970-238-6716
Kwiyagat Community Academy opened in Fall 2021 with 27 students in kindergarten and first grade, marking the beginning of a new educational opportunity in Towaoc, Colorado, home of the Ute Mountain Ute people. As the first public charter school located on Native land in Colorado, KCA is guided by Ute language and culture, social-emotional learning, and academic excellence. The school adds one grade level each year and is on track to serve kindergarten through fifth grade by the 2025–2026 school year, with a goal of enrolling 100 students and maintaining class sizes of 18–20.
As the school plans to add one grade each year of approximately 15-20 students per grade until the school enrolls 90-120 students in grades K-5 in five years.
" Past generations had to block their way of life, their Native way of life, and learn a new way of life and now they (young people) are coming back and asking more about the old ways. "
Kwiyagat Community Academy was born from the vision, passion, and determination of the Ute Mountain Ute community who dreamed of an educational experience that truly reflects, respects, and uplifts Nuchu people. As the first Colorado public, charter school on an indigenous reservation, our story is not just about academics—it’s about revitalization, celebration, and possibility.
Founded in Fall 2021 in Towaoc, Colorado, Kwiyagat began with just 27 students. But even in its earliest days, it stood for something far greater: a grassroots commitment to nurturing future generations through culturally rich, place-based learning. Each classroom is a celebration of Ute heritage, where students are not only seen and safe, but deeply connected—to their identity, their language, and their land.
At full enrollment, KCA will serve grades K–5 with approximately 100 students. Our Indigenous-designed curriculum supports academic excellence while fostering social and emotional growth. We are not just educating children—we are growing leaders who walk proudly in two worlds, deeply rooted in who they are and boldly stepping into who they will become.
The mission of the Kwiyagat Community Academy will be to ensure an educational program where the Nuchiu culture and language guides the educational experience and is characterized by small class sizes with an interdisciplinary, indigenous, and project-based approach that results in high academic expectations and desired character skills, personal wellness, and community involvement.
Kwiyagat Community Academy envisions a future where the graduates of the school will have a strong grounding in Nuchiu culture and language while incorporating modern perspectives as contributing members of the Ute Mountain Ute community. The new generation of school graduates will foster a revitalization of the Nuchiu language and culture and use this knowledge to ground them in a positive self-identity and create community connections built on mutual respect, academic success and focused career goals.
Got more questions? We’re here to answer them.
Please see our school calendar here.
Breakfast begins at 7:45 am, Classroom Instruction begins at 8:10 am, and school is out at 3:15 pm. Fridays that we have school has an early release time of 12:30 pm.
We have Kindergarten (full day) through 5th grade.
No, we are a Public Charter School and ALL students are welcome.
We do offer both Breakfast & Lunch at no charge to our students. We are a CEP (Community Eligibility Provision) school.
Currently we do not have regular transportation. The K-12 Department is able to help provide transportation to those students who are in dire need. We are willing to work with parents to help make sure that their student is in school daily.
We have a wonderful staff. Our teachers work with each student individually as well as with the entire class. We have multiple service providers to help with the different needs of our students such as behavior, learning, reading, math, emotional, and other areas that students need.
Yes we do! We are a public charter school so we are required to meet all of the same standards as the public schools.
We believe that our school is the best place for your student. All of our staff know your student by name and have a relationship with them. You student will also know all of the staff by name and hopefully feel confident and comfortable in letting them know what they need. We want your student and you to feel welcome to our school.
Yes we do, all classes participate. The older students get more intense learning than the younger students but all students are encouraged to participate and be respectful.
As of right now, we are not asking our students to provide school supplies. If they would like to, we do not discourage it but it is not required.
No, we don’t have services provided through San Juan BOCES but we do provide all needed services for our students.
YES! We love donations to our school. Donations should be made out to Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, dba (doing business as) Kwiyagat Community Academy.
We welcome all visitors!
All visits require a pre-arranged appointment. Please call the Front Office to schedule your visit: 970-970-238-6716.
Visits range from 1 -2 hours maximum. Including a school tour, classroom visit, meeting with staff and observing some speciality programs.
Generally, the best days to visit are Tuesday -Thursdays.
