North Star Academy

At NSA high school, the arts are integrated throughout the academic curriculum increasing student’s interest in, and understanding of, subjects like math and science. The arts-integrated curriculum motivates students with a variety of learning styles to succeed in high school and to pursue higher education. A goal of NSA curriculum is to give each student the opportunity to learn, create and discover his or her own unique talents. Emphasis is placed on the performing arts. Public presentations are important because they validate the work of students, celebrate learning, extend the impact of the curriculum, inform and engage a larger community. You’ll become a part of art shows, plays, installations, or combination of many activity.

Academics

Today’s world is an integrated world where information is no longer confined to traditional knowledge structures. Instead, information moves quickly from one area to another, crossing diverse cultures, while blurring boundaries between representations. Contemporary technological advances have significantly impacted the ways learners process and synthesize information while shifting attention away from how much information one retains to how one shapes and then uses information. In this way, an integrated approach to learning makes sense and is why North Star Academy has adopted this approach in some content areas. NSA has a comprehensive Humanities curriculum that integrates traditional Social Studies and Language Arts coursework. It emphasizes writing and reading in all coursework, commonly referred to as ‘writing across the curriculum’. Additionally, NSA does require the student to master skill related concepts in traditional courses particularly in the Math and Sciences. NSA further emphasizes healthy habits and wellness activities for students. Students may ‘self select’ to receive honors distinctions in core content coursework. Students are nurtured through there area of major study through a variety of traditional and non traditional options such as virtual learning, AP coursework, work-study, internships, and so on.

Action

NSA uses a model of classroom activity emphasizes learning activities that are long-term, interdisciplinary, student-centered, and integrated with real world issues and practices. This model provides opportunities for students to pursue their own interests and questions and make decisions about how they will find answers and solve problems. Students apply and integrate the content of different subjects as authentic moments in the process, instead of isolation or in one artificial setting—the classroom. This method is not for the passive learner. NSA seeks to develop community activists; citizens who are informed and capable of taking action at various levels locally or globally. Students ‘practice’ in a variety of settings with many types of ‘teachers’ who are community members, advisors, guests, etc. Students must perform 400 hours of service in the community to graduate from NSA. Learning is relevant and useful to students because it establishes connections to life outside the classroom, addresses real world concerns, and develops real world skills. Many of the skills learned are those desired by today’s employer, including the ability to work with others, make thoughtful decisions, take initiative, and solve complex problems.