Accredited Academics at Nawa

Courses and Requirements

• The school year is measured in blocks (quarters). A minimum of 3 academic and 2 elective/vocational courses are studied each block.
• Successful completion of a course during a block will lead to 5 credits. 10 credits represent a full year's course.
• All courses (with the exception of Geography, Health, Economics, and US Government) are 2 block courses.
• Vocational courses are offered each block in the California Academy and Snowboard USA programs.
• The College Preparatory curriculum satisfies the requirements of the University of California and other colleges and universities. Please note that most state universities will not accept 'D' grades. Students wishing to attend a state university must also fulfill specific elective requirements. The standard curriculum will meet entrance requirements for most two year colleges.
• Physical Education credits are earned through satisfactory participation in at least 50% of each block's weekend activities (i.e.: mountain biking, paintball, and single day wilderness activities)

Curriculum Guide

The administrators, faculty and staff at Nawa Academy practice the proverb, "I heard and I forgot. I saw and I remembered. I did and I understood." In support of this claim, John Dewey, the famous progressive educator of the late 19th century and early 20th century, once said that the term "experiential education" is redundant, for in order to learn, we need to experience what we are studying. Quoting Mr. Dewey, "Experiential education is education, pure and simple."

The faculty at Nawa Academy have created unique programs to meet the needs of our students: International Academy, California Academy, and Snowboard USA. In these experiential-based programs, we integrate the head, hands, and heart.

Learning Lab

kNOw Child Left Behind

kNOw Child Left Behind and what it means at Nawa Academy
No Child Left Behind legislation has fundamentally changed public schooling in the United States. While the intended legislation was to improve the public educational system, the reality has often been that curriculum has been restricted and standardized, funding for electives and programs have been reduced, and teacher creativity has been stifled. In addition, the consequence of this legislation has led to students being subjected to regular high-stakes standardized testing at the cost of the learning process. As a result, more and more students are being left behind.

Which Students Excel

Nawa Academy is ideally suited for coed students in grades seven through twelve who prefer a more hands-on approach to learning. Students who are having difficulty staying on task in school and/or learn better by seeing, touching and doing are also well-suited for this program. Our students look forward to meeting people from different cultures, having new experiences and exploring new ideas as they advance in the educational process. Nawa Academy has a long history of success working with students who have learning differences. Students searching for a dynamic educational experience who are excelling academically may also benefit from one of our traveling or snowboarding programs.