Watershed School - Boulder, Colorado

Kendall L.

My daughter left her public school and went to Watershed in her Junior year. At her old school she felt like a number, totally lost in the bureaucracy and the lack of individualized instruction. At Watershed she feels like part of a caring community. The students are extremely welcoming, engaged and self-possessed. There is not a drug culture like there was at her old school. The teachers care about each individual and know them well. The students also have advisors who advocate for them, support them and help them to problem solve.

Community-building is a big priority and it shows. Field trips and expeditions are a highlight. Students engage with their community and do work that matters. As a result the kids are much more invested in their projects. Their studies are so much more powerful because they are intertwined with the real world. My daughter is extremely hard working and she excels academically. She was worried that she wouldn't be challenged enough but she has found that the academics are taken seriously at Watershed.

I actually look forward to the newsletters written by the director because he is such a thoughtful, curious and caring person. Watershed has a college counselor who really knows her stuff and is incredibly helpful during the intimidating process of college admissions. They also have an exceptionally strong art program.

My daughter is so much happier at Watershed. She actually enjoys school for a change and is treated like the valuable unique human she is. She no longer feels invisible. Instead, she feels a sense of belonging.

Kim B.

Some of the reasons I appreciate Watershed so much are the small class sizes and level of academic support the kids get from their educators, the strong sense of community the school builds, the interesting curriculum and fieldwork the kids get to do and, lastly, the emphasis on public speaking. Watershed is preparing kids not only for college, but for life! Watershed strives to build independence within our kids while also building a strong sense of belonging within the school. It is amazing to me that our son has more friends at this small school than he ever had at his large public school. He has also developed a sense of confidence we have not seen before in him. We know that Watershed has a lot to do with the incredible growth we’ve seen in our son.

Maia W.

I went to Watershed from 8th through 12th grade. Going to Watershed was the best decision my family made for my education. It allowed me to not only learn about the world but also immerse myself in it to further my educational understanding of the content. On a trip to the Peruvian Andes, we focused on what happens to the indigenous cultures when two worlds collide and who chooses to write history. On a trip to Iceland, we concentrated on ecological diversity and how to conduct field research projects. On another trip, our class spent time on the border between Texas and Mexico, focusing on the political climate of immigration from all perspectives. All these courses and trips, and more, helped further my knowledge of thinking critically and intellectually, and, above all, to create my own opinion based on deep integrated research.

I am now approaching graduation from New York University, where I am studying journalism. This love and curiosity for journalism and documenting the world sprouted from the articulate, caring, and well-versed teachers that Watershed provides. The courses the teachers craft are thought-provoking, carefully and thoughtfully crafted to expand the student's knowledge further than any textbook could provide by creating self-driven research opportunities. As a journalism student, Watershed taught me how to conduct productive interviews and gather critical information from various sources to create a well-researched and diverse story.

Watershed helps students gain an open mind to all possibilities the world provides. I highly recommend Watershed for students looking to engage deeper in their education and understand the world not from a textbook view but by immersing themselves in it.

Claudia H.

I had the privilege to end my teaching career at Watershed last May. I carry the best memories from this community where students and staff are and feel connected like a family, sharing the joy of learning and becoming better humans inside our local and global communities. I appreciate the freedom for the staff to teach what we are passionate about and to support students in their own style and pace of learning and level of curiosity. Watershed provides unique experiences of connection and immersion in different cultures around the world, building emotional resilience, relational capacity and critical thinking in a way I have no experience in any other school before. I recommend this school to anyone looking for a place where your students wake up excited to come everyday of the week, or the majority of them! I became a much richer and grateful person during all the years teaching and learning from my students and colleagues at Watershed.

Dan W.

We're parents of two students at Watershed School and they’re truly thriving. While our kids did fine in traditional schools, the process felt transactional to them. In contrast, our kids say that Watershed’s progressive, project-based teaching approach feels meaningful, challenging, and supportive. The field work and expedition courses provide rich context and help our kids understand interconnections. At Watershed, they’ve become engaged learners who are much more aware of their community and the world around them. They’ve taken ownership of their learning and don’t need to be reminded to do their homework. The teachers are skilled and empathetic educators who seem to understand and appreciate our kids. We are confident that Watershed is preparing our kids for success in future educational endeavors and life. Watershed’s process might not work for everyone, but if your student is ready to lean into what Watershed has to offer, we highly recommend you try it!
Parents - Wendy and Dan

Anna U.

Watershed offers the most unique learning experiences I've ever come across. Their immersive work "in the field" allows for students to experience real-world applications to what they learn, while developing critical thinking and problem-solving skills. The the student-teacher relationships are truly a two-way exchange (not just teachers imparting their wisdom on students). Watershed teachers know each student and work to support their individual needs and interests. The trips—whether one-day or 3 weeks—offer once-in-a-lifetime opportunities, and there are several each year! Watershed's method of teaching ignites a love of learning in their students that will likely last a lifetime.

emelie G.

The experience at Watershed has been of the highest quality for both my children. Middle school is a challenging time and the school has made it as good of an experience as possible. The genuine care from staff and teachers to ensure my children's well-being and academic success has been impressive and is tailored to each child's needs. The out-of-school learning solidifies the students' understanding of the concepts taught and brings them into real-world scenarios that are memorable for a lifetime.

Jade P.

My daughter has been attending Watershed for the past three years and will graduate next year. Our younger daughter is eager to join the Watershed community this fall. We couldn’t be happier with our decision for our children to attend Watershed School. Small class sizes and real connections with their teachers were the main reasons we chose Watershed, but the school offers so much more. The expeditionary courses that combine subjects such as writing and science give a real world understanding of complex subjects. Fieldwork is a weekly happening with students connecting to experts in each subject. The best part of a Watershed education are the trips the children go on: these experiences vary from backpacking along the front range studying science, to visiting the Texas/Mexico border to understand immigration, learning about culture and community in Peru, and completing research on nesting patterns of birds in Iceland. My child comes home from these trips excited about her education and better connected to her classmates and teachers. Watershed is a rigorous school that teaches students to love the learning process.