Where children fall in love with learning
Rolling admissions
·Registration for 2027-28 now open!
·Tuition assistance available
Our Programs
Whether your child is starting Kindergarten or transferring schools, they'll find a home at Bixby.
Kindergarten
A magical introduction to elementary years, where childhood warmth meets academic foundations. Students learn science on walks to Bridgewalk Pond, practice math in Cooking Club, and build literacy and social studies through hands-on projects — plus Spanish, art, music, and swimming three times a week in our saltwater pool. All while building the social-emotional skills at the heart of Bixby: independence, empathy, and responsibility.
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Grades 1 – 5
At Bixby, all core subjects are co-taught in dedicated classrooms by two lead teachers, allowing for individualized attention and a child-led approach. Students learn the "why" behind math, explore inquiry-based science, and practice literacy through the lens of social studies. Graduates go on to Boulder's strongest public and independent middle schools, carrying with them the critical thinking, imagination, and joy of learning from their Bixby years.
Request Info →Have a younger sibling or wondering where it starts? Explore Bixby Preschool →
"Bixby is a place that sees my whole son — the academic, social, and emotional. The teachers nurture and challenge him, recognizing when he needs a lift and when he needs a push. The small class sizes allow teachers and the students themselves to view each child as a unique learner. Jax has grown from a shy little boy to a confident kid."
— Teresa Tate
Bixby Parent
Why Families Choose Bixby
The Bixby elementary experience is deliberately designed to cultivate children's curiosity, critical thinking, and sense of self.
Campus built for exploration
No sterile hallways here. Instead, you'll find three acres of gardens, play yards, climbing structures, and outdoor space designed for risk-taking and exploration. An indoor saltwater pool for swim lessons — an integral part of the curriculum. Dedicated rooms for art, music, drama, and hands-on science, and a middle-school-style rotating schedule that moves students through the home-like campus rather than keeping them in one room all day.
Teaching built on inquiry
Every child arrives at Bixby curious — about bugs, about fractions, about how stories end. Our job is to keep that fire lit through every grade. With small classes and two lead teachers in every core subject, teachers have the time and attention to follow student questions, not scripts. Math teaches the why behind the procedure. Science starts with wonder, not worksheets. Literature moves students through cultures and across history. By fifth grade, Bixby students haven't just learned reading and math. They've learned how they learn — the skill that carries into every classroom they enter next.
Community built for belonging
Every adult in the building — the office staff, the facilities manager, the chef — knows your child by name. Older students read to younger ones; younger siblings grow up watching the bigger kids on the playground. Parents come along on field trips and share family traditions. Local musicians, doctors, and engineers drop in for show-and-tell. Alums return to reconnect with classmates and reminisce about their Bixby days.
"Bixby taught me how to belong to myself and celebrate the uniqueness of our community."
— Katie Kowal
Bixby Alumna · Rhodes Scholar · Director, AI for Weather at University of Chicago
Meet Your Child's Teachers
Across Preschool, TK, Kindergarten, and Elementary, Bixby teachers are experienced educators who bring expertise, warmth, and genuine care to every child.
Head of School
Nina Lopez
Harvard-Radcliffe College, B.A. · Columbia University, JD
Nina leads campus tours personally and is the first person you'll meet when you visit Bixby. A Bixby parent since 2012 and Head of School since 2018, she brings 20+ years in education and a deep belief in every child's potential.
"I believe deeply in the potential of every child and in the power of individualized, responsive education to realize that potential."
Bixby teachers are...
Perceptive
Our teachers pay close attention. They notice what lights your child up, where they struggle, and who they’re becoming — so every child feels deeply known and seen.
Experienced
With an average of 15 years in the classroom, our teachers know what helps children grow and bring that expertise to every interaction.
Specialized
Because our teachers are specialists in their subjects, they bring a passion that inspires deeper curiosity and the expertise to meet each child right where they are.
Invested
Bixby is a place where teachers choose to stay. They are anchors of our community, providing the stability that supports learning and the continuity that builds trust.
Collaborative
Education at Bixby is a partnership. Our teachers see families as experts on their own children and students as stakeholders in their own growth.
Passionate
Our teachers genuinely love being here, and our students feel it. That joy creates classrooms where your child feels empowered to ask questions and try hard things.
Frequently Asked Questions
Bixby is different by design. Here are the top questions we get from prospective families.
What makes Bixby different?
Bixby is a progressive, project-based K–5 built around how children actually learn. Classes are small (6:1 ratio) and core subjects are co-taught by two subject-specialist teachers — so your child gets depth of expertise and personalized attention at the same time. Literacy teachers are trained in Orton-Gillingham. Math starts with the why before the how. And because we don't spend weeks each year preparing for standardized tests, we use that time to teach, observe, and know your child as an individual.
Is Bixby academically rigorous?
Yes — but we define rigor as depth of understanding, not volume of worksheets. Students are challenged at their actual edge of capability because their teachers know them well enough to calibrate. In an independent 2021 alumni survey by Connor Associates, over 95% of respondents said Bixby equipped them with critical thinking, problem-solving, and conceptual learning skills — the capabilities that matter in every environment that comes next.
How do you know my child is learning without grades or standardized tests?
Our teachers assess learning every day — through writing samples, project work, daily discussions, and validated screening tools like DIBELS. Three times a year, families receive detailed narrative reports from each subject-specialist teacher describing what your child understands, how they think, and where they're growing.
Is Bixby a good fit for gifted, twice-exceptional, or neurodivergent learners?
Bixby's small class sizes and individualized approach make it a strong environment for children who learn differently — whether they're gifted, twice-exceptional, or neurodivergent. With a 6:1 student-to-teacher ratio, our teachers can adapt instruction to each child's learning profile rather than teaching to the middle of a large class. We don't use a one-size-fits-all curriculum. Teachers start with who your child is — their strengths, their challenges, their interests — and build from there. If applicable, we request copies of evaluations and provider recommendations during admissions so we can work collaboratively with your family to develop a support plan.
Where do Bixby students go after 5th grade?
Bixby graduates go on to the strongest public and independent middle schools in the Boulder area. In the 2021 Connor Associates survey, 85% of alumni and former parents said Bixby's academic foundation enabled students to perform well at the schools they went on to attend. Middle school teachers consistently describe Bixby graduates as curious, confident, and strong self-advocates.
How do I know if Bixby is the right fit for my child?
The best way to find out is to visit. Tours last about 45 minutes, are led by our Head of School Nina, and include time in active classrooms. You'll leave with the answers to the questions specific to your child.
Recognized & Accredited
Schedule a Tour with Nina
Book a campus visit with our Head of School to see Bixby in action!
Have questions? Get in touch.
Fill out the form below and our admissions team will be in touch within one business day.
Or call us today at (303) 494-7508
Vendor or business inquiry? Please email office@bixbyschool.org instead.