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Average

#64 of 188 private schools in CO

Top 34% of private schools

Shining Mountain Waldorf School

School

999 VIOLET AVE, Boulder, CO 80304

Private Estimated Score

Estimated academic score. This school does not have standardized test data. Based on CO statewide data. Learn more

Enrollment

199

Student-Teacher

5.3:1

Score

6.9

Grades

Pre-K – 12th

Updated 2021-22

How this school compares

In Boulder

#5 of 9

public schools

Colorado schools

#27 of 59

About Shining Mountain Waldorf School

Shining Mountain Waldorf School serves 199 students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade in Boulder, Colorado. This regular public school offers an intimate learning environment with an exceptionally low student-teacher ratio of 5.3:1, supported by 37 full-time equivalent teachers who can provide personalized attention to each student. The school earns an 8.1 out of 10 rating from MySchoolScout and ranks #115 out of 188 schools statewide, placing it in the 39th percentile among Colorado schools.

This solid performance reflects the school's commitment to nurturing student development across all grade levels within its unique educational approach. Shining Mountain Waldorf School is nestled in Boulder's 80304 zip code, an affluent and highly educated community where 75% of residents hold bachelor's degrees or higher. The neighborhood's median household income of $111,638 and median home value of $1,059,900 reflect the area's prosperity, while the low poverty rate of 8.5% among the 25,617 local residents indicates a stable community environment.

The school operates within Boulder's vibrant mid-size city setting, where families value educational excellence and community engagement. This location provides students with access to both natural beauty and cultural opportunities that enhance their learning experience.

What Parents Should Know

With an enrollment of 199 students, Shining Mountain Waldorf School is a smaller school where families often find a close-knit community atmosphere. Smaller settings can mean more individual attention from teachers and staff, though they may offer fewer extracurricular options than larger schools.

With a student-teacher ratio of 5.3:1, Shining Mountain Waldorf School offers a notably low ratio compared to the national average. This typically means smaller class sizes and more opportunities for one-on-one interaction between students and teachers.

As a private school, Shining Mountain Waldorf School operates independently from the local public school district. Families considering this school should inquire about tuition costs, financial aid availability, and the admissions process. Private schools are not required to follow the same curriculum standards as public schools, which can be either an advantage or a consideration depending on your priorities.

Compare to Public Schools

Beta

How Shining Mountain Waldorf School compares to 30 public schools serving similar grades in Boulder, CO

Student-Teacher Ratio
5.3:1
This School
vs
16.4:1
Public Avg
Avg School Size
199
This School
vs
431
Public Avg
Avg School Scout Rating
6.9
This School
vs
7.5
Public Avg

Student Demographics

White 91.5% vs 0%
Hispanic 2% vs 0%
Asian 2% vs 0%
Black 1% vs 0%
Shining Mountain Waldorf School Boulder Public Avg

Nearby Other Schools

School Rating
Shining Mountain Waldorf School (this school) 6.9
Crest View Elementary School 7.9
Centennial Middle School 7.5
Foothill Elementary School 8.2
Columbine Elementary School 7.8
Casey Middle School 5.8
Mapleton Early Childhood Center 7.5
Whittier Elementary School 5.2
Williamsburg Academy of Colorado
Boulder High School 7.1
Flatirons Elementary School 8.6
University Hill Elementary School 8.6
New Vista High School 5.5
High Peaks Elementary School 8.9
Boulder Community School/Integrated Studies 4.9
Eisenhower Elementary School 9.0
Boulder Prep Charter High School 8.0
Creekside Elementary School at Martin Park 9.3
Horizons K-8 School 7.1
Manhattan Middle School of the Arts and Academics 8.5
Bear Creek Elementary School 6.8

Showing 20 of 30 schools. View all schools in Boulder

Demographics sourced from NCES Private School Survey (PSS) and Common Core of Data (CCD). Comparisons are based on enrollment-weighted averages.

Score Breakdown

What This Rating Measures

This rating reflects classroom size, instructional time, student diversity, community resources, and school characteristics. Private schools are ranked against other private schools in CO.

Classroom Attention
? Student-teacher ratio calibrated against other private schools. Lower ratios mean more individual attention. (30% of overall score)
A 9.2 / 10
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio 5.3:1
Instructional Commitment
? Total annual instructional hours based on school day length and days per year. (15% of overall score)
B- 5.1 / 10
View breakdown
School Day Length 6.5 hours
Annual Instructional Hours 1,196
Diversity & Inclusion
? Racial and ethnic diversity of the student body using Simpson's diversity index. (20% of overall score)
C+ 3.8 / 10
View breakdown
Diversity Index 15%
Community Context

Data Unavailable

School Profile
? Enrollment size and grade span breadth — indicators of program depth and peer community. (15% of overall score)
A- 8.4 / 10
View breakdown
Enrollment 199
View data sources

Score basis: Private school model

Data coverage: 80% of scoring components had data

Components scored: 4 of 5

Ranking pool: Private schools in CO

Test Scores

Test score data not yet available for this school.

Student Demographics NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

White 91.5%
Two or More 3.0%
Hispanic 2.0%
Asian 2.0%
Black 1.0%
Native American 0.5%

Source: NCES Private School Survey (PSS)

Location

999 VIOLET AVE, Boulder, CO 80304

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Shining Mountain Waldorf School may also want to explore other schools in the area. Eisenhower Elementary School (rated 9.0/10, 4.2 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is High Peaks Elementary School (rated 8.9/10, 4.1 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Flatirons Elementary School (rated 8.6/10, 3.2 miles away), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Boulder, see our Boulder schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 4.2 mi
School Distance Rating
JARROW MONTESSORI SCHOOL Boulder 0.6 mi 6.1
Crest View Elementary School Boulder 0.6 mi 7.9
TARA PERFORMING ARTS HIGH SCHOOL Boulder 0.7 mi 7.3
Foothill Elementary School Boulder 1.3 mi 8.2
Centennial Middle School Boulder 1.1 mi 7.5
Columbine Elementary School Boulder 1.8 mi 7.8
WATERSHED SCHOOL Boulder 2.0 mi 5.9
Casey Middle School Boulder 2.2 mi 5.8
SACRED HEART OF JESUS SCHOOL Boulder 2.3 mi 7.0
Mapleton Early Childhood Center Boulder 2.4 mi 7.5
Whittier Elementary School Boulder 2.4 mi 5.2
Williamsburg Academy of Colorado Boulder 2.6 mi
Boulder High School Boulder 2.9 mi 7.1
SEPTEMBER SCHOOL Boulder 3.0 mi 7.3
Flatirons Elementary School Boulder 3.2 mi 8.6
University Hill Elementary School Boulder 3.5 mi 8.6
New Vista High School Boulder 3.8 mi 5.5
High Peaks Elementary School Boulder 4.1 mi 8.9
Boulder Community School/Integrated Studies Boulder 4.1 mi 4.9
Eisenhower Elementary School Boulder 4.2 mi 9.0

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 80304 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$121,534

Median Home Value

$1,166,100

Median Rent

$1,956/mo

Population

25,634

College Educated

77.5%

Homeownership

69.5%

Avg Commute

18.1 min

Poverty Rate

8.7%

Median Age

41.5

Community Profile

The community surrounding Shining Mountain Waldorf School has a median household income of $121,534. It is a well-educated community where 78% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $1,166,100, with a median rent of $1,956/month. The local poverty rate of 8.7% is relatively low. Residents enjoy a short average commute of 18 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Flagler Public School Flagler, CO 6.9
MILE HIGH ACADEMY Highlands Ranch, CO 6.9
DENVER ACADEMY OF TORAH Denver, CO 7.1
Genoa-Hugo School Hugo, CO 7.3
STEAMBOAT MOUNTAIN SCHOOL Steamboat Springs, CO 7.3
FRONT RANGE BAPTIST ACADEMY Fort Collins, CO 6.5

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Shining Mountain Waldorf School

What grades does Shining Mountain Waldorf School serve?

Shining Mountain Waldorf School serves students in grades Pre-K through 12th.

How many students attend Shining Mountain Waldorf School?

Shining Mountain Waldorf School has an enrollment of approximately 199 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Shining Mountain Waldorf School?

The student-teacher ratio at Shining Mountain Waldorf School is 5.3:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 11:1 for private schools.

How does Shining Mountain Waldorf School rank in CO?

Shining Mountain Waldorf School is ranked #64 out of 188 private schools in CO.

What is Shining Mountain Waldorf School's MySchoolScout rating?

Shining Mountain Waldorf School has a composite rating of 6.9 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.

Is Shining Mountain Waldorf School a private school?

Yes, Shining Mountain Waldorf School is a private coeducational school with a Nonsectarian affiliation. Private schools are not required to participate in state standardized testing, so academic performance data may be limited compared to public schools.

Is Shining Mountain Waldorf School a religious school?

No, Shining Mountain Waldorf School is a nonsectarian (non-religious) private school.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

City Safety
High (3,086/100K)

FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Boulder). Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

Grades
Pre-K – 12th
Enrollment
199
Gender Split
42% M / 58% F
Student-Teacher Ratio
5.3:1
Teachers (FTE)
37
Type
private
Coed Status
coed
Affiliation
Nonsectarian
School Day
6.5 hours
Days Per Year
184 days
Setting
Midsize City
County
BOULDER
Data Year
2022–2023

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

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