The Changemaker Challenge is well underway for the Class of 2027 at Fountain Valley School. It all starts with this… What is a problem you care about, and what are you going to do about it?

Since January, our juniors have been collaborating, asking questions, testing ideas, and building something that has the potential to make a difference.

This work stems from the Design Challenge Network and is built around the idea that students learn best when they are working on real problems that connect to their lives. Each year, DCN hosts the Community Changemaker Challenge, where more than 40 teams from across New England spend a portion of their spring semester creating and sharing their ideas. Although Fountain Valley students won’t be able to participate in the official event in New Hampshire, the Class of 2027 is still committed to finding solutions to problems in our community.

Students start by identifying a problem that matters to them. They dig into it, asking who it affects and why it is important. They look at what has already been tried and where there might be gaps. From there, they design their own solution and bring it to life through a short video and a live presentation.

Right here at FVS, the juniors have created teams based on their interest and are each taking on very different goals, exploring issues that matter to them and their communities in unique ways.

One team, led by Annabelle C., is exploring sustainability on campus by designing a plan for a sustainable agricultural farm to support the dining hall, along with the possibility of adding a sustainable farming class.

“So much of the future is dependent on us preserving the earth,” said Annabelle. “If we had a farm at our school, we could learn what’s good for our campus and sustainability.”

Buck P.’s group is working on teen and young adult drug abuse prevention by partnering with local organizations and raising awareness around the issue. They are focusing on building leadership skills by looking for ways to make an impact in their own community while also thinking about how that work can reach and influence the wider world.

Donovan W. and his group are exploring photochemical smog in Denver and other metropolitan areas. Another group, led by Delphina D. is looking into how the U.S. healthcare system could become more affordable through ideas like controlled hospital pricing and effective use of tax dollars.

This experience helps shape students into leaders by giving them the opportunity to take initiative, think independently, and turn ideas into meaningful action. The skills gained are meant to stay with students long after the project ends. At Fountain Valley School, experiences like this give students the space to explore ideas, the support to develop them, and the confidence to share them beyond campus and into the wider world.

“You’re thinking about things you usually wouldn’t in high school,” said Annabelle.

FVS is proud to announce the launch of an eighth grade program for day students only, beginning in the 2026–2027 school year. As the School approaches its centennial, this expansion reflects both a commitment to its founding spirit and a thoughtful step toward long-term vitality.

When Fountain Valley School opened in 1929, it served students in grades 7–12. Nearly 60 years ago, the Board eliminated eighth grade, after previously phasing out seventh grade. Bringing eighth grade back now reflects a return to the school’s original vision while also meeting the changing needs of families in Colorado Springs.

The addition of an eighth grade program helps meet the growing demand from local families for a strong, supportive transitional year before high school. It also creates a more seamless academic bridge into ninth grade, allowing students to build the habits, confidence, and sense of belonging needed to thrive in a rigorous college-preparatory environment.

The Colorado Springs Gazette recently highlighted the launch of our eighth grade program, underscoring its significance for families across the Pikes Peak region.

The program is designed as a dynamic foundation year that blends high expectations with close faculty mentorship. Students will strengthen core academic skills, deepen habits of inquiry, and develop independence within FVS’s Western academic tradition, one that combines rigor with balance and joy.

The eighth grade class will intentionally be small and selective, with just 15 spots available for the inaugural year. Tuition for the 2026–2027 school year will be $35,000. The priority application deadline is March 8.