Academy—each specializing in STEM, classical education, arts, or college prep  .

Decision Time: What Matters Most?

Stage Don’t Miss This
Preschool Philosophy, cost, teacher quality, environment
Elementary Rigor vs community; big public vs boutique charters
Middle Sports/club access vs academic continuity
High College prep, athletics, vibe

🏀 Athlete? Artsy? Academics? Pick Your Path

Team-player kid? EMS+EHS combo has it all: full sports spectrum, intense rivalries, and school spirit.

Creative or academic-first? RMAE, Marshdale, or charter schools offer focused experiences with arts/tech emphasis.

Small & cozy over big? Clear Creek offerings are tiny schools where “everyone knows your name.”

🌟 Final Verdict

Evergreen gives you a smorgasbord: elite public schools like Bergen/Marshdale, creative Montessori/charter paths, and cozy rec-driven alternatives. Define which flavor suits your kid—whether it’s hard-charging academics, small-school intimacy, athletic ambition, or artistic exploration—and go explore! Tours and open houses are your best friends here.

Evergreen CO School Guide: Choosing the right school for your kid