New Summit Charter Academy delivers an academically rigorous yet warm and caring environment, partnering with parents to prepare productive members of society while instilling a lifetime love of learning. We use a classical approach to our academics which means it is based on grammar, rhetoric, and logic.
ACADEMICS
OUR CURRICULUM
New Summit Charter Academy delivers an academically rigorous yet warm and caring environment, partnering with parents to prepare productive members of society while instilling a lifetime love of learning. We use a classical approach to academics, based on grammar, rhetoric, and logic. This classical pattern is also described as the trivium, where early years focus on absorbing facts (grammar), middle grades on thinking through arguments (logic), and later years potentially on expressing oneself persuasively (rhetoric). The school believes in a content-rich curriculum, where acquiring background knowledge deepens critical thinking abilities.
We use Core Knowledge Curriculum for all core subjects for grades K-8. It is based on the writings of Professor E.D. Hirsch at the University of Virginia. Key Curricula and Programs mentioned include:
Special Programs & Student Support
SPECIAL EDUCATION
Offered for students identified with an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) or those identified after enrollment through the MTSS process. Students with an IEP or 504 plan are able to attend and receive services written into their plan. Existing IEPs must be reviewed prior to acceptance, and NSCA contracts with Academy District 20 and follows their policies. The school counselor reviews 504 plans, and new student IEPs are reviewed by ASD20 and NSCA to ensure services can be met; enrollment is pending until this review is complete.
LITERACY FIRST
Identified using nationally accepted criteria, including a body of evidence.
SKILL LEVEL GROUPING / WIN TIME
Students work with peers of similar skill levels. WIN Time stands for What I Need, where students learn to self-regulate and prioritize learning. This grouping aims to build confidence, as gifted students move up but those who struggle do not move down, allowing teachers to apply differentiation effectively in reading and math.
CHARACTER EDUCATION
Used to build a positive school culture. We use Capturing Kids’ Hearts by The Flippen Group, an immersive experience where staff learn skills to build meaningful relationships with students and the school community.
