2021 - 2022 College Counseling Profile

develop character seek knowledge build community

AP Chemistry students testing the conductivity of compounds to determine unknown solids

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Philosophy, Values & Community Founded in 1962, Vail Mountain School (VMS) is a K-12, coeducational, college preparatory, independent school in Vail, Colorado. Our philosophy is to provide a demanding liberal arts education in an atmosphere of mutual trust between faculty and students, where nurturing a healthy self-concept and stimulating academic inquiry are parallel objectives. Operating on the principle that emotional stability is a requisite for academic success, students start each day at VMS with Homebase, a unique advisory forum designed to build community, strengthen character, and encourage ethical decision making. In partnership with parents, teachers help students confront problems, and set positive, proactive examples, challenging students to be their best in the classroom, on the playing field, online, and outside the school. We pride ourselves on celebrating individual achievements and supporting each other’s struggles. The result: a caring community of engaged learners that supports the greatness in one through the strength of many.

Our Upper School program ensures that students have the skills and confidence to thrive in the college environment, leveraging the breadth and depth of interests represented by our faculty. As a result of our rapport-driven environment, students are excited to show up early, happy to stay late, and eager to learn more. Abundant opportunities for interaction between students of all ages promote role modeling, responsibility, self confidence, and a sense of community. Students feel safe–socially, emotionally and physically–and consequently, take the measured risks necessary to support high academic achievement, succeed in athletics, develop passion, and build character.

VMS is situated in the Rocky Mountains on the ancestral homelands of the Ute Peoples who originally stewareded the land coined “shining mountains”. Our breathtaking location at 8150’ is given the utmost respect by integrating the outdoors into the academic and cultural fabric of the school. As an example, Upper School students participate in three-day outdoor leadership orientation trips at the beginning of each year where students create bonds, accept responsibilities, demonstrate good citizenship, and develop respect for the environment. The result: a quiet confidence that serves our graduates well in college–confidence to assert themselves in their first college level essays; to raise their hand in a class of hundreds; to live on their own for the first time, to meet with and engage their professors; and to lead among their peers.

Accreditation and Memberships

>> Colorado State Department of Education >> National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) >> Association of Colorado Independent Schools (ACIS) >> National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) >> Rocky Mountain Association for College Admission Counseling (RMACAC) >> Association of College Counselors in Independent Schools (ACCIS) >> Making Caring Common Project

DEI Statement

In order to develop character, seek knowledge, and build community, Vail Mountain School is dedicated to addressing institutional and individual inequities in order to holistically support the well-being and success of our community members. We are committed to approaching the topic of inclusivity as rigorously as we do our academics, learning side by side as a cross-age community. We aim to acknowledge the past societal failures of silence and passivity, especially prevalent in our educational institutions, as we strive to create a welcoming and supportive environment for every student.

COVID-19 Update

In March 2020, the mid-way point of 2nd semester, VMS transitioned to remote learning with the guarantee that every student had access to high-speed internet at home. On a rotating daily class schedule, synchronous classes were offered in combination with asynchronous learning for a total of 9 weeks. Due to VMS’s ability to deliver a quality on-line education to a small, close-knit, rapport driven community, students continued to be evaluated using the same grading scale and carried a full academic program to the conclusion of the school year on May 29th. The only change was the elimination of a final exam - though students did have a culminating course experience and AP exams. Grade data was analyzed for transparency of grade integrity as well as for equity and fairness.

For the Class of 2022, the grade 10 mean unweighted/weighted GPA is 3.38/3.41, denoting no grade inflation in comparison to the cumulative mean GPA reported below. The VMS community returned successfully to our building for in-person instruction for the entirety of the 2020-2021 school year. The counselor recommendation will communicate any significant academic and/or personal impact for a particular student. Seniors have been empowered to also share their truth, experience related to the pandemic in their application.

Vail Mountain School By The Numbers Upper School Enrollment..................................................170 Student/Faculty Ratio.........................................................8:1 Families on Tuition Assistance........................................ 33% 5 yr. % of Seniors Submitting ED App............................. 33% US Students Identifying as Non-White............................ 17% 5 yr. % of Graduates Taking a Gap Year...........................13%

Class of 2022......................................................................40 Average Class Size..............................................................13 13 Annual Tuition Assistance Budget........................$1.9 Million 5 yr. % Matriculating Outside CO.................................. ..76% 5 yr. % First Generation College Students.........................8%

5 yr. Avg. Applications Submitted Per Senior..................................7 Upper School Tuition...........................................................$32,400 Average Tuition Assistance Award......................................$12,778 5 yr. % of Graduates Transferring After 1st Year of College.........9% 5 yr. % of Students Attending K-12..........................................25%

Graduation Requirements

>> Completion of a deeply-introspective college search process resulting in acceptance to a four-year college. >> 4 years English, history, science, math, and Intraterm; 3 consecutive years of a world language or 2 years each of 2 languages or completion of AP level. >> Completion of Senior Project during the second semester of senior year. >> Visual Arts, Performing Arts, and Technology Department requirements. >> Participation in interscholastic sports or fitness each year (this requirement was waved in 2020-2021).

Academic Calendar & Course Load Balance

>> Semester system. Grades are issued at the conclusion of each term (early January, late May). A mid-semester progress/grade report for all seniors will be available for college admission purposes. Evaluative statements by course instructors accompany student quarterly progress/grade reports. >> All courses are college preparatory; students take five core academic courses for four years. Only students in grades 10-12 may take AP courses. >> Students receive instruction for 250 minutes per academic course with an average of 2-3 hours of homework each evening. >> Students must gain AP course registration approval and are encouraged to consider interests and strengths over the sheer number of APs alone. >> The curriculum allows students to take up to three AP courses in grade 11 and three in grade 12. Enrolling in two or three AP courses in one year is considered a “most demanding” program.

In the rare event a student is accelerated and believes taking more than three APs in one year is appropriate, he/she/they must submit a petition. >> Students enrolled in AP course(s) are required to take the corresponding AP exams(s) in May. >> VMS is committed to providing an intellectual environment that stretches well beyond testing success.

Honor Code & Reporting Policy

The VMS Honor Code is designed not only to support our educational mission, but also our community’s values of trust, respect, and safety. A breach in honor may result in a referral to the VMS Honor Council which is made up of chosen faculty members and elected upper school students. While VMS no longer reports student disciplinary history, it is expected that any student asked about probation, suspension, and/or separation by a specific college as part of their application will exhibit integrity and answer truthfully. VMS will support the student in their growth and reporting as VMS does not welcome nor retain any student if he/she/they could be detrimental to school culture or the community’s overall well-being. VMS complies with the NACAC Guide to Ethical Practices in College Admission and will respond to a college’s inquiry about a disciplinary breach.

Standardized Testing

>> ACT 5 yr. average: middle 50% composite 25-30; mean 27 (not superscored). >> 64 Upper School students in grades 10, 11 and 12 took 131 AP exams in May 2021. 70% of the exam scores were 3 or higher. >> For the Class of 2022, 31 of 40 students enrolled in APs with each taking an average of 4 APs over the course of their Upper School career at VMS.

Upper School Course Offerings & Curriculum Highlights GRADE 9

GRADE 10

GRADE 11

GRADE 12

HOMEBASE

Homebase is a daily meeting between students and an advising teacher which serves as a time to reflect, plan, prioritize and support each other in a family environment. In addition, the Homebase class provides a venue for “dinner table conversations” which teach ethics and build character through discussions of real-life challenges. As a social, emotional and physical hub to daily life, the term Homebase is used interchangeably to refer to the actual meetings, a group of students within a grade, and the physical space that they call their own. In addition, Homebase advisors are advocates for their students and are concerned with all aspects of those students’ lives, facilitating communication between students, teachers, coaches, and parents, ensuring a true learning partnership.

ENGLISH

Foundations in Grammar and Literature: Coming of Age

WORLD LANGUAGES

Mandarin I; Mandarin II; Mandarin III; Mandarin IV; Mandarin V; Spanish I; Spanish II; Spanish III; Spanish IV; Cultural Spanish; AP Spanish Language

HISTORY

World History I: Power & Geopolitics

World History II: Conflict & Resolution; AP World History

SCIENCE

Foundations in Chemistry & Physics

Biology; Accelerated Chemistry/Cellular & Molecular Biology; Advanced Chemistry; Anatomy & Physiology; Engineering & Technology (offered every other year); Neurobiology & Psychology; Environmental Chemistry; AP Environmental Science; AP Chemistry (offered every other year); AP Biology; AP Physics

MATHEMATICS

Algebra I; Geometry; Project Based Geometry; Algebra II; Algebra II/Trigonometry; Trigonometry/Intro to Pre-Calculus; Advanced Pre-Calculus; Statistics; AP Statistics; Calculus; AP Calculus AB; AP Calculus BC and Advanced Topics

TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION ART OR MUSIC

AP Computer Science Principles (2017-18, 2021-22); AP Computer Science A (2019-20); Engineering & Technology (offered every other year); iPhone App Programming (offered 2020-2021); Programming Games with Unity (offered 2020-2021)

British & World Literature: Identity

Upper Level American Literature: Journeys; AP English Literature

US History; AP US History

Seminars: Stranger Than Fiction; Through the Looking Glass; The Wild West; Senior Project (2nd semester)

Seminars: Human Geography; Applied Ethics; Vietnam War: A Cultural & Political Legacy; Senior Project (2nd semester)

Not all courses are offered each year

Foundation Studio (one semester, all students) Functional Design & Innovation (one semester, all students)

AP Studio Art; Senior Portfolio; Painting; Fiber Arts; Ceramics 1&2; Multi Media; Drawing; Photography 1&2; Sculpture; Fashion; Printmaking; Bookmaking; Instrumental Ensemble; Theatre Dance; Standard Theatre Performance; Musical Theatre Performance.

PERSONAL GROWTH & ETHICS

Ethics & Character; Relationships & Sex Education; Technology & Information Literacy

Life Skills and Financial Literacy; Public Speaking; Personal Inventory & Interpretation

ATHLETICS

VMS offers: alpine skiing, basketball; cross country; climbing; golf; lacrosse (boys); Nordic skiing; soccer; telemark skiing; tennis; and volleyball (girls).

There were no spring 2020 and fall 2020 CHSAA athletics due to COVID-19.

LEADERSHIP SERVICE LEARNING

VMS students take pride and ownership in offering formal and informal ethical leadership training and modeling through the Student Leadership Board.

INTRATERM

Intraterm is a week-long program led by faculty and staff during which students choose a course of study designed to enrich the traditional curriculum and the student’s intellectual curiosity. Course titles from previous years include: Island Ecology in Baja Sur, Mexico; Snow Science and Winter Safety; Costa Rica Immersion; Wilderness, Water & Conservation; Psychology & Film; Architecture & Design; Coral Reef Restoration; Art & The Culture of Chicago; Human Rights Across Borders; Hard Hats & Handtools: Building; (Hu)Man’s Best Friends; Photography: The Decisive Moment; Chess: History, Strategy, & Play; Space Camp; Avalance Level 1 & Backcountry Risk; Santa Fe Sojourn; Unique Movement; Bahamas: Sailing & Stewardship; Stories of American Neighborhoods; International Food & Film; Art & Community; Wilderness First Responder.

SENIOR PROJECT

All seniors complete a graded, one credit capstone project replacing their history and English classes during the second semester of senior year. An experience in true project based learning, seniors work with small cohorts to ideate, research, create, exhibit, write, and present. Following their interests, studying a topic of choice, doing extensive research which is demonstrated in a research paper, guides their real-world learning experience. Students must defend their research to their faculty leader, cohort, and outside advisor, as well as present their authentic research and product to the community of parents, students, teachers, and external community constituents at Academic Symposium in May. A sample of past projects include: Archeology of a Shipwreck; Pain and Potions: Osteoarthritis and Treatment Alternatives; Environmental Sustainability of Ski Resorts; Civil Liberties in the Digital Age; The Incidence of Post Mastectomy Reconstruction Complications After Radiation Therapy at High Altitude. Immigration and Human Rights; Remembering Those Who Lived, Died, and Survived the Holocaust

Term courses 1x per week

Ethics: Diversity & Equity Seminar; Ethics of the Mindful Individual

Senior Seminar: Living Ethically After Graduation

Service Learning is integrated into the VMS curriculum in all grades and ties directly to the three core values in our mission to develop character, seek knowledge, build community. Students and faculty regularly volunteer at Loaves & Fishes soup kitchen, and Habitat for Humanity, along with other various and timely initiatives. In addition, students lead Philanthropy Service Group designed to encourage leadership through service to others.

Class of 2022 GPA Distribution >> Vail Mountain School uses a 4.0 grading scale; students are not ranked. >> Advanced Placement classes are weighted 1.1% and the weight is only reflected in the grade point average. >> Courses in Art, Music, and Theatre (semester-long) are graded and included in the grade point average.

Students may earn a mark of High Pass, Pass, Marginal Pass, or Fail for elective courses, except for intraterm and fitness as they are graded either Pass or Fail. >> The class of 2022’s unweighted/weighted mean GPA after completing grade 11 is 3.40/3.45 and the unweighted/weighted median GPA is 3.53/3.57. >> The highest total unweighted GPA is a 3.98. It is rare to have a cumulative unweighted GPA of 4.0 due to the rigorous nature of the VMS coursework.

A A- B+ B B- C C- D D+ F

93–100 90-92 87-89 83-86 80-82 73-76 70-72 65-66 67-69 below 65

(4.00) (3.67) (3.33) (3.00) (2.67) (2.00) (1.67) (1.00) (1.33)

Portrait of a VMS Student DEVELOP CHARACTER

SEEK KNOWLEDGE

BUILD COMMUNITY

>> VMS students speak articulately, respectfully, and

>> VMS studentsfind joy in learning, in thinking open mindedly, and in exploring areas that are important to them.

>> VMS students appreciate the natural world around them as they thrive in the surrounding mountain environment.

>> VMS students respect knowledge; however, they also question doctrine in order to find their own answers to life’s questions.

>> VMS students are kind and considerate to people of all ages, exemplified by relationships with their younger peers.

>> VMS students work well both independently and collaboratively in order to achieve personal and group success.

>> VMS students recognize that their education provides them the opportunity and skills to serve a public purpose both locally and globally.

confidently to all members of the community. >> VMS students understand and employ empathy, recognize different perspectives, and see the value of diversity in the world. >> VMS students are guided by an ethical framework and a strong ethical code, providing them with integrity in the face of challenges and injustices. >> VMS students possess strong self-advocacy skills and have the courage to ask for help, not for the answer. >> VMS students take responsibility for the consequences of their actions and behaviors both in and out of school. >> VMS students approach life’s challenges with perseverance and grit.

>> VMS students utilize strong executive functioning skills. >> VMS students are curious and willing to engage in courageous and often uncomfortable discussions about issues of power, privlege, and inequality.

College Enrollment 2017-2021 VMS is proud to share this list as a compelling testament to our wide-variety of students who are the building blocks for and at the heart of an extraordinary community. It is a celebration of each student’s journey, the excellent colleges to which our students are admitted, as well as their choice college - a fit that will nurture their academic and personal goals. It is also presented with the understanding that the decision of where to enroll is a very personal one made for any number of reasons, just as varied the students’ authentic life stories in their applications.

The matriculation list should be an extension of the college counseling promise: a commitment to providing an environment in which all students can unequivocally acknowledge that their voice is heard, valued, and their work in a self-directed, authentic journey is supported, and at its culmination, possessing a sense of promise, and curiosity for what’s ahead. There is an overarching understanding that success is defined by how thoughtfully and genuinely one approached and engaged in the college search as opposed to merely the end result.

Arizona State University - Tempe Baldwin Wallace University Bard College Bard College - Berlin Bates College Baylor University Boston University Bowdoin College Bridgewater College Bucknell University Buena Vista University Cal Poly - San Luis Obispo (5) Chapman University (3) Colby College (3) Colgate University Colorado College (2) Colorado Mesa University Colorado School of Mines (4) Colorado State University (4) Dartmouth College (7) Emory University Endicott College FIDM – Los Angeles

Franklin & Marshall College George Washington University (2) Georgetown University Georgia Institute of Technology Gustavus Adolphus College IE University Indiana University - Bloomington Ithaca College Johns Hopkins University Lehigh University Loyola Marymount University Loyola University - Chicago Loyola University - New Orleans McGill University Miami University – Oxford Middlebury College Montana State University - Bozeman (8) The New School (4) New York University (4) Northeastern University (3) Northwestern University Occidental College Ohio State University

3000 Booth Falls Road, Vail, Colorado 81657 (970) 476-3850 Phone (970) 476-3860 Fax ACT/CEEB School Code: 061384

www.vms.edu Follow us on social media:

@vail.mtn.school

@vailmountainscchool

Pepperdine University Regis University Rensselaer Polytechnic University Rhode Island School of Design Richmond, The American Int’l University London Rocky Mountain College Saint Edward’s University Saint Michael’s College Santa Clara University Savannah College of Art and Design (2) School of the Art Institute of Chicago Skidmore College Southern Methodist University (4) St. Lawrence University Swarthmore College Syracuse University (2) Texas A&M University The New School (4) Trinity College Union College University of Arizona (2) University of British Columbia

University of California – Berkeley (2) University of Chicago University of Colorado - Boulder (27) University of Colorado - Denver University of Denver (6) University of Edinburgh University of Exeter University of Minnesota - Twin Cities University of Montana – Missoula University of North Carolina - Wilmington University of Notre Dame University of Oregon (3) University of Otago University of Pennsylvania University of Puget Sound (3) University of Rochester University of San Diego (4) University of Southern California (4) University of Utah University of Texas – Austin (2) University of Vermont University of Wyoming Vanderbilt University

Head of School Michael Imperi; mimperi@vms.edu

Director of College Counseling Marisa Ferrara, mferrara@vms.edu

Director of Upper School Maggie Pavlik; mpavlik@vms.edu

Registrar Vali Wilcox, vwilcox@vms.edu