About Us

Vail Ski & Snowboard Academy (VSSA) is a remarkable and utterly unique public school that allows serious winter sports athletes the opportunity of world-class training and competition in their sport in a challenging, college-preparatory academic environment. All VSSA students must be admitted as full-time athletes to Ski and Snowboard Club Vail or another partner organization as a pre-requisite to attending VSSA. A large number of our student-athletes compete on a national and/or international level, which entails extensive travel during the traditional school year. VSSA is specifically tailored to deliver its curriculum to a student body that can be spread across the globe.

Every student travels with a laptop computer or iPad for easy access to schoolwork at all times. As a public ski and snowboard academy, the first of its kind in the country, VSSA is uniquely positioned to provide a financially accessible means for full-time student athletes to pursue their athletic dreams without compromising their academic futures utilizing the many resources available through Eagle County School District (ECSD). Among these resources are tech-infused tools such as Schoology, a web-based learning management system, Power School (real time grading platform) and Naviance (college/career readiness platform that supports the college application planning and admissions process). Tech-savvy teachers instruct the students on how to use these tools. VSSA's student-to-teacher-ratio of 10:1 allows for individualized attention. SSCV and other partner organizations provide funding for four academic coaches per year who support 5th and 6th grade foreign language as well as supplement the Vail Ski & Snowboard Academy classroom teachers, in particular for athletes with extensive travel and competition schedules. Flexibility is key in our environment.

Careful planning and monitoring of each student's course work maintain a uniform opportunity for learning. Our students develop a deep level of independent learning that is unusual among high school students, but absolutely essential for future collegiate and even Olympic athletes and critical for the success of all VSSA students in college and beyond.