New Vista High School

The school helps prepare you for college despite some peoples opinions. I went to New Vista for all four years of my high school education and now I am a successful college student and so are many of my friends. The school prepares a student for the creative thinking needed in college and most of all it shows a student how to be in charge of their education. The student receives help and guidance, from a great group of teachers, on what classes to take, which colleges and scholarships to apply to, along with problems that many teenagers encounter in this time of their life. The classes create a creative and intellectual learning environment, which especially helps out now in college. Check it out. Call them up or checkout their website. It is a great friendly atmosphere so don't be shy!
—Submitted by a student

I attended another high school for my freshman year and found that transferring to New Vista kept me out of drugs and behaviors like smoking and partying, where at my old school I was harassed for not taking part in such activities. If you want more information about this school I suggest visiting the website and/or contacting the school yourself, so that you may form your own opinion of the school. http://bvsd.org/high/newVista/Pages/newvista.aspx
—Submitted by a student

This school should be seen as a "last resort" school if your child has been unable to succeed at another high school. Yes, the learning here is more "hand-on" but the overall education is a joke. If your child is planning on attending college, this school will leave him or her VERY underprepared.
—Submitted by a student

They actually engage students in learning. It is set up for students to be successful by making students partners with adults, responsible for their own learning, lots of choices for learning about subjects that students are interested in.
—Submitted by a parent

My twin daughters have thrived at this school with the loving and genuine concern of their advisors and many of their teachers. My only concern is that the school still strongly enforces the need for kids to be involved in the CSAP high stakes testing process which as many of the great educators know is damaging to students. Aside from that, I would highly recommend this school to parents with kids who are outside of the mainstream cheerleader/athlete 'popular' kid, designer clothes range. Kids who are thinkers, who have been raised to have a social conscience, or who are artisic are welcomed and nourished at this school. I highly recommend it. S.
—Submitted by a parent

My son has thrived at New Vista and I strongly recommend it. The student has to take more responsibility for their learning but the teachers are excellent and strive to make it not only interesting, but inspiring. One of the best aspects is that the staff and teachers know each student as an individual. They watch out for them and guide them toward good academic choices. The faculty and staff are very engaged with learning. The social atmosphere is much more accepting than most high schools I have seen. The students make a genuine effort to reach out to those who would be outcasts at a larger school. There is a strong commitment to diversity and justice. It has been a great school for my son.
—Submitted by a parent

New Vista offers a much-needed choice for Boulder County students: instead of insisting that all students follow generic, core classes, New Vista students are encouraged and required to branch out, discovering and cultivating their own unique interests and strengths. Each class allows students the opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge through teaching back to the community, creating artistic displays and performances, reading papers, even teaching a class session. Parents are invited to see these student teachbacks and performances once per quarter on an all-school Exhibition Day. Once a year, the entire school breaks session to join week-long Mini-Courses, offering everything from hiking trips to pottery making. Students are also required to devote at least one afternoon a week to community experience, interning and volunteering at local organizations. Finally, the senior project provides an avenue for students to really pursue a personal interest and create their own capstone to their high school career.
—Submitted by Amelia, a former student

New Vista High School is wonderful! It's very different from traditional high schools though. It's size is a major plus with less than 350 students; this means just about everyone gets to know everyone else. Respect of others & self are very important principals here. Teacher, student, parent, and community involvement are very high here. These students are really involved in life & learning in and out of their school. Being in this very supportive environment can make all the difference when it comes to thriving, not just surviving high school. These kids are more prepared than the average student to enter adulthood succesfully, especially in today's world. This statement from New Vista's website sums them up: 'The school is designed to cultivate the unique talents, gifts, and interests of students who are ready to be more responsible for their own learning.'
—Submitted by Jill Edison, a parent

New Vista is an interesting school. In it's own words, it was created to 'break the mold' of the traditional US highschool. It does that, in a sense, and exceeds its mission, but it is not a school for all kids. The breaking the mold refers to the non-traditional curriculum offered. Classes are mixed between grades 9-12, and your freshman could have a senior sitting next to him. The classes also are creative in their subject matter and approach, such as Gothic Literature, or the Brain Self. They are multidisciplinary in approach and very original in content, a lot like a college liberal arts offering. But somehow this stimulating melange attracts kids with little drive, and the seniors in the class my daughter attended (9th grade) seemed to have less enthusiasm and preparation than some of the newly arrived ex middle schoolers from other schools.
—Submitted by a parent

Interesting school in Boulder where students follow a more self directed approach to education. Kids should be motivated to go to this school. Lots of great courses, and close to the univ. of colorado in case there is something missing from the curriculum.
—Submitted by a parent

New Vista High School has been a life-saver for our son. The combination of a supportive environment and an emphsis on independence was just what he needed. He has excelled in a way that he never could have in the large 'factory' schools. As a special-needs student, with only minor disabilities, the full inclusion model is also perfect for him. The principal (Rona Walenski) and the entire faculty and staff are dedicated, intelligent, and are all there because they want to be. NVHS is not for every kid (our daughter preferred the large factory school!) but for an intelligent but sensitive child who would benefit from a more nurturing environment to lead them into the world, New Vista is incomparable.
—Submitted by a parent