Jackson Hole School & Childcare Guide
Wilson Elementary School | Wilson, WY | © Parker Bertles Real Estate
A Location-First Guide to Schools in Teton County
For Full-Time, Year-Round Residents
When my family was considering a full-time move to Jackson Hole, figuring out schooling for our 2 babies was naturally at the top of our list. What surprised us (in a good way!) was realizing that there isn’t a single “best” school here. The better question isn’t “which school is ranked highest?” but rather, “which environment fits our family’s lifestyle, our child’s personality, and the kind of community we want to be part of?”
Coming from Dallas, that felt very liberating. In Dallas (and many major markets for that matter), public school quality varies dramatically by neighborhood and heavily influences real estate decisions. Private school admissions are intensely competitive, making parents feel compelled to “game plan” years in advance (think: at conception!). Jackson is different. The schooling decision here is less about chasing prestige and more about understanding daily life - commute patterns, community feel, class size, and long-term rhythm. That shift in perspective makes the process clearer and far less stressful. Honestly, there isn’t one school that is “better” than another. Wonderful education is simply attainable here.
In the valley, distance, winter driving, bus routes, and daily routines matter a lot though. So I’ve pulled together a quick guide that starts with where families actually live year-round and explains how public school zoning, private schools, and childcare typically fit together.
Important: Public school boundaries are based on official Teton County School District #1 attendance zones. Assignments can change. Families should always confirm details directly with the district before making real estate decisions.
Public: Elementary (Zoning-Dependent)
First, see below for maps outlining the current attendance area lines for official school district boundaries (used to determine which elementary school your child will attend based on your home address).
The district may grant out‑of‑area placement on request, but transportation isn’t typically provided for out‑of‑area students.
Boundaries can change! Always double‑check with the school district’s transportation or enrollment office for the most up‑to‑date zoning based on your exact address.
West Bank / Wilson (Highway 22 West of Coyote Canyon Road to the WY/ID border, Highway 390 to Moose)see zoning maps above for more nuance
Wilson Elementary School (WES)
About: “Wilson Elementary is a small school with class sizes that average low to moderate, which often supports more individualized attention. Wilson Elementary is highly ranked academically: schools ranking services consistently place Wilson among the top elementary schools in Wyoming (often in the top ~10 schools statewide). It’s currently ranked 9th of 164 Elementary Schools in WY.
Grades: K‑5
Enrollment: ~205 students
Ratio: ~12‑13:1
Performance: Top statewide rankings (Top 1% in WY)
Typical School Hours: ~8:15 AM – 2:55 PM
Town of Jackson (East of South Highway 89/north of High School Road and North of Highway 22 , south of Sagebrush Drive) see zoning maps above for more nuance
Jackson Elementary School (JES)
About: In the local context, Jackson Elementary is often ranked behind schools like Wilson and Colter Elementary (which tend to show stronger academics) but remains a solid option in the district. In recent rankings, Jackson Elementary placed in the top ~70 out of ~164 public elementary schools statewide, with particularly strong diversity and teacher ratings. The school is more diverse than many Wyoming peers, with a significant portion of minority students (higher than state average).
Grades: K - 5
Enrollment: ~303 students
Ratio: ~9 : 1
Performance: Solid statewide rankings (~Top 50 % in WY)
Typical School Hours: 8:20 AM – 3:00 PM
South Valley (West of South Highway 89/south of High School Road, South of Highway 22 and east of Coyote Canyon Road on Highway 22) see zoning maps above for more nuance
Colter Elementary School (CES)
About: Known for high statewide test performance and a focus on whole‑child development, the school emphasizes both academic excellence and social‑emotional growth in a tight‑knit, community-oriented environment. Overall, the school is considered one of the stronger elementary schools in the state based on achievement and outcomes.
Grades: K–5
Enrollment: ~289
Ratio: ~9:1
Performance: Top statewide rankings (Top ~5 % in WY)
School Hours: 8:05 AM – 2:45 PM
Munger Mountain Elementary School (NO MAP - Highway S 89, South of Game Creek. Applications are considered for students in other areas of Teton County)
About: Emphasizes bilingual education, academic growth, and social-emotional development within a supportive community setting. Known for its dual language immersion program and focus on equity and empathy, the school provides a nurturing environment that encourages both academic achievement and cultural awareness. Here, you’ll find a diverse student body, with a large Hispanic population and representation from multiple racial/ethnic groups.
Grades: K–5
Enrollment: ~376 students
Ratio: ~10.4 : 1
Performance: Mid‑range statewide rankings (Bottom 50% in WY)
School Hours: 8:10 AM–3:00 PM
Special Program: Dual Language Immersion
North Valley (North of Sagebrush Drive & South of Antelope Flats Road. GTNP residents living south of Signal Mountain Lodge.) see zoning maps above for more nuance
About: The smallest of the elementary schools (by far!), Kelly Elementary offers a small, close‑knit community with personalized instruction.
Grades: K–5
Enrollment: ~38 students
Ratio: ~8 : 1 (publicschoolreview.com)
Performance: Mid‑range statewide rankings (Top ~50 % statewide)
School Hours: 8:00 AM–2:45 PM
Public: Middle & High School (Zoning-Dependent)
Jackson Hole High School, Summit High School and Jackson Hole Middle School serve all Teton County, Wyoming middle and high school students.
Valley-Wide:
About: The only traditional public middle school serving grades 6–8 for Jackson and the greater Teton County School District, making it the central transition school for students coming from elementary schools like Wilson, Colter, and Jackson. Overall, it is generally regarded as an above-average, academically solid school with strong STEM, AVID, and bilingual programs, though it can feel large and more academically rigorous than elementary school since it serves the entire valley’s middle school population and offers a wide range of athletics, clubs, and enrichment supports.
Note: Private alternatives are listed below.
Grades: 6 - 8
Enrollment: ~664–710 students
Ratio: 11:1–13:1 (relatively small classes)
Performance: High/ Mid‑range statewide rankings (#15 of 65 Middle Schools in WY)
School Hours: 8:55 AM – 3:45 PM
About: The primary public high school serving grades 9–12 for Jackson and all of Teton County School District #1, making it the main continuation school for nearly all students coming from Jackson Hole Middle School and other valley schools. Overall, it is generally considered a strong, above-average public high school with rigorous academics, AP courses, career and technical programs, and robust athletics and arts, though it can feel academically demanding and socially diverse since it serves the entire valley’s high school population and college-preparatory track.
Note: Private alternatives are listed below.
Grades: 9 -12
Enrollment: ~700–750 students
Ratio: 12:1
Performance: High statewide rankings (#10 of 77 in WY, #2 of 21 for STEM in WY)
School Hours: 8:55 AM – 3:45 PM
Summit Innovations High School
About: Teton County School District’s alternative high school (a specialized public option), designed for students who need a more personalized, supportive, or non-traditional learning environment, rather than the standard comprehensive experience at Jackson Hole High School. Students are referred by counselors, administrators, or families as it is often used for credit recovery, flexible scheduling, or individualized learning plans. Enrollment is smaller and intentional (not automatic like JHHS zoning). Students can still participate in Jackson Hole High School sports, clubs, and events while enrolled at Summit
Grades: 9 -12
Enrollment: ~120–150 students
Ratio: 10:1
Performance: Mid-range statewide rankings (alternative high school focused on credit recovery, individualized learning, and graduation pathways rather than traditional college-readiness rankings)
School Hours: 8:55 AM – 3:45 PM
Private: Pre K, Elementary, Middle & High School (Non-Zoning-Dependent)
Since these private middle and high schools are non-zoning dependent, I’ve grouped them by their location / relative convenience for residents throughout the valley.
West Bank / Wilson
Mountain Academy of Teton Science Schools (Pre K-8)
About: A small, private, nature-based independent school in Jackson serving Pre K through 8th grade. Overall, it is considered an academically strong, experiential school with very small class sizes, outdoor and place-based learning, and individualized instruction, though it has limited enrollment, higher tuition, and a less traditional structure compared to larger public schools in Teton County.
Grades: Pre K -8
Enrollment: ~76
Ratio: ~5:1–6:1 (very small classes)
Performance: Above-average private school academics (not ranked in public statewide rankings). Great focus on outdoor, immersive learning and experience.
School Hours: 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM with slight variations by grade level and program
Acceptance: Acceptance rates are relatively high for qualified applicants but it is selective and capacity-limited.
Tuition: Roughly ~$24,000–$30,000 per year depending on grade
Middle school tuition example: ~$29,760
South Valley
Jackson Hole Classical Academy (K - 12)
About: A private, independent K - 12 classical school that offers a full Lower School (K - 6) and Upper School (7 - 12) on one campus, serving families seeking a traditional liberal arts education alternative to the public pathway. Overall, it is considered academically rigorous with very small class sizes, a classical curriculum built around grammar, logic, and rhetoric, and a highly structured learning environment, though it is tuition-based, selective in admissions, and more traditional and academically demanding than most local public schools. The school explicitly operates within a classical liberal arts and historic Christian tradition, emphasizing virtue, Western civilization texts, Latin, and moral formation.
Grades: K - 12
Enrollment: ~300 students (capped at 15 per classroom)
Ratio: 5:1
Performance: Aademically rigorous classical curriculum with college-prep coursework, standardized testing (PSAT, SAT, ACT, CLT), and a full K–12 academic progression model. Not ranked in Wyoming public school rankings (private independent school).
School Hours: ~8:00–8:15 AM to ~3:30 PM (varies slightly by division and year)
Acceptance: ~75% (selective but not ultra-competitive; application, interviews, and placement review required due to small class caps and mission-fit admissions)
Tuition:
K–4: $29,725/year
Grades 5–8: $30,200/year
Grades 9–12: $30,925/year
Jackson Hole Community School (6 - 12)
About: A small, private independent high school (grades 9–12*) with ~100 students and very low student–teacher ratios, serving as a progressive, experiential alternative to the larger Jackson Hole High School pathway. Overall, it is considered academically strong and college-preparatory with individualized instruction, outdoor and mini-mester programs, and a tight-knit culture, though it has tuition, limited enrollment, and a smaller social/athletics scene compared to the public high school that serves the whole valley.
Grades: 9 - 12 (Middle School coming Fall, 2026)
Enrollment: 90–100
Ratio: ~5:1 student–teacher ratio (average class size ~11)
Performance: Above-average private high school academics with 100% college matriculation reported and strong standardized test outcomes. Not ranked in Wyoming public school rankings (private independent school).
School Hours: Full-day private high school schedule (exact bell schedule not publicly standardized; structured academic day with trips, mini-mester, and experiential blocks built into the calendar)
Acceptance: Not publicly published, but selective and capacity-limited due to very small enrollment (~100 students total).
Tuition:
Jackson Hole Christian Academy (K–12 faith-based option)
About: JA small, private Christian (Biblical worldview) K–12 school located on the grounds of Community Bible Church in Jackson, Wyoming, focused on Christ-centered education and individualized instruction in a very small classroom environment.
It is one of the smallest private schools in Teton County and operates as a religious, independent alternative to public and larger private schools in the valley.
Grades: K - 12
Enrollment: ~9–22 students total (extremely small; fluctuates year to year)
Ratio: ~5:1 (average class size ~4 students)
Performance: Considered a niche, individualized academic model with small class instruction and a traditional Christian curriculum rather than AP-heavy or standardized college-prep benchmarking used by larger schools. Not ranked in Wyoming public school rankings (private independent school).
School Hours: Traditional full school day (~30 hours/week of instruction)
Acceptance: Estimated ~25% acceptance rate with rolling admissions and interviews required.
Tuition: ~$4,000 per year (among the lowest private school tuition in Wyoming)
Childcare & Early Education
Licensed options here range from childcare centers to Montessori programs, nature-based preschools, and home-based providers. Availability shifts year to year, and waitlists are common. I’ve found that it’s rare for a waitlist to carry a fee, so would encourage families planning a relocation to begin childcare research as early as possible, and get on as many waitlists as relevant prior to the move.
Since childcare is obviously non-zoning dependent, I’ve grouped some of the most popular local daycares by their location / relative convenience for residents throughout the valley.
West Bank / Wilson
Jackson Hole Learn and Play (0-6 yr olds) | | jhlp@bresnan.net
Pumpkin Patch Preschool (2-5 yr olds) | kimparkerjh@gmail.com
Mountain Academy of Teton Science Schools (18 months-5 yr olds) | admissions@tetonscience.org
Town of Jackson
Children's Learning Center (Mercill) (0-5 yr olds) | boseguera@learningcenterwy.org
Happy Kidz Day Care Center (0-5 yr olds) | happykidzdaycarecenter@yahoo.com
Rocky Mountain Kids (0-5 yr olds) | RMKChildCare307@gmail.com
Sweet Spirits Preschool & Childcare (0-5 yr olds) | sweetspiritschildcare@gmail.com
Fundamentals Learning Center (3 months -5 yr olds) | info@fundamentalslc.com
Little Learners Academy (2-5 yr olds) | melandshel1@hotmail.com
Tiny Explorers (2-5 yr olds) | jhtinyexplorers@gmail.com
Mountain Kids (3-5 yr olds) | mtnkidsjh@gmail.com
South Valley
Children's Learning Center (Rafter J) (0-5 yr olds) | boseguera@learningcenterwy.org
Little Acorns Academy (0-5 yr olds) | fiona@littleacornsacademy.com
KidVentures Nature Preschool (0-5 yr olds) | onyskooksana@gmail.com
Montessori School of the Tetons (2-5 yr olds) | tetonmontessori@gmail.com
Little Lambs at Presbyterian Church (2-5 yr olds) | alack@pcjh.org
Teton Literacy Center (3-5 years old) | marina@tetonliteracy.org
General Logistics for families to consider:
West Bank / Wilson: Here, you’ll be close to the wonderful Wilson Elementary School, but further from most childcare, middle school and high school options. Winter driving conditions, tourism during the busy seasons, and bridge access can influence commute times depending on your exact location, so keep that in mind if you’re planning to buy in Wilson and commute into town 2x daily for pick-up and drop off!
Town of Jackson: Here, you’ll have convenient access to the majority of schools due to central location. Walkability and proximity to amenities are often deciding factors for families prioritizing convenience over lot size. Note that you’ll still have to drive to the middle and high schools, since those are located further South of town.
South Valley: This area is often favored by families for pathway connectivity to the middle and high schools and relatively straightforward winter access into town. You’ll find a fair share of early childhood education options located just South of town as well, where you’re less likely to encounter traffic despite a 5-10 minute drive.
Takeaways: In Teton County, school decisions aren’t just about academics. You should consider daily commute patterns, peer group size, walkability, access to childcare and how a neighborhood functions year-round when determining where to buy. Understanding how neighborhoods and schools fit together helps families make decisions that support their long-term lifestyle, not just a single enrollment year! Contact me if you’d like to discuss this all as it relates to your lifestyle and family!
