
Steamboat Mountain School blends outdoor expeditions, global studies and college preparation into a high school journey unlike any other.
Start Your Adventure Today
Join SMS for an education that goes beyond the classroom. Take the next step and inquire now.

More Than a School—An Experience
With the world as your classroom, every day at SMS is an opportunity to grow, explore, and connect.
High school at Steamboat Mountain School looks a little different. Days are filled with engaging classes, outdoor adventures, and experiences that reach across the world. In our small, welcoming community, students gain the confidence to try new things, the resilience to overcome challenges, and the skills to succeed in college and beyond.
We go well beyond traditional academics. From Global Studies travel and a progressive modular schedule that supports every passion, to close teacher mentorship and a vibrant boarding community, every element of SMS helps students grow into capable, independent young adults. Here, learning is both challenging and rewarding, and students leave prepared for whatever comes next.
Boarding That Feels Like Home
A supportive 7-day and 5-day boarding experience for Grades 9–12.
Our boarding program makes the Steamboat Mountain School experience complete. Students live where they learn, surrounded by the Rockies and supported by a community that feels like family. Come live where you’re learning, immerse yourself in our community, and make connections with new friends from around the country – and around the world. Our boarding students are able to dive deep into academic challenges and explore our beautiful location while gaining life skills and growing independence.

The World is Our Classroom
Explore the world – and find your place in it.
Steamboat’s Global Studies program immerses students in possibility through life-changing travel experiences. Recent classes have explored Cambodia, Bolivia, Senegal, Morocco, Nepal, and Ecuador and immersed themselves in culture and communities there. These real-world experiences push students outside of their comfort zones, build confidence, and foster compassion as they learn to give back to their communities locally and around the world.
Push Your Limits – On The Slopes AND In School

Get outside with Steamboat’s world-class Winter Sports Club.
Compete with Steamboat Mountain School’s world-class Winter Sports Club. In partnership with the renowned Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club, you’ll push your limits in elite skiing and snowboarding, backed by SMS’s modular academic schedule that lets you chase podiums while excelling in the classroom.
Preparing for College and Beyond
Individualized guidance for every student’s future.
Starting in Grade 9, SMS students work closely with our college counselor to find the right path forward. Our graduates go on to attend a wide range of selective colleges and universities, prepared for both the academic and personal opportunities ahead.
An Experience Like No Other
Hear about the SMS experience from the experts: our students and families.
"Steamboat Mountain School's curriculum provided me with the essential tools for college success. At Colby, I've come to appreciate the critical thinking, argumentation, and evidence-based reasoning skills that were emphasized at SMS."
– Alumni ‘19 Testimonial
“We relocated from NYC, and SMS played a central role in that decision. The school has met our expectations, nurturing the development of our children within a supportive and engaged community of families."
– Parent ‘25, ‘28 Testimonial
"The unique programming at Steamboat Mountain School provides a healthy, balanced, rigorous, and active lifestyle. The global studies program pushes kids beyond their comfortable boundaries, building resilience along the way."
– Parent ‘24 Testimonial
"The transformation in our daughter... was nothing short of remarkable. She had been anxious about the big winter skills trip. Yet, she persevered and came back beaming with pride! This experience enabled her to grow in ways that would have been nearly impossible at home."
– Parent ‘30 Testimonial
"After over a decade in Swiss private schools, we believe SMS offers one of the finest educational experiences in the world—set against the unique backdrop of Steamboat."
– Parent ‘24, ‘22 Testimonial
"SMS strikes a perfect balance between a rigorous academic college prep school and the spirit of a summer camp. Our 10th grader is thriving, taking all the 'typical' high school classes while also joining the entire 9-12 cohort for Desert Week in Moab."
– Parent ‘25 Testimonial
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GRADES K-12 DAY AND BOARDING SCHOOL
42605 County Road 36 Steamboat Springs, CO 80487