Fountain Valley School of Colorado
www.fvs.edu
6155 Fountain Valley School Road
Colorado Springs, CO 80911
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FVS Quick Facts
- Grades: 9-12
- College prep; co-ed; boarding and day
- Enrollment: 250 (boarding: 166; day 84)
- Students represent 26 states and 14 countries; 23% of students reside outside the U.S.; 31% are students of color; 50% male, 50% female
- Student/faculty ratio: 5:1
- Average class size: 14
- Faculty: 44 full-time teaching faculty (50 total teaching faculty); 60% hold advanced degrees; 34 live on campus, with 15 in residence halls; 39 are advisers and 31 are coaches
Class of 2009 graduates received more than $670,000 in merit scholarships for college, and 100% are either attending a four-year college or taking a gap year before attending college.
Experience is at the Core of FVS Learning
Located at the base of Colorado’s majestic Rocky Mountains, Fountain Valley School of Colorado combines intellectual rigor with a spirit of adventure and exploration. Founded in 1930, the school offers a college preparatory program for motivated students who seek a diverse and challenging learning experience within a close-knit and supportive community.
Facilities
The school has a 1,100-acre main campus in Colorado Springs and a 40-acre Mountain Campus near Buena Vista, Colo. The Mountain Campus is home to the Western Immersion Program, Interim adventures, skiing expeditions, outdoor education and much more. FVS is proud of its Western roots and location, and encourages students to embrace the many opportunities associated with living in the West, including the school’s adventurous outdoor education and equestrian programs. Facilities include the Penrose Gym for athletics, swimming pool, state-of-the-art indoor riding arena and two outdoor riding arenas, performing arts center, science and computer labs, dining room, residence halls and the Art Barn.
Rigorous Academics
Academics at Fountain Valley School of Colorado are challenging and comprehensive, offering honors and Advanced Placement courses in all disciplines (19 AP courses), while providing a flexible approach to assure appropriate course placement for all students. The curriculum is designed to stimulate curiosity, encourage critical-thinking skills, develop intellectual stamina, and prepare students for the challenges of college. An FVS education is characterized by close interactions with a dedicated and accomplished faculty. A Learning Center is available for all students who may need help with time management, test-taking strategies or other academic challenge. A Learning Assistance Program is also available at an extra cost for students who need more supervised support.
College Preparation
College planning begins in the sophomore year with an introduction to the college application process. Students are encouraged to use the resources in the College Counseling Office to explore college offerings and scholarships. College counseling becomes more intense in the junior year as the staff creates a personalized College Possibilities List for all juniors to research. The list helps juniors and seniors identify the prototype of institution of higher learning that will best suit them. Seniors are then guided through the application process in their final year.
Art
The FVS Art Barn is one of the best high school art facilities around. Students take classes in ceramics, metal-smithing, photography and painting, with materials and plenty of space provided by FVS. Students routinely win local and regional art awards, and classes are offered in both 2-D and 3-D studio art. Three art shows yearly showcase student work. FVS also has its own wood-fired kiln, possibly the only high school in the country to have one.
Afternoon Program
All students are required to participate in the afternoon program. FVS is proud of its athletic tradition, including its successful riding program. The English Riding team won the Interscholastic Equestrian Association national title in 2007 and has finished in the top five three of the last four years. The boys soccer team advanced to the state final in 2007 and state semifinals in 2008. Climbing finished second in the state in 2009, and the track team had three individual state titles in 2009. Other teams advancing to the state championships (individually or as a team) in 2008-09 include cross country, golf, boys tennis, girls soccer, girls tennis and boys volleyball. Girls basketball advanced to the regional playoffs, and the ski/snowboard team had several athletes qualify for the NASTAR national championships.
Fall
- Cross Country (boys and girls)
- Dance
- Field Hockey (girls)
- Golf (boys)
- Outdoor Education
- Riding (English and Western)
- Soccer (boys, varsity and JV)
- Tennis (boys, varsity and JV)
- Theater (fall play)
- Volleyball (girls, varsity-JV-C team)
Winter
- Basketball (boys and girls, varsity and JV)
- Competitive Indoor Climbing (boys and girls)
- Dance
- Ice Hockey (boys)
- Riding (English and Western)
- Ski/Snowboard
- Swimming and Diving (girls)
- Theater (winter musical)
Spring
- Lacrosse (girls and boys, varsity and JV)
- Outdoor Education
- Riding (English and Western)
- Soccer (girls)
- Tennis (girls)
- Theater (spring play or musical)
- Track and Field (girls and boys)
- Volleyball (boys)
Experiential Learning
The Western Immersion Program for sophomores weaves the disciplines of literature, history, science and art, exploring how the Western landscape shaped the people, history and culture of the region. The Interim Program is part of the school’s emphasis on experiential education, providing students with the opportunity to expand their intellectual, cultural and social horizons beyond the classroom. The weeklong program has included such activities as kayaking in Georgia, connecting with the American musical tradition on Broadway, learning about Chinese culture in Beijing, and helping to improve living conditions for the poor in Guatemala.
Residential Life and Activities for Boarders
The residential facilities are designed based on a family-like house system, where groups of 16-20 students and one or two faculty families live in a residential unit. The four residence halls include 10 individual houses where 160 students and 13 houseparent families live. Spacious double and triple bedrooms, common rooms, a kitchen, dining area, bathrooms, laundry facilities and a computer lab are laid out in floor plans unique to each house.
The School announces planned weekend activities in advance and allows students to sign up for their chosen activity. Activities include exploring the beauty of Colorado, movies, skiing, faculty-led shopping trips to Denver, and even “spontaneity” trips where students decide at the last minute where they want to go. Some of the most popular activities take place right on campus. These include Cupid and Stupid Weekends, which are creative and fun-filled seasonal celebrations; Club Frautschi, Reggae Fest, “make your own pizza, or burrito, or sundae nights,” and special events put on by individual dorms.