Blacksburg New School

Blacksburg New School is a great school! This is our second year at BNS and we couldn't be happier! The teachers are top notch, and the environment is peaceful and welcoming. We really feel embraced here as a part of the community. The children are encouraged to be good friends to one another, and they are taught to treat each other with kindness and respect. There is an excellent balance between academics and the arts, as well as solid education about environmental preservation. Diversity is embraced at BNS as well. The teachers welcome the parents to be involved with their child's education, and there is an open flow of communication between parents and teachers, which we appreciate VERY much! The class sizes are small too, which empowers the teachers to better individualize instruction. If you're looking for academic excellence as well as programs in arts, music, nature, and positive citizenship within a community, then BNS is the right school for your child!
--Submitted by a parent

Blacksburg New School is a great school! This is our second year at BNS and we couldn't be happier! The teachers are top notch, and the environment is peaceful and welcoming. We really feel embraced here as a part of the community. The children are encouraged to be good friends to one another, and they are taught to treat each other with kindness and respect. There is an excellent balance between academics and the arts, as well as solid education about environmental preservation. Diversity is embraced at BNS as well. The teachers welcome the parents to be involved with their child's education, and there is an open flow of communication between parents and teachers, which we appreciate VERY much! The class sizes are small too, which empowers the teachers to better individualize instruction. If you're looking for academic excellence as well as programs in arts, music, nature, and positive citizenship within a community, then BNS is the right school for your child!
--Submitted by a parent

Our family just adores this placel! Our kids love going to school and enjoy the challenges of the cirriculum while learning much more than book smarts. They have developed a passion for learning, a strong sense of community, and a positive respect for their teachers and fellow students. This school is really trying to change the world one student at a time and we are happy to be part of that experience!
--Submitted by a parent

This school is a gem which would be amazing to find in a major city let alone the small city of Blacksburg. It has a strong emphasis on academics as well as the arts and music. Its teachers are exceptional and enthusiastic. The student graduates consistently ranks as the top in test scores and grades at the well-regarded Blacksburg High School. Just as importantly as giving the students a strong academic background, BNS instills students with a love of learning that they carry with them for the rest if their lives. There are many great things about living in Blacksburg, but this school with its caring environment, great teachers and wonderful involved parents is my favorite thing about living here. My children love school, love their classmates and teachers and will take this experience as a gift for the rest if their lives.
--Submitted by a parent

We are new converts to the school. I can truly say it has been a wonderful experience. Everyone I've come in contact with, from the director and teachers to fellow parents are very accepting and welcoming. I dreamed of a school like this and my son had been to about 4 preschools, none of which met my criteria for my kid. Some were academically lacking and others seemed to truly be run like a boot camp. I LOVE the people and relaxed atmosphere!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can't say enough!!!!
--Submitted by a parent

This school is absolutely fabulous; can't say enough good things about it. I am a meticulous researcher, an idealist even, so I took my time and really did my homework. The people, standards, education and personal attention given to my child always go above and beyond. Lots of creativity and encouragement; the best academic and social environment possible. So very worth it!
--Submitted by a parent

My son completed all K-8 grades at BNS and is now in his first year at our local public high school. He was, of course, very well-prepared academically going into his freshman year--and his current teachers have commented several times on what a pleasant and engaged student he is. He was encouraged to understand his own learning styles during his elementary and middle school years and that is really paying off. Equally important: he learned that school can and should be a place of laughter and kindness.
--Submitted by a parent

We feel very fortunate to have this gem of a school in such a small town. In terms of quality it compares to some of the best schools in the country and the cost is a fraction of what one would pay for a similar school in a larger city. My son loves school and learning and that speaks volumes for the commitment of the teachers to engage each child.
--Submitted by a parent

Our family couldn't be happier at the Blacksburg New School. The teaching staff is terrific. They are committed, not only to the education, but the personal growth and development of each child. My son wants to go to school everyday. He is excited about learning because his teachers encourage and empower him to explore new ideas and think for himself. They present the material in ways that speak to all learning styles and work with each child by tailoring the curriculum to the student's individual needs. They integrate the standards of learning into the curriculum as well as cover other topics of interest to their students. They do this in a creative hands on learning environment. Art, music and foreign language are also part of the K-8 curriculum. It's worth every penny.
--Submitted by a parent

Three or four years ago, I would have given the school 5 stars. Alas, the departure of several of their best teachers and the departure of key leadership have impacted the school tremendously. The perpetual fundraisers, despite having one of the highest (if not, the highest) tuition in the area, seems to point to poor fiscal responsibility.
--Submitted by a parent