Telluride Mountain School is located just outside the historic Town of Telluride, a destination ski and golf community surrounded by the dramatic peaks of Southwestern Colorado's San Juan Mountains. The small Victorian mountain hamlet of Telluride was settled in the late 1850s as a gold and mining town. By the late 1970s, with the opening of the Telluride Ski Resort, Telluride found its economic niche in skiing and summer festival tourism.

The Mountain School draws students from throughout the Telluride Region, including the towns of Placerville, Sawpit, Norwood, Ophir, Rico and Ridgway, as well as students visiting and relocating from out-of-state.

The Telluride community is rich in culture, as evidenced by the more than 70 registered nonprofits operating in the region. The Mountain School benefits greatly from working very closely with many of these organizations throughout the school year.

The school encourages students to participate in as many community events as they are willing and able to take on, including local fine arts, theater and music projects. Many Mountain School students participate on athletic teams through the Town of Telluride Parks and Recreation department, the public school and local sports clubs.