Admissions
Welcome to Tara!
Our 9th-12th grade program prepares students not only for college, but for life.
On this page, you can explore upcoming admissions events or schedule a virtual information session, phone call, coffee chat, or campus tour.
Thank you for your interest in Tara, where we strive to awaken students’ minds and hearts, foster deep connections to one another and to the world, and engage them in meaningful work that sparks curiosity and joy. These experiences forge friendships that last a lifetime.
Tara students explore the world through our transformative travel program, shine on stage, and develop essential skills such as adaptability, communication, and resilience, that carry them well beyond graduation.
Choosing a high school is one of the most important decisions a family makes. These years are profoundly formative, and at Tara we seek to make them rich with purpose, discovery, and experience, so students step into the world carrying the light of the education they were part of. We hope you'll come see for yourself what makes Tara special.
Visiting campus or connecting with us via Google Meet are the best ways to determine if Tara is the right fit for your family. I invite you to scroll down and register for an event, tour, phone call, or virtual meeting. I look forward to getting to know you.
Warmly,
Phillip Alvarez
Admissions and Enrollment Coordinator
Tara Performing Arts High School
More than anything, Tara provides an education specially tuned to the cultivation of empathy, as embodying any character on stage necessitates an ability to imagine the world from their perspective.
Lucinda Holland
Class of 2022
This is the first time in 2 years that our daughter has been excited, happy and feeling accepted at school. She is coming home smiling. We are so incredibly grateful for Tara and the community
you have all built there.
Tara Parent
The Admissions Process
-
Start a conversation. Call, email, or schedule a tour with our Admissions & Enrollment Coordinator: 720-885-9454 | enrollment@tarahighschool.org
-
Apply online. Application questions are an essential part of our process. We ask students and families to answer fully and honestly so we can assess fit accurately. All responses are kept confidential.
-
Interview. Prospective families attend a ~90-minute interview with faculty and staff. Parents and students each have a brief one-on-one conversation; students also provide a short writing sample. This is a chance for families to explore our five founding principles and ask questions. Please share any learning, emotional, or developmental considerations upfront so we can accurately assess our ability to meet your student's needs.
-
Decision. Letters are typically sent within one week of the interview.
I would love to meet you! Whether it is in person or virtually, please feel free to schedule yourself with me using the application below.
Scholarship Program
Announcing a bold new scholarship program for the 2026-27 school year. 35 full and partial scholarships are now available!
We are making every effort to bring a Tara education within reach of all who wish to enroll. Please note that tuition assistance and scholarships apply to tuition only, not trip costs and fees, and are awarded annually; families must reapply each school year.
Tuition assistance and scholarships are open to all families regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or transgender status, or background. Financial assistance need has no impact on admissions decisions.
The first step in the scholarship application process is to be accepted into the school. We look forward to receiving your application!
Tuition, Trip Costs & Fees
TUITION – $31,805
TRIP COSTS
New York City Trip (Grades 9 & 11) $4100
Native American Trip (Grade 10) $1950
Geology Trip (Grade 10) $3700
NOLS Wilderness First Aid Training (Grade 10) $400
Hamlet Intensive (Grade 11) $950
Concert Series (Grade 11) $400
Senior Trip to Europe (Grade 12) $8800
Marine Biology Trip (Grade 12) $2900
Russian Literature Intensive (Grade 12) $945
Senior Leadership Retreats (Grade 12) $3465
FEES
Enrollment Deposit (non-refundable) $1000
Admissions Fee $250
International Student Enrollment Deposit (50% non-refundable) $2500
Late re-enrollment fee (after April 1) $750
Books & Materials $940
Rehearsal/Performance Dinners $415
Theatre Tickets $368
Facilities $4148
Health and Wellness $368
International Students
Tara welcomes international students from around the world on a non-exchange (tuition-paying) basis during their high school years. Countries our students have come from include Austria, Germany, France, China, Mexico and Italy. Length of stay may range from one semester to all four years. Please reach out to us a minimum of 6-10 months prior to the semester for which you would like to apply. Applicants proceed through the same admission and enrollment process; they also pay the same fees as all other students, plus an independent fee to their host family, if applicable. Assistance is available for securing a host family.
Waldorf is an educational philosophy that connects our school to over 1,000 others around the globe. At Tara, we place special emphasis on travel in order to awaken in our students a sense of global awareness and curiosity, and therefore we value the perspective international students bring. We strongly encourage prospective families to research the Waldorf curriculum and reach out to us directly if interested in Tara, as our teaching methods and mission are different from many current American public or independent schools.
Tara is an approved SEVIS school and is authorized to help facilitate the process of obtaining F-1 visas once a student has been accepted.
Curious about Tara?
No events at the moment
