Private Preschool in Denver Where Leadership Starts at Age 4

Aspen Academy's preschool (ages 2-5) program in Greenwood Village isn't just early childhood education. It's where future business leaders begin their journey—with Pre-K students using the same leadership curriculum our 8th graders use to launch real companies. Our preschool students spend 50% of their time outdoors, learning in nature in addition to learning indoors, because we refuse to treat preschool as daycare with crayons.

Best Denver Private School | Top Greenwood Village Preschool | Aspen Academy Pre-K Student Group Photo

What Makes Aspen Academy the Best Pre-Kindergarten in Denver for Leadership Development? 

Aspen Academy is the only PreK-8 school in Colorado with a fully integrated Leadership, Finance, and Entrepreneurship (LiFE) curriculum that begins at age 4. Our preschoolers don't wait until high school to learn decision-making, problem-solving, and financial awareness—they start building these skills during the critical neural development window before age 7.

Here's what sets our Denver private preschool apart:

Leadership from Day One: Your kiddo joins the same LiFE curriculum framework used by our middle schoolers who operate Bears' Student Enterprises—a real business that generated $76,000+ in revenue last year. Age-appropriate? Yes. Watered down? Never.

Aspen Academy 8th grade mentor student smiles and laughs with Pre-K buddy mentee.

What Curriculum Does Aspen Academy's Pre-Kindergarten in Greenwood Village Use? 

Aspen Academy combines world-class academic programs—Math Expressions, the recommended precursor to Singapore Math, Amplify literacy, and FOSS Science—with Reggio Emilia and Montessori influences. This isn't buzzword marketing. These are the same research-backed methods used by top-performing schools globally, integrated with our proprietary leadership curriculum. All students benefit from our 2-acre Nature & Science Lab as a working outdoor space for learning and exploring.

Aspen PreK teacher reading with students

How Does Aspen Academy Compare to Other Private Preschools in Denver, Colorado? 

Aspen Academy delivers measurably more—leadership curriculum, specialized teachers, superior academic outcomes. No other early learning center in Greenwood Village or the Denver metro area offers integrated PreK leadership and entrepreneurship education.

Factor Aspen Academy Typical Denver Private School
Leadership Curriculum Integrated daily from age 4 Not offered until middle/high school
Financial Literacy Beginning in Kindergarten: Classroom mini-economies; quarterly focus on finance daily Minimal or none
Specials Dedicated Essentials Teacher and classroom Implemented by current teaching staff or at additional cost
Outdoor Learning 50% of day outdoors; 2-acre nature and science lab 60 minutes required
Security Investment $1M+, AI-powered, annually audited Standard measures
Subject-Specific Teachers Starts in Kindergarten Starts in middle school

Aspen Academy's tuition for K-8 is 17% below the Denver market average. You're getting more—measurably more—for significantly less than comparable Greenwood Village and Denver private schools 

Preschool teacher playing with toddlers who have musical instruments at Aspen.

Is Aspen Academy a Safe Preschool for My Child? 

Aspen Academy is rated one of the safest schools in the nation. We've invested over $1 million in security infrastructure, employ AI-powered threat detection, maintain a full-time security officer, and undergo annual third-party security audits. Safety isn't a line item—it's the foundation.

Our security infrastructure includes:

  • Dedicated Crisis Response Team on campus
  • Full-time onsite security officer
  • AI-powered safety systems (Volt AI) identifying at-risk behaviors before escalation
  • Annual security audits by third-party experts
  • Comprehensive Emergency Operations Plan managed weekly
  • Background checks and vetting for every visitor
  • 100% of staff trained and confident in crisis response

We were one of the first schools in Colorado to adopt proactive AI security technology. We host security forums for the Association of Colorado Independent Schools and local public districts and present at national conferences. Other Denver private schools come to us to learn how it's done.

Your child's safety at our Greenwood Village campus is non-negotiable.

Aspen Preschool student with School Resource Officer

What Does a Typical Day Look Like at Aspen Academy's Early Learning Program? 

Every block in your child's day is structured for learning—no wasted time. The schedule balances rigorous academics with substantial outdoor time, specialized instruction in art, music, Spanish, and PE, plus structured transitions that build executive function skills.

Time Block Focus
8:10 Warm Welcome Transition and connection
8:30 Get Outdoors Work Cycle Science
9:00 Get Outdoors: Morning Circle & Snack Discovery and snack
9:30 Work Cycle Literacy development: reading and writing
10:00 Get Outdoors Recess
10:30 Work Cycle Singapore Math foundations
11:00 Lunch  
     
11:30 Rest & Quiet Work Time  
12:30 Get Outdoors Snack and recess
1:00 Get Outdoors Work Cycle Imagination & Exploration and 1:1 instruction
1:30 Essentials Music & Movement, Art, Spark Fitness, Spanish
2:00 Get Outdoors Work Cycle Imagination & Exploration and 1:1 instruction
2:30 Work Cycle Leadership, Finance & Entrepreneurship (LiFE)
3:00 Dismissal  
3:30 Bear's Club After care program

This isn't chaos managed. It's excellence by design at our Greenwood Village early learning center.

Pre-K students smiling and painting art projects during Essentials class at Aspen Academy

Who Teaches at Aspen Academy's Denver Preschool? 

Early learning students at Aspen receive instruction from experts in early learning and child development, alongside a dedicated music, art, Spanish, and PE specialist.

Our faculty attend national conferences. They speak at industry events. They're not learning the basics—they're teaching the teachers.

Denver Business Journal recognized Aspen Academy as one of the Best Places to Work. That's not just nice for teachers—it means lower turnover, deeper relationships with your child, and consistent educational quality year over year.

Teacher guiding Pre-K students through a drawing activity at Aspen Academy

What Happens After Pre-K at Aspen Academy? 

The transition process includes:

  • Pre-teaching of skills needed for the next level
  • Integration into upper-grade experiences (like AMPD—our student-produced morning broadcast)
  • Level Up Day—a structured transition event

By 8th grade graduation, your child will have:

  • 200+ hours of personal financial literacy instruction
  • Experience running real businesses through Bear's Student Enterprises
  • A 16-week entrepreneurial capstone with a professional mentor
  • Skills that allow them to skip introductory business courses in high school
  • Exposure to the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS), P&L statements, and marketing campaigns

Our professional mentors aren't casual volunteers. They're serial entrepreneurs, IPO veterans, EO/YPO members, and industry leaders who connect students with real opportunities, manufacturers, and industry contacts.

This is the ROI of choosing Aspen Academy over other Denver preschools: a documented path from preschool to prepared-for-anything.

8th Grade mentor reads to Pre-K mentee students outside at Aspen Academy

Where Is Aspen Academy Located? 

Aspen Academy's main campus (Grades K-8) is located at 5859 S University Blvd in Greenwood Village, Colorado—minutes from I-25 and accessible from Denver, Aurora, Cherry Hills Village, Centennial, and the Denver Tech Center. Our new Early Learning campus (Ages 2-5) is at 1695 E Orchard Rd, one block from the main campus.

Main Campus: 5859 S University Blvd Greenwood Village, CO 80121 Early Learning: 1695 E Orchard Rd Greenwood Village, CO 80121

The new West Campus features:

  • Newly remodeled indoor and outdoor classrooms
  • 2-acre Outdoor Nature and Science Lab
  • Purpose-built spaces for ages 2-5
  • Seamless transition path to main campus

Families from across the Denver metro area—including Aurora, Centennial, Highlands Ranch, and Cherry Hills Village—choose Aspen Academy for accessible early childhood education that delivers measurable results.

Map of Aspen Academy Main and West campus in Greenwood Village CO

How Do I Enroll My Child in Aspen Academy's Pre-K Program? 

Schedule a private tour to see our Greenwood Village Early Learning campus in action. Meet the teachers. Watch the curriculum. Ask the hard questions. Spaces for 2025-2026 are filling now—the window for your child's critical development years is smaller than you think.

Next steps:

  1. Schedule a Private Tour: See our early learning program firsthand
  2. Meet Diana Agostini: Director of Admissions and Financial Aid
  3. Meet Amanda Jerome: Director of Early Childhood Division
  4. Submit Your Application: Secure your child's spot

Schedule Your Private Tour

We don't ask you to trust our website. We ask you to visit. Because parents who invest in their children's education don't make decisions based on brochures—they make decisions based on evidence.

Frequently Asked Questions About Aspen Academy's Denver Preschool

Contact Us

Diana Agostini

Director of Admissions and Financial Aid

Amanda Jerome

Director of Early Childhood Division

Ready to See Your Child Flourish?

Discover how Aspen Academy's unique approach can shape your child into a confident, ethical leader.

We understand choosing the right school is a big decision. 

That's why we invite you to a personalized 30-minute chat with our Admissions team.

This is a no-pressure conversation where you can ask your specific questions, share your child's aspirations, and learn how Aspen Academy can support their journey. 

It's the perfect first step to see if our community is the right fit for your family.

Use our admissions calendar to choose a time that works best for your family - we’ll be ready to answer your questions and help you explore if Aspen Academy is the right fit.

Accreditations

Colorado Shines: Level 4 Rating

National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS): Full Member

Top Greenwood Village Private School | Best Denver Private School | ACIS Logo

“One of the fastest-growing independent schools in the country.” - Association of Colorado Independent Schools.

Top Denver Private School | Private School Near Me | AdvancED Accreditation

“Top Scoring School” - Cognia (formerly AdvancED)

Click here for more on accreditation.