Jackson Hole Relocation Guide

Jackson Hole — a place of wilderness, wildlife, and world class skiing. Unrivaled access to outdoor adventure. Where the pristine beauty of the natural world meets the refined amenities of the human one. Jackson Hole offers so many reasons to make it your home.

From Native American hunting grounds to modern day outdoor recreation playground, Jackson Hole takes its name from one of the early fur trappers to explore the area. Surrounded entirely by mountains, the 48 mile long valley is defined by some of the world’s most spectacular scenery. In addition to the town of Jackson, you’ll find the even smaller communities of Wilson, Teton Village, Moose, Moran and Kelly. Individual subdivisions such as South Park, Melody and Rafter J Ranch, among several more, are further dispersed throughout Teton County.

Gateway to Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks, the town of Jackson sits towards the valley’s southern end. Teton County is home to three ski resorts and multiple private golf clubs. Countless miles of trails for hiking, mountain biking and cross country skiing — among numerous other recreational uses — zigzag their way through the surrounding national forest. Various conservation designations protect more than 97% of the land in here from development, assuring the wild character of the greater Jackson Hole environment in perpetuity.   

Yet Jackson Hole is not without its modern day luxuries. A distinguished culinary scene, a thriving art community and an eclectic range of retail merchants blend together to augment Jackson’s one of a kind cultural identity. Jackson’s Old West history displays itself proudly on downtown streets and area architecture, while its spirit is embodied by Jackson’s small town character and welcoming hospitality. With venues the performing arts, its own orchestra and an extensive network of philanthropic activities, Jackson Hole offers a lifestyle like no other.

Weather

Summers in Jackson Hole are short but warm. Highs in the upper 70s℉ June through August let you enjoy summertime fun. Nights get chilly as temperatures drop to upper 30s to low 40s℉ at night.

Winters in Jackson are long and bring lots of cold and snow. All the better for skiing. Jackson Hole Mountain Resort season typically begins Thanksgiving weekend and runs through early April. December through February are typically the coldest months, with high temps in the upper 20s℉  and nighttime lows dropping well below zero.

Spring is unpredictable in Jackson. Weather changes whimsically from blue skies and sunshine to late season snowfall. Temps range the 50s and 60s.

Autumn sets in quickly as August fades, bringing stunning colors of orange and yellow in the aspen and cottonwood groves. Precipitation varies with highs averaging in the 50s.

Population

In the 2010 United States Census, Teton County was claimed as home to 21,294 people, 8,973 households, and 4,938 families. Within the town of Jackson specifically, number of residents is estimated to be just over 10,000.

Schools and Education

Jackson Hole has excellent offerings for both public and private education.

Public School In Jackson Hole

Teton County boasts a well funded public school district along with a variety multiple school alternatives. Countless youth clubs, sports teams and recreation organizations open up Jackson’s unique lifestyle to every member of the family.

Public schools in Jackson fall under the jurisdiction of Teton County School District. The majority of valley children in grades K through 5 are served by the county’s four largest primary schools. On the east side of the Snake River, where most of the population is located, you have Jackson Elementary, Colter Elementary, and Munger Mountain Elementary, a dual language immersion school, only just built and opened in the fall of 2018. On the west side Wilson Elementary serves approximately 200 students. The outlying schools of Kelly Elementary and Moran Elementary serve the more sparsely populated areas to the north of Jackson.

All the valley’s public school students merge into one upon entering sixth grade as they enroll in Jackson Hole Middle School. Entering grade 9, teens move onto Jackson Hole High School where they remain until graduation.

Teton County School District offers the opportunity for approximately 80 children in each grade to receive their education in a bilingual English/Spanish environment. In the much sought after Dual Language Immersion program, Introduced to county families in the fall of 2009, native English and native Spanish speaking students are purposefully integrated with the goal of cultivating bilingual skills.

Private School in Jackson Hole

Parents in Teton County have several private school alternatives for their children as well.

The Journeys School of the Teton Science Schools serves children on two different campuses under the shadow of the Tetons in Jackson Hole as well Teton County, Idaho. The Journeys School is currently the only private education alternative in Jackson Hole to serve every grade level from Pre-K through grade 12.

The Jackson Hole Classical Academy offers a curriculum anchored in a classical, liberal arts tradition. Enrollment is currently open to children from kindergarten through grade 10 and will expand to include grades 11 and 12 by the 2020/2021 academic year.

The Jackson Hole Community School opened its doors to high school students in 2004. It offers a challenging academic environment to prepare students to be exceptional thinkers. Enrollment is available to children in grades 9 through 12.

Daycare and Preschool in Jackson Hole

Jackson Hole parents have a variety of childcare services to meet your family’s needs, from owner operated, in home daycare to larger, half day and full day preschools run by both public organizations as well as numerous private businesses.

The Children’s Learning Center is one of the larger, county operated child care operations serving families in both Teton as well as Sublette Counties. Infant and toddler services are available for babies as young as 6 weeks, while multiple preschool modalities including Montessori serve little ones between ages of 3 to 5. The Children’s Learning Center is also Teton County’s state appointed organization to provide Special Education and Therapy Resources for valley children under age 5.

Sweet Spirits Childcare offers infant, toddler as well as preschool programs. Walk-ins available.

The Journeys School of the Teton Science Schools serves preschool children ages 3 to 5 with a mission to inspire curiosity and leadership through place based education.

Montessori School of the Tetons was founded in 1993 and now serves 25 preschool aged children from 2½ to age 6 in the town of Jackson.

Sweet Peas, LLC serve as a partner in your child’s development from birth through preschool with four distinct programs for infants, babies, toddlers and preschoolers.

Little Explorer’s Preschool serves six children in an in-home setting, providing nature based learning and kindergarten prep for boys and girls ages 3 to 5.

The Jackson Hole Discovery Preschool invites children ages 3 to 5 to imagine, explore and discover through its Reggio Emilia inspired program.

The Little Lambs Preschool of the Presbyterian Church of Jackson Hole provides a variety of half day and full day options classes for toddlers, preschoolers and pre-kindergarten aged children.

The Bright Beginnings Preschool of the St. John’s Episcopal Church offers another church affiliated daycare option for up to 20 children ages 2 to 5 in their downtown Jackson location.

On Call Babysitting

Whether you’re headed out for a day of play or a night on the town, several local Jackson Hole businesses will help outfit you with a qualified caregiver for your little ones at home.

Jackson Hole Nannies In addition to on call babysitting, you can rely on Jackson Hole Nannies for overnight care, pet sitting, local errand running and long term nanny placement. Offering a similar range of services is Jackson Hole Babysitting, caring for both local and visiting children in Jackson Hole since 2004. The staff at Playtime in the Tetons is available to assist you with your elder care needs in addition to taking care of younger children.

Youth Sports, Clubs, Recreation and More

Much like the Jackson Hole’s expansive natural surroundings, the range of activities, sports teams and recreational organizations available to Jackson Hole families is equally as boundless. From infant swim lessons through Teton County Jackson Recreation Center to digital photography classes with the Art Association of Jackson Hole, a child raised in Jackson Hole is sure has the resources to cultivate their athletic as well as their creative interests, whatever they may be.

Athletics for All Ages

Teton County School District athletics brings recreational as well as competition team sports to middle school and high school aged students in Jackson Hole, including those attending area private schools. Options include track, swimming, basketball, football, soccer and much more.

The aquatics center of the Teton County Jackson Recreation Center features a lap pool, kiddie pool and water slide. In addition to swim lessons starting at infants aged 6 months and up, the rec center also has a gymnasium, facilities for birthday parties and a wide range of sports and fitness activities for both children and adults. See their current schedule offerings here.  

Axis Gymnastics brings 9000 square feet of competition level gymnastics facilities at a convenient location near downtown Jackson. Additional services include birthday party rental, an after school club and even a dual immersion preschool program. Parents can nurture the gross motor development of their babies as young as age 1 in Parent-Tot while older children and teens can cross train for freeride skiing and snowboarding in the Axis Big Air program. Scheduling varies season, see the Axis Gymnastics website for details.

During summer months, the crew of instructors at Jackson Hole Swimming has been teaching valley children to swim in both group settings as well as private instruction. For year round competition swim team possibilities, contact the folks at Jackson Hole Stingrays.

Children ages 3 to 18 can play soccer with Jackson Hole Youth Soccer every spring and fall, along with a winter indoor soccer option when the weather turns cold. Programs include local recreational games as well as competitive travel options.

Jackson Hole Lacrosse Club has programs for both boys and girls from grade school through high school.

Jackson Hole Youth Basketball offers both recreational competition travel leagues along with a variety of camps and clinics for added skill development.

On the ice rink, Jackson Hole Youth Hockey starts children at age 3, offering both recreational and travel competitive programs. Alternatively, figure and speed skating classes serve valley youth through the Skating Club of Jackson Hole.

So Many Ways to Ski

If you’re looking to relocate to Jackson, you’re probably a skier. Or hope to be! Our mountain community makes it easy for your kids to get on the snow in all manner of ways.

At the world class Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, both ski and snowboard programs start for preschoolers as young as 3 years old. As their age and skill progresses, the resort offers several programs to choose from, including a ski team for youth aged 15 to 17. As a local, you’ll want to buy your ski pass in August for discounted pricing.

For in town convenience, the locals programs for both skiing and snowboarding over at Snow King Mountain can’t be beat. Programs offered vary by age, with both weekday after school as well as weekend options to choose from.

Finally, the Jackson Hole Ski and Snowboard Club has been “building champions in sport and life since 1938.” If your child has his or her eye on competitive snow sports disciplines, the ski club is sure to have a program to suit them. Taking advantage of world class facilities Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, Snow King Mountain, and the Trail Creek Nordic Center, local kids can choose from alpine racing, freeride skiing or snowboarding, nordic skiing along with multiple winter and summer skill development camps.  

Youth Clubs, Activities and Recreational Organizations

The Jackson Hole Children’s Museum gives children and their caregivers a stimulating space to explore, create, discover and play. In addition to drop in hours, the museum offers education enrichment activities with local preschools as well as K-5 STEAM steam programs coordinated with local Teton County grade school teachers.

In addition to an impressive collection of books for youth in both English and Spanish, storytime at the Teton County Library provides another enriching outlet for kids and families to encourage their love as well as skills in reading.

Tiny dancers as young as 18 months can start discovering the joy of movement and self expression with programs at Dancer’s Workshop. Options range from mommy & me for little movers to modern, ballet and hip hop for older children and high school teens. The Junior Repertory Company affords passionate middle and high school aged dancers the opportunity to be part of a pre-professional dance company.

Artistic creativity in just about every form is available for study at the Art Association of Jackson Hole. Options range from ceramics to painting to watercolor to 3D construction and more.

Finally, children in grades 6 through 12, Teton County School District provides an expansive range of activities from drama and robotics to culinary and model UN.

Your Health and Well-Being in Jackson Hole

Despite its small size, your day to day medical needs are readily attended in Jackson Hole. Several urgent care facilities such as St. John’s Family Health & Urgent Care, Emerge-A-Care of Jackson Hole and Jackson Whole Family Health allow you attend to illnesses and mild to moderate injuries without having to take a trip to the emergency room. For more serious needs and after hours emergencies, Jackson is home to a full service hospital at St. John’s Medical Center. A wide range of preventative, diagnostic and treatment services enable Jackson Hole residents to manage both physical as well as mental well being without having to travel to larger cities. You can also see a full list of providers here.

Jackson Hole is Dog Heaven

If there’s anything Jacksonites love more than their time in the great outdoors, it’s their dogs. And for the dogs of Jackson Hole, what’s not to love? Mountains to climb, rivers to swim across, snow-covered fields for hours of digging fun.

While dogs within both Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks is heavily regulated, dog friendly hiking options are practically boundless in the surrounding national forest. This article lists just a few of the some of the day long outings your pet can enjoy with you. For short walks after work on your lunch break, local favorites include Cache Creek, Game Creek, and the Emily’s Pond Levee along the Snake River.

Caring for your pet is easy with multiple veterinary offices and pets supply stores.The Spring Creek Animal Hospital and Happy Tails Resort provides local dogs and cats all the love and care they could need.