Vail Mountain School

Vail Mountain School main entrances

Vail Mountain School is an independent K -12 college preparatory school in Vail, Colorado. It is accredited by the Association of Colorado Independent Schools and is a member of the National Association of Independent Schools. Its curriculum includes fine art, music, the performing arts, and a physical training program.

History

1962-63 With no school in Vail, parents Jack Tweedy, Betty Seibert, and Barbara Parker form Vail Country Day School (VCDS) with Allen Brown as its first teacher. The first classes were held October 15, 1962 around the dining table of Betty and Peter Seibert. Mid-year, VCDS moves to The Lodge at Vail after its construction is completed.

1963-64 VCDS enrollment doubles.

1964-65 Allen Brown named head teacher at VCDS and is joined by Judy Marshall Nelson who teaches the first Kindergarten. Vail pioneer Dick Hauserman together with VCDS parent, Ted Kindel, negotiate use of the top floor of the Vail Fire House. Parent volunteers transform the space into two large classrooms, library, teacher’s office, and bathroom.

1965-66 VCDS grows to twenty-six students and three teachers, with Ginny Crowley as head teacher.

1966-67 The Town of Vail is incorporated. VCDS parent Ted Kindel becomes first mayor of Vail.

1967-68 VCDS relocates to the new Vail Clinic Building on West Meadow Drive in a single classroom using an “open space” concept.

1968-69 Eagle County School District forms Vail’s first public school, absorbing the students and resources of VCDS in grades K-six. VCDS grades seven and eight relocate to Vail Associates offices on Wall Street, and then to the Bank of Vail Building in Crossroads.

1970-71 VCDS moves to the Tivoli Lodge and then Lionshead Center. All six students take home medals from the Vail Standard Ski Race. Over the years, a number of VCDS students will compete as members of the U.S. Ski Team. During the early years of the school, students were dismissed mid-day to ski. This tradition continues today with Friday afternoon school-wide ski outings during the winter trimester.

1971-72 Vail Associates provides another new home for VCDS, offering the use of the conference room in the Lionshead Gondola Building.

1972-73 VCDS holds the first Annual Kitchen Tour to establish a scholarship fund under the leadership of Headmaster J. Neil Smith. The event continues to this day as the Home Tour. For the first time, the school admits out-of-area students, most of whom are Ski Club Vail racers living with local host families.

1973-74 VCDS is renamed Vail Mountain School (VMS) and continues to grow as a school for ski racers. The school adds a tenth grade during the fall and fifth and sixth grades in January, bringing enrollment to forty-five students.

1974-75 VMS is issued a five-year lease by Vail Associates on the property at Meadow Mountain, now occupied by the Forest Service. Parent volunteers, students, and faculty work together to improve the property. Two modular buildings are added to the campus.

1975-76 Caryle Clark is appointed headmaster. Vali Pulis, Peggy Augustine, Erik Brofos, and Lael Fray are the first seniors to graduate from VMS.

1976-77 Peter Abuisi is hired to direct the lower and middle schools as well as teach language arts and social studies. Enrollment grows to 112 with the addition of grades one through four. Planning for a permanent facility at the school’s present day Booth Creek location is underway.

1978-79 Peter Abuisi becomes Headmaster. The school graduates eight seniors, all of whom will enter college in the fall. This milestone represents a continued commitment to a college preparatory curriculum. Construction of the Booth Creek facility begins in May on a multi-acre parcel donated to the school by Vail Associates. The project is designed by architect Gordon Pierce and built by developer Bob Lazier, both of whom are then-current VMS parents and board members.

1979-80 Despite opening a week late, the new VMS building is constructed in record time during a single summer recess. Undeterred by the delay, classes start on schedule using locations in Vail Village as a temporary campus. 107 students attend grades one through twelve at the new campus with eleven seniors graduating in May.

1980-81 VMS is granted membership in the Association of Colorado Independent Schools (ACIS). Exterior restoration of the Homesteader Cabin, which was built in 1906, is completed with the guidance of Edna Baldauf Norgaard who spent her childhood there. Norgaard is awarded an honorary diploma at graduation.

1981-82 VMS becomes a member of the National Association of Independent Schools. The curriculum continues to evolve with the introduction of advanced placement calculus and expansion of computer science.

1982-83 Celebrating its 20th academic year, the school has grown from seven students and one teacher to 137 students with fourteen teachers. The curriculum has evolved from tutor-based instruction to a college preparatory course of study. Thirteen seniors graduate, bound for colleges and universities nationwide.

1984-85 Kindergarten returns to VMS with a class of twelve. A campus expansion houses a purpose built kindergarten classroom, math center, computer lab, conference room, and kitchenette.

1987-88 VMS celebrates its 25th anniversary. The school begins its celebration by entering a float, which won first place, in the Town’s Fourth of July parade.

1988-89 Headmaster Peter Abuisi is recognized by Williams College as a recipient of the George Olmstead Prize for Excellence in Secondary School Teaching.

1989-90 VMS Campus Center is built, expanding the Booth Creek facility. The center includes a gymnasium, locker rooms, and a stage for performing arts. Enrollment reaches 180 students taught by twenty-one teachers.

1992-93 At the milestone of its 30th anniversary, the school continues to grow. Needing more space, the attic is converted to classrooms, office space, and work areas.

1993-94 VMS develops its first strategic plan.

1995-96 The school’s library expands with total volumes reaching 10,034 in May.

1996-97 VMS launches SummerQuest, a program for middle school students in Eagle County Public Schools who have been identified as talented and in need of additional academic support.

1997-98 VMS celebrates its 35th anniversary. Successful fundraising provides over $200,000 in need-based tuition assistance. Land in Sweetwater is purchased for student retreats.

1998-99 VMS is re-accredited by ACIS.

1999-00 VMS adopts its second Strategic Plan, resulting in a decision to expand the school.

2001-02 VMS enrollment grows to 260 students with forty faculty members, drawing from as far east as Breckenridge and as far west as Gypsum.

2002-03 The $26 million “!magine” Capital Campaign is launched by VMS to fund a completely new campus at the existing location. Vail Resorts donates the land east of Katsos Ranch Road for faculty housing. Ground is broken on the new facility in April 2003.

2003-04 The first phase of construction at VMS, including relocation of the cabin, the addition of a synthetic soccer field, and realignment of Katsos Ranch Road is completed.

2004-05 Phase two of construction at VMS is completed for school opening and includes art rooms, computer lab, music rooms, classrooms, theatre, library, and the Common. Enrollment expands to 315 students. Twenty-six seniors graduate in May.

2005-06 The new VMS campus is dedicated on September 23, 2005, marking the completion of phase three of construction, which includes a new kindergarten room, dining room, gymnasium, and playground.

2006-07 VMS adopts its third strategic plan focusing on academics, aesthetics, athletics, character, and settings.

2008-09 The school is re-accredited by ACIS.

2009-10 VMS awards more than $1,000,000 in need based tuition assistance to a total of 26% of the students.

2010-11 Upper school launches a one-week Intraterm for tenth grade students to expand the traditional curriculum. Further enrichment opportunities are provided by staff focused on community service, outdoor education, technology, and college counseling. The school installs solar panels on the roof.

2018-19 Following a successful pilot program in the Spring of 2018, Vail Mountain School implemented a mandatory project based learning curriculum for second semester seniors.

Notable alumni

• Michael Johnston