If your child dreads school, feels invisible in a big classroom, or keeps getting "caught up in the system" — there's a tuition-free school in Fort Collins where kids actually ask to go.
Schedule Your 30-Minute TourOver 8 in 10 families who tour AAK choose to enroll. Come see why.
These are the three things we hear most from parents the first time they call us.
Every morning is a fight. They've stopped being curious. School feels like something that happens to them — not something they're excited to be part of.
In a big class, a quiet kid disappears and a big personality gets labeled a problem. Kids with IEPs and 504 plans too often get managed instead of taught.
Nobody's job runs 8:15 to 3:30. Drop-off, pick-up, summer, spring break — the logistics alone can rule out the school your child actually needs.
We're a small, arts-integrated public charter school — preschool through 5th grade — built around one idea: kids learn best when they're known, seen, and excited to walk in the door.
Music, theater, and visual arts are woven into core academics — so reading, math, and science feel like creating, not memorizing.
Teachers know every child — how they learn, what lights them up, and what they need on a hard day. Parents know the teachers, too.
Roughly 1 in 4 of our students receives special education services or 504 accommodations — and this is where many of them succeed for the first time.
Included for every student — plus free programming over summer and school breaks. Your work schedule finally fits your child's school.
We don't run buses — so we help pay for the drive. Families commute from across Fort Collins, Wellington, Loveland, Timnath, and Weld County.
We're a public charter school. K–5 is tuition-free for every Colorado family, with preschool options starting earlier.
"It's always a little scary sending your little ones into school with visible differences. Their focus on kindness and acceptance really just sealed the deal for me. He's just thriving — they love coming to school and they adore their teachers."
— AAK parent of three, Fort Collins"AAK feels like a community. Because the classrooms are so small, we have a better relationship with the teachers. The kids, from what I've seen, are all happy and excited — and I don't hear a lot of negative stories about bullying."
— AAK parent (moved from Florida)"She's got a big personality. Here, they've been working with her — and she's just blossomed. There's an openness here. Some places say all are welcome. We don't feel it there. I feel it here with my family."
— AAK parent"I was nervous, but soon I learned that everybody was nice. It's not just, 'oh, it's another day of school.' It's like — let's do something creative. A fun way of learning."
— Rory, AAK studentWe're at 4800 Wheaton Drive in Fort Collins — and with free before & after care plus transportation reimbursement, the drive works for families all over Northern Colorado.
📍 The Academy of Arts & Knowledge · 4800 Wheaton Drive, Fort Collins, CO 80525 · Get directions
Tours run on school days, 9:15–11:00 AM and 1:15–2:45 PM — you'll see real classrooms in action, meet our principal, and get every question answered. It takes about 30 minutes.
Pick any open slot — we'll call to confirm within one school day. Questions first? Call us at 970-XXX-XXXX.
Yes — we're a public charter school, so K–5 is tuition-free for every Colorado family. Preschool and Pre-K are funded differently; ask us about options and assistance when you tour.
Yes. Before and after school programming is free for all enrolled students — and we run free programming during summer and school breaks too, because we know your work calendar doesn't stop when school does.
This is one of the things we're proudest of. Roughly a quarter of our students receive special education services or accommodations, and families consistently tell us their child succeeded here after struggling elsewhere. Bring your questions on the tour — our team will give you straight answers.
We don't run buses, but we offer a transportation reimbursement program to help with the drive, and our free before/after care gives you a wide drop-off and pick-up window. Families commute from Wellington, Loveland, Windsor, and across Fort Collins.
We'll call within one school day to confirm your time. Your tour takes about 30 minutes during the school day, so you'll see real classrooms — not an empty building. If it feels right, we'll walk you through enrollment on the spot. Over 80% of families who tour choose AAK.
Seats for Fall 2026 are limited — especially in kindergarten and the early grades.
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