Teton Science Schools / Place Network: Parent Guide to Place-Based Environmental Education

Teton Science Schools (TSS) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational organization founded in 1967 in Jackson, Wyoming, that operates its own independent day school, Mountain Academy, and runs the Place Network, a collaborative partner-school network focused on place-based education ¹². The organization was founded by Ted Major, a science teacher who began by taking twelve high school students on six weeks of field research in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem ¹. Founder attribution is disputed: TSS's primary history page centers Ted Major, while local press and TSS's own anniversary materials identify both Ted and Joan Major as founders; the organization's 2017 annual report lists both as founders ¹¹²¹³.

TSS is non-traditional in that it combines a tuition-charging independent school for children as young as 18 months through 8th grade with outdoor and field education programs, a graduate program, and a professional learning network that supports partner schools across the country in adopting place-based pedagogy ¹²¹¹. The Place Network, launched in 2016, is not a franchise or owned-campus system; it is a multi-year professional development partnership in which TSS coaches help rural K-12 schools implement place-based education frameworks in their own communities ²¹¹.

Snapshot facts

Field	Detail
Official name	Teton Science Schools 1
Operating status	Active; Jackson Upper School (grades 9-12) suspended in June 2024 4
Founded	1967 1
Founders	Ted Major and Joan Major (attribution disputed between TSS history page and local press) 11213
Current leadership	Wayne Turner, Executive Director; Chris Bessonette, Head of School, Jackson Campus; Leila Poutiatine, Head of School, Teton Valley Campus
Primary location	Jackson, Wyoming, with four campuses across Wyoming and Idaho
Grades served	18 months through 8th grade at Mountain Academy; grades 9-12 suspended 4
Public/charter/private status	Private nonprofit independent school (Mountain Academy); nonprofit partner-school network (Place Network)
Tuition or funding model	Varies by campus; Jackson $29,760, Teton Valley $20,690 for 2026
Admissions model	Application-based independent day school
Educational model	Place-based education connecting learning to local ecology, culture, and economy 23
Evidence confidence	School-reported; limited independent verification 810

What it is

TSS encompasses four physical campuses and two distinct educational offerings: Mountain Academy, the organization's own independent day school, and the Place Network, a professional learning partnership for external schools ¹². Mountain Academy operates on two campuses, Jackson (Wyoming) and Teton Valley (Idaho), serving children from 18 months through 8th grade. The Kelly Campus and Murie Ranch are TSS facilities used for field education, programs, and events rather than as tuition-charging day-school campuses.

The Place Network is described by TSS as "a collaborative network of K-12 schools that connect learning and communities" ². Launched in 2016, it partners with small rural schools and districts, providing multi-year professional development that includes on-site visits, virtual coaching, curriculum resources, and an annual conference at the Jackson Campus ¹¹¹⁸. TSS states that the Place Network is "not a specific curriculum" but rather "an embedded and contextualized place-based education framework" ¹¹. After its first full operating year, the network reported supporting 12 schools and over 600 students ¹¹.

Educational model

Place-based education, as practiced by TSS, connects learning to the local community through ecological, cultural, and economic perspectives ³. The TSS Place-Based Learning Framework emphasizes four elements: learner-centered practices, community impact, community as classroom, and meeting or exceeding academic targets through place-based content ². TSS describes the approach as one that "connects learners and communities to increase student engagement, boost learning outcomes, impact communities and promote understanding of the world around us" ³.

For Mountain Academy, the model means students learn through inquiry grounded in their immediate surroundings, including Grand Teton National Park, where TSS states it operates in partnership. Early childhood classes follow the Reggio Emilia approach ⁶. Prior to the Upper School suspension, Mountain Academy offered three "pathways" for 11th and 12th grade students: community engagement, the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, and outdoor leadership ¹⁵.

Student experience

Mountain Academy students experience a blend of classroom instruction and outdoor, field-based learning ¹³. The Jackson Campus at 700 Coyote Canyon Road features high-performance green buildings and serves as the primary day-school site. Students at both campuses engage with their local communities through projects; TSS has highlighted examples including 8th grade students in New Meadows, Idaho who designed and built a tiny home, and students in Jackson Hole who organized a food insecurity fundraiser ¹¹.

In 2026, TSS completed an organizational integration with Wyoming Stargazing, an astronomy nonprofit, bringing dark-sky and astronomy programming into its place-based model ¹⁶. The Kelly Campus and Murie Ranch, the latter a historic facility once home to conservationists Olaus and Mardy Murie, are used for residential field education and visitor programs ¹²¹⁹.

Curriculum, assessment, and progression

Mountain Academy's curriculum is organized around six place-based principles and a framework that centers the learner ¹⁵. Programming from 18 months through 8th grade continues at both campuses ⁴. Mountain Academy was authorized to offer the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme for grades 11 and 12 beginning in 2010 and was accredited by the Pacific Northwest Association of Independent Schools (PNAIS) in 2006 ⁶¹⁴. The school reported a 100% college-going rate for its Upper School graduates ⁵.

The Jackson Upper School (grades 9-12) was suspended in June 2024 due to declining enrollment; the school was set to enroll only three seniors for 2024-2025, down from 10 the prior year and 12 in 2022-2023 ⁴⁵. TSS Board Vice Chair Leah Corrigan stated that the board needed to "focus our efforts on early childhood through eighth grade programming" ⁵. A "Mountain Academy Jackson Campus Revitalization Plan" is underway to set strategic goals for the next 3-5 years, though Corrigan indicated planning will not include reestablishing the upper school at this time ⁵.

For Place Network partner schools, TSS provides a curriculum database, an educator toolkit, and a course called "Finding My Place" for grades 4-8, which is free for Place Network schools and $500 per teacher for other schools ³.

Public, charter, private, nonprofit, program, network, or platform status

Teton Science Schools, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Mountain Academy is an independent day school, not a public or charter school. The Place Network is a collaborative partner-school network, not a set of owned campuses; partner schools retain their own governance, admissions, and operations². TSS also operates field education programs, a graduate program, and wildlife expeditions ¹⁴¹⁹.

The listed investor mention of "NewSchools Venture Fund" in external sources is unverified. Notable partnerships include the Rural Schools Collabororative (Northern Rockies Hub), the University of Houston and Columbia Public Schools (research evaluation collaboration), the All Points North Foundation (grant support for the Place Network), and Grand Teton National Park (operating partnership).

Locations and availability

TSS operates four campuses:

1. Jackson Campus, 700 Coyote Canyon Road, Jackson, WY 83001: active Mountain Academy day-school campus, 18 months through 8th grade; tuition $29,760 for 2026.
2. Teton Valley Campus, 192 W. Birch Street, Victor, ID 83455: active Mountain Academy day-school campus, 18 months through 8th grade; tuition $20,690 for 2026.
3. Kelly Campus, Kelly, WY: active outdoor-learning and program campus, not a Mountain Academy day-school campus.
4. Murie Ranch, 1 Murie Ranch Road, Moose, WY 83012: active historic program and event facility, not a Mountain Academy day-school campus.

The Place Network extends TSS's reach to partner schools across the United States, with a focus on rural areas ²¹¹. TSS does not offer fully online schooling.

Tuition, admissions, and eligibility

Mountain Academy is a tuition-based independent school. Published tuition for the 2026 academic year is $29,760 at the Jackson Campus and $20,690 at the Teton Valley Campus. Financial aid information is not published in available sources. Admissions are application-based.

Wyoming's Education Savings Account (ESA) program, established in 2024 and amended by the Steamboat Legacy Scholarship Act, provides eligible Wyoming residents with $7,000 annually for educational expenses including private school tuition, beginning in the 2025-26 school year ⁷¹⁷. For K-12 students in 2025-26, eligibility is universal regardless of income; pre-kindergarten eligibility requires household income at or below 250% of the federal poverty guidelines ⁷¹⁷. TSS's ESA status is verified for Wyoming. The Teton Valley Campus is in Idaho and would not be eligible for Wyoming ESA funds.

Credits, transcripts, diplomas, certifications, and accreditation

• Mountain Academy is accredited by the Pacific Northwest Association of Independent Schools and is a member of the National Association of Independent Schools ⁶.
• The school is an International Baccalaureate World School authorized to offer the IB Diploma Programme ⁶.
• Prior to the Upper School suspension, all students in grades 9-11 took the PSAT ⁶.

For Place Network partner schools, credits, transcripts, and diplomas are issued by the partner schools themselves, not by TSS, as the Place Network is a professional learning partnership rather than an owned-school system².

Evidence and outcomes

TSS maintains an internal research and evaluation program for the Place Network ⁸. The evaluation process aims to assess the effectiveness of Place Network professional learning, whether it increases teacher knowledge and skills, and the extent to which schools implement the framework ⁸. Each Place Network school shares qualitative and quantitative data in a portfolio website ⁸.

School-reported findings from the 2023-2024 evaluation cycle include a positive correlation between teacher well-being and place-based education implementation, with approximately 65% of responding teachers indicating that place-based education positively impacts their well-being ¹⁰. TSS's 2024-25 annual report states that the network gathered its "most comprehensive student and school-level data to date," with trends showing higher student engagement, stronger educator well-being, and deepened community connections ⁹.

TSS reported a 100% college-going rate for its Upper School graduates; this figure is school-reported and the Upper School is now suspended ⁵. Research is conducted in collaboration with external partners including the University of Houston and Columbia Public Schools. TSS itself notes that its evaluation results, "while not definitive proof, illuminate meaningful trends" ¹⁰. These outcomes have not been independently verified through standardized state assessments or third-party audits.

Best fit

Mountain Academy may be a fit for families in the Jackson Hole or Teton Valley region who value an independent school education grounded in place-based, outdoor, and environmental learning, and whose children fall within the 18-months through 8th-grade range currently served ⁴. Families seeking a 9th-through-12th-grade option should note that the Jackson Upper School is suspended with no announced reopening date ⁴⁵.

The Place Network is not a school that families enroll in directly; it is a professional learning partnership for schools and districts. Families interested in place-based education through a Place Network partner school should identify whether a local school participates in the network and inquire about that school's own admissions, governance, and outcomes ²¹¹.

Questions parents should ask

1. What is the timeline and scope of the Mountain Academy Jackson Campus Revitalization Plan, and does it include any plans to reopen the Upper School?
2. What financial aid or scholarship options are available at the Jackson and Teton Valley campuses, and what percentage of families receive assistance?
3. For Place Network partner schools: what are the school's own accreditation status, admissions criteria, and academic outcomes, independent of the TSS partnership?
4. How does the Wyoming ESA program interact with Mountain Academy tuition, and can ESA funds be applied at the Jackson Campus?
5. What is the current Place Network partner-school roster, and which states and communities are served?

Sources

[1] "About Us: Empowering Learners through Place-Based Education," Teton Science Schools, https://www.tetonscience.org/about/, accessed July 22, 2026. [2] "Discover the Wonders of the Place Network," Teton Science Schools, https://www.tetonscience.org/school-network/, accessed July 22, 2026. [3] "Place-Based Education," Teton Science Schools, https://www.tetonscience.org/about/place-based-education/, accessed July 22, 2026. [4] "Mountain Academy Jackson Campus Announces Suspension of its Upper School Programming," Teton Science Schools, https://www.tetonscience.org/mountain-academy-jackson-campus-announces-suspension-of-its-upper-school-programming/, accessed July 22, 2026. [5] "Thinning enrollment closes Mountain Academy high school, for now," Jackson Hole News&Guide, https://www.jhnewsandguide.com/news/schools/thinning-enrollment-closes-mountain-academy-high-school-for-now/article_de87a150-332e-11ef-bb0c-eb45591d1f55.html, accessed July 22, 2026. [6] "Mountain Academy of Teton Science Schools," Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mountain_Academy_of_Teton_Science_Schools, accessed July 22, 2026. [7] "Education Savings Account," Wyoming Department of Education, https://edu.wyoming.gov/parents/education-savings-accounts/, accessed July 22, 2026. [8] "Place Network Evaluation," Teton Science Schools, https://www.tetonscience.org/about/place-network-evaluation/, accessed July 22, 2026. [9] "Place-Based Education 2024-25 Annual Report," Teton Science Schools, https://www.tetonscience.org/place-based-education-2024-25-annual-report/, accessed July 22, 2026. [10] "Unpacking the Impact of Place-Based Education: Findings from Fall 2023-2024 Evaluation," Teton Science Schools, https://www.tetonscience.org/unpacking-the-impact-of-place-based-education-findings-from-fall-2023-2024-evaluation/, accessed July 22, 2026. [11] "A Network of Place-Based Schools, A Year Worth Celebrating," Teton Science Schools, https://www.tetonscience.org/a-network-of-place-based-schools-a-year-worth-celebrating/, accessed July 22, 2026. [12] "Teton Science Schools 2017 Annual Report," Teton Science Schools, https://www.tetonscience.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/TSS_AnnualReport_2017-FINAL-for-Issuu.pdf, accessed July 22, 2026. [13] "TSS at 50 Years: Our 'Why'," Teton Science Schools, https://www.tetonscience.org/tss-at-50-years-our-why/, accessed July 22, 2026. [14] "Mountain Academy of Teton Science Schools," Malone Family Foundation, https://malonefamilyfoundation.org/2022/08/11/mountain-academy-of-teton-science-schools/, accessed July 22, 2026. [15] "When Students Choose Their Own Path, Learning Follows," Teton Science Schools, https://www.tetonscience.org/when-students-choose-their-own-path-learning-follows/, accessed July 22, 2026. [16] "Wyoming Stargazing, Teton Science Schools merge," Jackson Hole News&Guide, https://www.jhnewsandguide.com/news/business/wyoming-stargazing-teton-science-schools-merge/article_c51eb867-e872-4d9b-a768-1b36999646fc.html, accessed July 22, 2026. [17] "ESA Universal Family Application to Close June 25," Wyoming Department of Education, https://edu.wyoming.gov/sups-memo/06-02-2025-esa-universal-family-application-to-close-june-25/, accessed July 22, 2026. [18] "Enhance Education with Place Network Offerings," Teton Science Schools, https://www.tetonscience.org/what-we-offer/, accessed July 22, 2026. [19] "Teton Science Schools," Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teton_Science_Schools, accessed July 22, 2026.