New Roads Upper School

Mysteries

In place of Connections Class in the younger grades, Upper School students participate in Mysteries, which take on different themes each year of study. These human development classes are geared towards helping young people sort through personal, social and moral challenges and enhancing their sense of character, well-being and personal responsibility. The course is called Mysteries because it asks young people for their honest attention to the deeper questions and seemingly unfathomable mysteries in their lives in the context of a safe and confidential environment. 9th graders delve into Identity & Empathy; 10th graders into Relationships, Communication, Community; 11th graders into Social Impact, Diversity, Acceptance, Inclusion; and 12th graders into Metamorphosis.

The Workshop for Social, Economic, and Ecological Action

In the Upper School, "Our Workshop Program takes a community and service focused approach to teaching and learning that fosters “a personal dedication to learning, a respect for independent thinking, and an expanding curiosity about the world and its people.” Within Workshop, students are introduced to the “tools needed for social, political and moral participation as well as personal fulfillment.” Each workshop must link to at least one element of our school pillars - diversity, social justice, environmental stewardship, and academic excellence. The Workshop must have a Service Learning component, if it is not a complete Service Learning experience in itself." Investigation topics might include: homeless, wealth & poverty, recycling, human rights, etc.

Freshman Families

"Freshman Families is an advisory program for freshman at New Roads.It consists of a peer group of 8-9 students and meets weekly for the entire year. The purpose of this program is to provide an equitable experience for each student in the 9th grade class, to ensure that each student is known and connected, and to support students in their transition through their first year in high school. The role of the advisors is to keep a loving eye on their charges and to ensure that academic needs are met and that social/emotional concerns are addressed. It is the role of the advisor to nurture two important human relationships: the relationship between the advisor and the student, and the relationship that forms among the students within the advisory group."

Independent Study Program

The ISP serves students who have demonstrated significant diligence and want to pursue a subject area in greater depth. Sometimes a student wants to study in an area outside of regular coursework and curriculum; sometimes a student wants to advance his or her understanding well beyond classroom curriculum; sometimes a student is simply interested. Independent Study courses are a year in length and may include a combination of academic, artistic, vocational, or other meaningful experiential and/or intellectual pursuits.

College Counseling

All students are assigned a college counseling class in the spring semester of 11th grade. The class meets meets every week and focuses on all components of the college application process: understanding the different types of colleges; knowing the components of a college application; creating a resume; building a college list; understanding of standardized tests and testing-optional colleges; writing the college essay; compiling a list of activities; preparing for admission interviews; requesting recommendations; and the process for applying to scholarships and financial aid.

Finals, Portfolios, and Demonstrations

New Roads does not believe many conventional methods of education. Instead, they "are dedicated to helping students think about, make informed decisions, and develop a vocabulary to express how they learn." One way of doing this is through Portfolios. At the Upper School, final portfolios or demonstrations are the meaningfully ending a course and for students to demonstrate their learning. At the end of each year, students to prepare for final portfolios that emphasize reflection, revision, synthesis, and application of content and capacities that students have been developing all year long - in any format they deem appropriate.

Elective Programming

While many academic departments offer elective classes that provide students with choice within their course of study, New Roads also offers a stunning array of electives that emphasize an integrated approach to knowledge and enable students to explore areas of curiosity, to build skills and knowledge in a sustained interest, and to personalize their education. Electives offerings vary from year to year but you can see a rich list from page 33 here.

Spectrum Program

The Spectrum Program exemplifies New Roads' commitment to authentic diversity, specifically neurodiversity. "Spectrum students are fully integrated with their neurotypical peers in all academic classes as well as campus-wide activities. Students are supported daily in developing executive functioning skills, social skills, and self advocacy, which translate into students’ everyday lives after graduation. The Spectrum Program is for students in grades 6-12 who meet the diagnostic criteria specified in the revised DSM-5 for Autism Spectrum Disorder (formerly categorized as Asperger’s Syndrome or High Functioning Autism). Spectrum students learn to navigate social contexts and practice effective communication alongside their neurotypical peers to gain meaningful relationships and experiences that prepare them for independent success in college and beyond."