The Mountain Peak Difference

Mountain Peak
MPPS guarantees small class sizes, 12 or less in Kindergarten, 16 or less in 1st-6th, and smaller numbers in preschool.

Public Schools
Class sizes range from 25-40 students per class depending on the school.

Charter School
Flagstaff: “Optimal class size guidelines” are stated at 23 for Kindergarten, 25 for elementary, and 27 for middle school. Most classes are larger than this.

Twin Peaks: Class size maximums of 26 for K-5th. The Principal may, for educational/instructional purposes only, (such as promotion, retention, and class groupings) authorize that any grade level exceed the maximum enrollment.

Mountain Peak
MPPS offers daily physical education for all classes preschool through 6th grade.

Daily PE relieves stress, develops important motor skills, and promotes healthy lifelong choices. Healthy bodies create healthy minds.

Public School
Most schools offer PE once or twice a week for elementary students.

PE is generally not offered for Kindergarteners.

Charter School
Flagstaff: Frequency of PE classes is not published. Listed in handbook as time being split up with other “specials” classes.

Twin Peaks: K through 5th Grade PE classes meet every other day during two quarters per school year. No stated guidelines for the other two quarters.

Mountain Peak
A nationwide accepted standardized test is given in the spring. Generally completed in less than two weeks with no disruption to classes.

Public School
CSAP tests have been given as required by the State of Colorado. With up to two weeks scheduled for administering the tests and anywhere from 2-6 weeks of prepping the students to take the tests, valuable time is taken away from other subjects and activities. A new test started in 2012.

Charter School
CSAP tests have been given as required by the State of Colorado. With up to two weeks scheduled for administering the tests and anywhere from 2-6 weeks of prepping the students to take the tests, valuable time is taken away from other subjects and activities. A new test started in 2012.

Mountain Peak
MPPS draws upon various curriculums allowing our teachers to individualize instruction for each student based on their ability, not grade level.

Public School
Non-individualized grade level instruction.

Charter School
One curriculum, Core Knowledge, used for all students. Ability grouping is available, but not individualization.

Mountain Peak
Offered in all grade levels at MPPS, including preschool.

Public School
Depending on the school, generally not offered until at least 4th grade.

Charter School
Offered as part of the Core Knowledge curriculum beginning in Kindergarten.

Mountain Peak
MPPS has only 2 in-service days per school year and no late start or early release days.

Public School
St. Vrain schools typically 9 late start days with students missing 2.5 hours on those days, plus 3 in-service days.

Charter School
Flagstaff has 9 late start days, 3 in-service days, and 2 full and 2 half days off for conferences.

Twin Peaks has 7 early release days and 3 in-service days. Half days and early release days are counted as student contact days for both schools.

Mountain Peak
MPPS accepts children for Kindergarten who turn 5 on or before December 31 provided they are academically and socially ready.

Public School
Students must turn 5 on or before October 1 for Kindergarten entrance and 6 on or before October 1 for 1st Grade entrance.

Underage children may be accepted through the Early Access Program if they are considered gifted (99th percentile).

Charter School
Students must turn 5 on or before October 1 for Kindergarten entrance and 6 on or before October 1 for 1st Grade entrance.

Underage children may be accepted through the Early Access Program if they are considered gifted (99th percentile).

Mountain Peak
MPPS, being a tuition based private school, is ultimately responsible to our students and parents to give them the best educational environment for their money.

We have the flexibility to create specialized curriculums to best meet the needs of our students.

Standardized testing is used to reinforce the results.

Public School
The substance of what children learn is mandated by the state and the schools’ ultimate responsibilities are to the State via test results.

Standardized testing is used to reinforce the results.

Charter School
Since they are subject to district guidelines because they are “public”, they are also ultimately responsible to the State via test results. Specialized programs, subject to board approval, can be offered.