The short answer is as soon as we can. Currently, we are working to secure a site and the seed funding necessary to launch. Everything else is in place.

Whereas once, we planned to open a pilot program in the fall of 2026 and our full school program a year later, our plans have been delayed somewhat by permitting issues. We did, indeed, find an outstanding site for our school, but securing the necessary permits has been a sticky process.

The best and most current information is available in the Updates section of this website.

Our financial projections are designed to keep the cost of tuition as low as possible while still maintaining viability and solvency as a school. Tuition will be set by the Board of Trustees when we announce our opening. We plan to start with a year-long pilot program as a proof-of-concept demonstration of our model and then move seamlessly into Year One of our full high school model. Our opening tuition is dependent on anticipated enrollment as indicated by expressed interest and the specifics of permitting. There are many moving parts and we are working on it.

I am comfortable saying that our commitment is to offering an excellent high school program at a reasonable cost with as much financial aid as we can afford, while cutting no corners and becoming the go-to independent school in the region. That is how we will remain sustainable, while supporting a compelling value proposition.

Most likely, our opening tuition for our full high school program will be approximately $24K, give or take 10%. The Board of Trustees will set tuition each year and we will make those determinations considering our families and the long-term goal of establishing this school in this valley.

Education is an expensive proposition, but it should not be out of reach of local families and everyday people. We are confident that with a combination of scaled tuition, robust assistance, generous philanthropy, grant funding, and the state’s Parental Choice Tax Credit, we can make this work for all who really want to learn.

Yes. We are committed to making our school as broadly accessible as possible through tuition assistance, which is synonymous with financial aid, which really just amounts to a discount in the price tag. A healthy tuition assistance program is absolutely essential to our mission of serving the common good and Teton Valley families.

Our ability to offer tuition assistance that puts a Tetons West education within reach is dependent on our philanthropic fundraising and grant funding. A school devoted not only to individual benefit but to the common good asks every member of our community to do what they can to make this experience accessible for others. A sliding scale tuition model is essential to a creating an outstanding student body whose demographics reflect our community.

Families applying for tuition assistance will be asked to submit an application that is typical for such programs.

As of November 2026, our most urgent need is for skilled partnership.

1. Cofounders – We are looking for one or more start-up visionaries who 1) believe in education, 2) believe we can do it better, and 3) have the time and the inclination to prioritize this project.

2. Skilled Collaborators – We are looking for folks to engage in this process. Even if “Cofounder” is not your ambition, you may be able to get involved in other ways. If you can teach, if you can build with wood, if you are good with people, if you can speak in front of Commissioners, if you can run down information, if you want to be an early contributor to something big, let’s talk. The key is that this project takes time, perseverance, availability, and positivity on a regular basis. Honor and glory in case of success.

3. Trustees - We are looking to expand our Board of Trustees. If this interests you, I would love to talk to you.

We plan to open with a Pilot Program of academic study and experiential boat building.

• Academic Masterclass - As a demonstration of what we mean by relational, relevant, and challenging academics, we will offer a 5th day (Friday mornings) course of study in neuroscience. Entitled “A User’s Guide to the Teenaged Brain”, this course will meet for two hours every Friday morning for 12 weeks, and it will engage students in an exploration of what we currently know about the brain, the mind, consciousness, dreams, emotions, memory, and how it all works together. Students will come away with a better understanding and a stronger ability to use their brains and what it is that makes them who they are.

• Experiential Boat Building – in 12-weeks of Friday afternoons (and as many Saturdays as we need) students will build their own wood-strip canoe. In a shop setting and starting from scratch, students will learn the woodworking technique and safety practices that underlie craftsmanship. At the end, every student (or maybe teams of two) will have their own 16 foot, wood and fiberglass, flat water canoe based on the Beaver design that was used extensively in Canada, the Great Lakes and the midwest by First Nation peoples.

Year One of our full high school program will open to our first class of 16 ninth grade students after the Pilot. From there, we will grown with one class per year until we reach our full complement of four grades, 64 students, and 10 faculty.

We will start with our core academic subjects and build in the rest of our program as we are able to develop our space and our faculty.

The following documents are complete and available:

• Business Plan and Executive Summary – For those interested in making a strong gift to the school –– and for those interested in a detailed look at our complete plan for success.

• The Prospectus – An eminently readable and reasonably detailed description of our vision, our opportunity, and our program.

• The One-Pager – The briefest description of our project. Just the main points.

The Prospectus and The One-Pager are available here. For the Executive Summary or the Business Plan, contact Peter Poutiatine directly - peterp@tetonswest.org.

Four ways:

1. Right here.

2. The “Take Action” button on the home page.

3. Send a check to Tetons West Experiential High School, 225 Wild Horse Dr., Tetonia, ID, 83452.

4. Reach out to Peter Poutiatine directly to talk about what you’d like to see happen: peterp@tetonswest.org or at 208/313-1661.

Yes. Our needs for community involvement are broad and various. We have not yet begun to hire, but I’d love to talk to you if you are interested in teaching or staffing the school.

There are a few other doors you might want to open.

Board of Trustees – We are looking to expand the Founding Board of Trustees. It is a special job for a committed group of people, and, to be plain, it carries no special privileges. Also, there is a process to it. That said, there is probably no better way to become more deeply involved in the launch and development of what promises to be a real and tangible benefit to the Teton Valley community. The founding board will be forever lionized in the mythology of Tetons West, and it may be the closest thing to immortality you can find.

Cofounders and Start-up Collaborators – Peter is actively looking for inspired compatriots in this work. It takes time, vision, and a good bit of risk tolerance. You’ll know if this is you. If you have ever thought that you wanted to be a part of starting a school, here is your opportunity.

If any of these opportunities appeal, contact Peter Poutiatine at peterp@tetonswest.org.