A semester school is a

school A school is an educational institution designed to provide learning spaces and learning environments for the teaching of students under the direction of teachers. Most countries have systems of formal education, which is sometimes comp ...

that complements a student's

secondary education Secondary education or post-primary education covers two phases on the International Standard Classification of Education scale. Level 2 or lower secondary education (less commonly junior secondary education) is considered the second and final pha ...

by providing them with the opportunity to step out of their regular school for half an academic year and step into a uniquely different educational setting while continuing their required academic studies. The academic curriculum at semester schools tends to be college preparatory, interdisciplinary, and experiential.National Association of Independent Schools: Semester Schools
Peterson's Semester Schools: Great Opportunities

Characteristics

*Semester school curricula are built around themesInformation from a review of semester school websites including

environmental sustainability Specific definitions of sustainability are difficult to agree on and have varied in the literature and over time. The concept of sustainability can be used to guide decisions at the global, national, and individual levels (e.g. sustainable livin ...

marine ecology Marine ecosystems are the largest of Earth's aquatic ecosystems and exist in waters that have a high salt content. These systems contrast with freshwater ecosystems, which have a lower salt content. Marine waters cover more than 70% of the surf ...

organic farming Organic farming, also known as ecological farming or biological farming,Labelling, article 30 o''Regulation (EU) 2018/848 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2018 on organic production and labelling of organic products and re ...

, ethics and leadership,

visual arts The visual arts are art forms such as painting, drawing, printmaking, sculpture, ceramics, photography, video, filmmaking, design, crafts and architecture. Many artistic disciplines such as performing arts, conceptual art, and textile art ...

, and others. The curricula tend to be place-based drawing on the resources and opportunities of each school's unique location. *Semester schools are boarding schools. Community living is a key element of the experience. Through living closely with peers and teachers and working together to benefit the school community students develop their communication, leadership, and cooperative skills. *Semester schools enroll college bound sophomores, juniors, and or seniors. Most semester schools focus primarily on students from just one grade level. *Semester school programs run from 14 to 18 weeks. *Semester schools tend to be small, enrolling from 15 to 60 students a semester with average class sizes ranging from 5 to 15 students. *Semester schools are

private school Private or privates may refer to: Music * " In Private", by Dusty Springfield from the 1990 album ''Reputation'' * Private (band), a Denmark-based band * "Private" (Ryōko Hirosue song), from the 1999 album ''Private'', written and also recorde ...

s that charge

tuition Tuition payments, usually known as tuition in American English and as tuition fees in Commonwealth English, are fees charged by education institutions for instruction or other services. Besides public spending (by governments and other public bo ...

and offer financial aid. Depending on the school and a student’s family situation the cost can range from no cost to several thousands of dollars. *Most semester schools are located in the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...

. *While most semester schools serve students in secondary school or high school, Steward Outdoor School in Ivoryton, CT serves

middle school A middle school (also known as intermediate school, junior high school, junior secondary school, or lower secondary school) is an educational stage which exists in some countries, providing education between primary school and secondary school. ...

students.

Benefits

Attending a semester school can: *Intensify a student’s interest in and motivation for learning.New York Times - Semester Away
/ref> *Allow a student to pursue a special area of interest in depth.SEEN Magazine - Semester school programs
/ref> *Complement a student's education with experiences that aren't available at their home school.The Lovett School - Semester School Programs
*Broaden a student’s range of skills and interests and increase their maturity level. *Give students a head start on developing the independence, good judgment, and life skills necessary for living away from home before they leave for college. *Provide students with a unique, eye-catching experience that sets them apart from other applicants when applying to colleges.College Bound Network: A New Adventure at Semester Schools
/ref> *Provide students from public schools a boarding school experience without the cost or time commitment of a four-year school.

Growth

The first semester school was Milton Academy's Mountain School which opened in 1984 in Vershire, Vermont. Since then more than a dozen additional semester schools have opened across the United States of America and in other countries. The list of opening dates below shows the growth in semester schools over time and their geographic diversity.
:1984 �
Mountain School
Vershire, Vermont :1986 �
Swiss Semester
Zermatt, Switzerland :1988 �
Maine Coast Semester
Maine Coast Semester at Chewonki, Wiscasset, Maine :1995 �
The Outdoor Academy
Pisgah Forest, North Carolina :1996 �
CITYterm
Dobbs Ferry, New York (closed Fall 2019) :1997 – High School Semester at Sea (Ocean Classroom), Western North Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea (closed July 2014) :1998 �
High Mountain Institute
Leadville, Colorado (originally named Rocky Mountain Semester) :1999 �
The Island School
Cape Eleuthera, Bahamas :1999 �
Oxbow School
Napa, California :2000 �
The Traveling School
Bozeman, Montana :2004 �
Woolman Semester
Nevada City, California :2004 �
Kroka Semester School
Marlow, New Hampshire :2009 �
School for Ethics and Global Leadership
Washington, D.C. :2009 �
Finding the Good
Nevada City, California :2010 �
Coastal Studies for Girls
Freeport, Maine :2010 – Conserve School, Land O’ Lakes, Wisconsin :2012 –

Alzar School Alzar School is a semester school based in Cascade, Idaho, and Patagonia, Chile, that serves high school sophomores and juniors. For either a fall or spring semester 35-45 students from all across the world join Alzar School for a fully accredite ...

, Valley County, Idaho :2012 �
Burr and Burton Academy Mountain Campus
Manchester, Vermont :2016 �
Steward Outdoor School
Ivoryton, Connecticut

References

{{Reflist School types Boarding schools Experiential learning