I attended this school from 2nd grade through high school graduation…read more What makes this school unique is how it does not follow the traditional schedule of most schools. Breaks are taken from elementary school on to have students experience the world around them. Each year students take a different trip, starting in elementary school to places like MEsa Verde or Bent's Old Fort. In Middle School there are many programs to choose from that allow you to take a break from constant studying and explore topics that are interesting for you (I remember taking comic book art and acting). In High School the ECS program cannot be beat. A whole month off to study a topic in depth while traveling? I went to Italy and Bulgaria with these programs and felt that they enhanced my life and encouraged me to explore beyond what most students have when finishing high school. It also gives students the opportunity to play sports when they may not of had one in other schools. It may have changed since I was there, but anyone who wanted to play a sport could, and tryouts would only determine JV and Varsity levels. Small class sizes and dedicated and talented teachers make this school stand out. I owe a lot of my bright future to the great education I received at this school.

CSS is an amazing non-profit, independent day school. Easy access since they have a bus system. It…read moreis an age 3 to grade 12 college prep program with incredible life skills and social/emotional learning included in the program. Great sports and art options too. Absolutely no other place quite like it to receive such a well rounded education. Small classes sizes. Stellar faculty, staff, parents, and students. This is a place to call home.

I just graduated this school! This is school is amazing! They teach you French and a lot about…read morecultures. They have something called international tour day and it's when you get to learn about different cultures. It isn't strict at all. If you bully someone you will get expelled! There is barely any violence or bullying. I 100% recommend this school!

Absolutely top notch educators. This is the best charter school in Colorado hands down. I have and…read morewill continue to recommend this school to all my friends and neighbors.

Very good school. Academics are high, all kids are at least a year ahead of the standard. If there…read moreare any kids struggling, they are helped as much as needed until they catch up. Bullying is practically non-existent in this school.

We moved our son here from district 70 last year. One of the best moves we made for him. He has…read moredone far beyond what he was doing at district 70! So far his teachers have been such blessings

It's been a few years since I switched my son to this school. It has been and is still a wonderful…read moreschool and I couldn't see my son anywhere else. The staff is always very friendly. We sure are going to miss this school when he has to leave for middle school! Best elementary school in canon city thanks Lincoln

Great school with wonderful staff. Small school, so no worries about a new kindergartner getting…read morelost amid the numbers.

My son who attends asked me to give 5 stars. he enjoys going to school each day, there are lots…read moreof activities for the children and each teacher has been easy to communicate with. We have been very happy here!

5/2: Update: It's a different school now. The below review no longer relevant. I have no knowledge…read moreof the current school. The most amazing "little school that could". My son just graduated and we were looking back at what he achieved. It's simply incredible. School plays, lego league, chess, debate, technology club, VEX Robotics World Championships competing against high schools in California and of course solar cars, where Woodlands come home with armfuls of prizes. Great teachers who really care and classes sizes you wouldn't believe. (4-6, but not above 8 was our experience). He learned a lot and turned out a most polite young man. Would strong recommend - contact me for any more details!

A hidden gem! We…read moremoved to Castle Pines in January (from out of state) & only recently found Woodlands Academy in Castle Rock. I wish I had found them sooner. My 10 year old had been in the gifted program at her old school, had been doing well & loved school. While Douglas County school district has an open enrollment policy and a ton of charter/magnet schools, you can't actually get into any of them when you move in the middle of the year (in addition to missing the lottery for the following year). Our neighborhood elementary school was awful. I had a bad feeling about it the first time we visited it & have learned my lesson about listening to myself. It got worse over time until I was desperate to find another place (& had to promise my daughter that she would not have to go back there for 5th grade--no matter what--just to get her to be willing to get up & go to school every morning). She never had any homework, including math, and never had any make-up work when she was out sick--including a whole week she was out when we finished moving which the teachers knew about ahead of time. No assignments whatsoever. And there was no communication about anything they were studying or about any tests/projects/grades or anything. Luckily, I happened upon the Woodlands Academy while looking for another school for the following year, having promised my daughter that she would not have to go back to her old school. After applying, she went to shadow at the school to see if she liked it, while also giving them the opportunity to test her to see if she would be a good fit for their academically accelerated program. As it turns out, we were lucky that a new charter school had opened close by and had taken a lot of their students, so they had openings!!! The school was so fabulous I couldn't believe it. Very small classes with lots of one-on-one attention. They have lots of outside activities like going to the opera and hiking local places. It was so impressive that I withdrew my daughter from the local public school and am having her finish out the year there. I wouldn't normally think that would be a good idea, but she wasn't learning anything at her old school, so I couldn't imagine it being negative in any way. She went to shadow and never went back to her old school. Thankfully, the small classes allow the teachers to help catch my daughter up in things that she missed learning during her months in public school (important things that all 4th graders need to know for future school success). She loves going to school again! Now she comes home excited about debate class, learning a foreign language (they offer Spanish, French, German & Latin) and building a battery powered car (the middle schoolers designed solar powered) in technology class. If you are looking for an alternative school choice for an exceptional 1st-8th grader, I highly recommend Woodlands Academy. We are excited to have a great place lined up for next year. If I had found them sooner, or my about to be 8th grader hadn't already gotten into the STEM School & Academy for next year, I would pull her out of her enormous middle school and gladly send her to the Woodlands Academy where she could get the attention she deserves as an above average student who is clearly not getting enough attention focussed on her with her classes of 30+ students at the local middle school (which had great reviews, btw).