What is a nontraditional school? Learn more about unique learning offerings for BVSD students

BVSD’s nontraditional schools offer courses, programs, schedules, and options for students that are different from a traditional high school experience. This can include CTE courses in specialties like criminal justice and construction trades, it can look like New Vista, offering more independent thesis-based learning with models that differ from larger traditional high school courses, or alternative schools that support students who also work or have other situations or needs that require increased support and flexibility. 

Students enroll in these non-traditional options often because their counselor at their school might recommend a program, or families and students take their own interest and choose to open enroll on their own.

If your student is interested or may be needing a nontraditional school option, school counselors are the best first place to start. They can work with the school team to address things that might be standing in the way of learning and a student’s success, as well as connecting them to resources at the school, district or community or alternate options to help the student find success.

See for yourself

Interested in nontraditional options at BVSD? Make sure you see for yourself, by speaking with your counselor, the school, or taking an open house tour. Word of mouth can be useful, but not always accurate. Our nontraditional schools are often incorrectly labeled in the community, so we encourage parents to do independent research when considering different options.

Below is a listing of our non-traditional high schools. You can see a list of all of BVSD’s schools on Our Schools webpage.

Choice Enrollment window now open

With BVSD Choice Enrollment happening now through January 7, 2026, it’s the perfect time to consider other options for your student. Many schools are offering open house enrollment events so families can walk the halls, meet the staff and ask their questions, to best inform their choice.

Click here for a list of enrollment events at BVSD schools

BVSD Nontraditional Schools

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Apex

All BVSD students may take advantage of the courses offered at the district’s Career and Technical Education Center – Apex (formerly called Boulder TEC). Apex empowers students through rigorous academic, professional, and technical skills as preparation for any postgraduate pathway they choose to pursue. All of the programs are focused on providing students with a wide range of highly relevant experiences through the use of industry standard equipment and an extensive network of business partnerships. Programs offer community college concurrent enrollment credit, the opportunity to earn professional licenses or certificates, work-based learning experiences, as well as integrated core academic credit that counts toward high school graduation. Specific programs include Automotive Collision Repair, Automotive Service Technology, Biomedical Science, Construction Trades, Cosmetology, Emergency Medical Response, Criminal Justice & Crime Scene Investigation, Sports Medicine, Video Production, and Welding. Students from all BVSD high schools are eligible to attend as part of their 11th and 12th grade years.
Address: 6600 E. Arapahoe Rd, Boulder, CO 80303
Phone: 720-561-3300
Website: https://apex.bvsd.org/

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Arapahoe Ridge High School

Graduation is paramount for all students! Arapahoe Ridge High School is an alternative education campus that is an “alternative” to the neighborhood high schools in BVSD. Our student enrollment consists of juniors and seniors with a few sophomores that will start the second semester. Class size is smaller, typically 15-20 students. As an alternative high school, we provide students with half-time schedules for required courses and work study for elective credits. Transportation to our campus is offered via school buses that are available from all the sending home high schools within BVSD and/or we will cover the cost of RTD. In addition, there are opportunities for concurrent enrollment with Front Range Community College while your student is still in high school, and the cost is covered by BVSD. For more information as an educational choice for your student, simply fill out an “Administrative Transfer” under the enrollment tab in Infinite Campus. ARHS will contact you for a face-to-face meeting where you and your student can make the decision to either join us or remain at your neighborhood school.
Address: 6600 E. Arapahoe Rd. Boulder, CO 80303
Phone: 720-561-5220
Website: https://arh.bvsd.org/

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Boulder Preparatory High School

Boulder Preparatory High School is a college-preparatory program serving students who are looking for a small-school setting that provides individualized attention. The charter school offers rigorous academics through a unique and diverse curriculum. The academic program is complemented with a weekly Life Skills program to prepare students for adulthood and their social responsibilities in the world community. We will not give up on students, even when they give up on themselves. All graduates must be accepted to college before they can receive their diplomas. Over the years, Boulder Prep has provided the academic and social opportunities needed to transform youth-at-risk into college bound youth-of-promise.
Address: 5075 Chaparral Court, Boulder, CO 80301
Phone: 303-545-6186
Website: boulderprep.org

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Boulder Universal

BU High School is an online public school serving BVSD and other Colorado students in grades 9-12.  Courses are taught and created in an asynchronous format by BVSD teachers using content and curriculum aligned to state and district standards. Boulder Universal also partners with Front Range Community College to provide students a college experience within the high school setting. The flexibility of an asynchronous learning environment allows students to pursue personal passions and learn highly independent learning skills. Students engage and interact with their actual teacher and classmates from across the country in an asynchronous online setting, allowing students to learn at any time and place. Since all teachers are BVSD teachers, the class size ratio is equivalent to all BVSD schools. Boulder Universal also has an in-person learning lab staffed with your teachers for students to get one-on-one support. Tuition is free for students enrolled in BVSD.
Address: 6600 E. Arapahoe Road, Boulder, CO 80303
Phone: 720-561-5500
Website: boulderuniversal.org

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Justice High School

Justice High is a charter school for at-risk youth in the Boulder Valley and St. Vrain Valley communities. It is a pre-collegiate academic program, requiring all graduates to have taken and passed two college-level courses and be accepted into a minimum of three colleges. All students are required to participate in extracurricular activities and work in their community. Justice High School also offers students some vocational courses and opportunities to complete their GED or HiSET.
Address: 805 Excalibur St., Lafayette, CO 80026
Phone: 720-277-6480
Website: justicehigh.org

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New Vista High School

Since 1993, New Vista High School has been a highly regarded, non-traditional school that actively engages every student in rigorous learning. Our program includes: high academic and behavioral expectations for all students; personal relationships built on mutual respect with all adults in the building; an adviser who supports each student from enrollment through graduation; choices that allow students to shape the educational program to meet their needs and interests; active, relevant learning within all classrooms as well as varied and engaging course offerings; and significant opportunities to learn in the broader community. At New Vista we have a school culture that values individuals, community, and learning with an explicit emphasis on understanding and valuing equity and diversity. New Vista is truly a place where students can have a personalized high school experience and will emerge with both the academic skills and self awareness to make change and build successful futures.  
Address: 700 20th St., Boulder, CO 80302
Phone: 720-561-8700
Website: http://nvh.bvsd.org

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Advanced Alternative Learning Program (AALPS)

The Advanced Alternative Learning Program for Students is a unique half day program designed to provide BVSD students the opportunity to earn and/or retrieve academic credit, while building and strengthening social, emotional, and life skills.  The AALPS program prioritizes a low teacher to student ratio in order to set students up for academic success. What truly sets AALPS apart from other academic programs are the carefully designed wrap-around services that are incorporated into the program in order to meet each student’s individual needs and goals.  Most students will be attending AALPS as well as their home school.  AALPS is not designed to be a permanent placement; instead, it is available as a short term program to help get students back on track for graduation, while addressing the root causes of each student's academic challenges.  The AALPS team will work closely alongside each student’s home school team to set goals, determine appropriate programming, and to create a timeline for the student to return full-time to their school.  AALPS is designed to help students return full-time to their home high school with credits towards graduation and the skills to succeed in reaching their academic and personal goals. AALPS creates a culture where all students will have the skills to self-advocate, grow, collaborate and thrive in all aspects of life.All students graduate from high school with the skills to feel confident and capable of taking the next step and being successful in their career/ school/ life. Every student has ACCESS to engage, learn, and feel capable of growth in a supported environment. AALPS offers morning and afternoon sessions.

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