Welcome!

Our Mission

As a K-12 community, the mission of the Rocky Mountain School of Expeditionary Learning (RMSEL) is to empower students and staff to be learners, thinkers, citizens, and explorers engaged in and inspired by the real world. "We are crew not passengers." 

Who We Are

A public school of choice, RMSEL is a vital partnership of five Denver-area school districts: Aurora, Denver, Cherry Creek, Douglas County and Littleton; and two non-profit organizations actively involved in the renewal of public education: Outward Bound and the Public Education and Business Coalition. Expeditionary Learning captures the power of Outward Bound principles and research about best practices and combines them in the classroom to promote high academic achievement and character development.

RMSEL was founded on the ideals of Outward Bound and organizes its curriculum around multidisciplinary learning expeditions. Academic achievement and character development are placed together at the core of the curriculum. Our standards-based K-12 portfolio assessment system makes explicit the criteria by which success can be measured and documents the accomplishment of high academic and character standards. We place a high value on:

• Interdisciplinary learning
• Collaborative learning
• Active engagement in real issues, content and skills
• Development and demonstrations of deep knowledge, higher-order thinking skills and effective communication
• Service and character

Our Students

The school, housed in the former Ash Grove Elementary School building in southeast Denver, opened its doors to 215 students in grades K-9 on September 7, 1993. We now enroll 333 students in grades K-12, with an approximate mix of 160 students from Denver Public schools, 45 from Douglas County schools, 81 from Cherry Creek schools, 35 from Littleton Public schools and 27 from Aurora Public schools. RMSEL serves a socio-economically diverse population comprising 25% students of color, which reflects the diversity of the five sponsoring districts.

Our Staff

RMSEL has 18 highly qualified and dedicated teachers with 85% holding graduate degrees and one holding National Board Certification or Master Teacher status. Additionally, a visual arts specialist, a health and fitness specialist, a media and technology specialist, six classrooms assistants, one adventure coordinator, two special educators and one literacy specialist, support our students. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.5 to one.  The average teaching experience is nine years.