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The Nova Project, also simply known as Nova, is a small public
Nova was founded by a group of students, parents and teachers in 1970. The curriculum is multidisciplinary and project-oriented, with an emphasis on individualized learning contracts, internships and community service. Nova functions through student-run, teacher-supported committees that decide school budgeting, the hiring and review process of staff, discussion forums, orientation of new students, and cultural affairs.
The credit system is competency-based which means students receive either full, partial or no credit. Each student picks a teacher to be their coordinator, with whom they design a personal learning plan. As of the 2022-2023 school year, Nova's 4 year graduation rate was 70%. Nova classes include every grade (9-12). Class size varies but they tend to be quite small ranging from ten to twenty students. However, some classes can be smaller, such as classes for students with special needs or lab-based science classes. Nova students have the option of creating "independent contracts" with their teachers to earn credit for extracurricular projects and activities. It is common for Nova students to co-teach classes with their teachers, generating curriculum and building facilitation skills in line with Nova's student-led philosophy. Like other Seattle Public Schools students, Nova students may participate in the
NovaKnows (Nova's student-created website
Seattle Public Schools - Nova High School
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nova Project, The Alternative schools in the United States Central District, Seattle Public high schools in Washington (state) Seattle Public Schools 1970 establishments in Washington (state) Educational institutions established in 1970
alternative
Alternative or alternate may refer to:
Arts, entertainment and media
* Alternative (Kamen Rider), Alternative (''Kamen Rider''), a character in the Japanese TV series ''Kamen Rider Ryuki''
* Alternative comics, or independent comics are an altern ...
high school
A secondary school, high school, or senior school, is an institution that provides secondary education. Some secondary schools provide both ''lower secondary education'' (ages 11 to 14) and ''upper secondary education'' (ages 14 to 18), i.e., ...
in Seattle, Washington
Seattle ( ) is the List of municipalities in Washington, most populous city in the U.S. state of Washington (state), Washington and in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. With a population of 780,995 in 2024, it is the List of Unit ...
, in the Seattle Public School District. Its aim is to be a "democratically governed learning community of broadly educated, creative, and independent thinkers who work collaboratively and demonstrate a high degree of individual responsibility."
About
Nova was founded by a group of students, parents and teachers in 1970. The curriculum is multidisciplinary and project-oriented, with an emphasis on individualized learning contracts, internships and community service. Nova functions through student-run, teacher-supported committees that decide school budgeting, the hiring and review process of staff, discussion forums, orientation of new students, and cultural affairs.
The credit system is competency-based which means students receive either full, partial or no credit. Each student picks a teacher to be their coordinator, with whom they design a personal learning plan. As of the 2022-2023 school year, Nova's 4 year graduation rate was 70%. Nova classes include every grade (9-12). Class size varies but they tend to be quite small ranging from ten to twenty students. However, some classes can be smaller, such as classes for students with special needs or lab-based science classes. Nova students have the option of creating "independent contracts" with their teachers to earn credit for extracurricular projects and activities. It is common for Nova students to co-teach classes with their teachers, generating curriculum and building facilitation skills in line with Nova's student-led philosophy. Like other Seattle Public Schools students, Nova students may participate in the Running Start
Running Start is a dual credit enrollment program in Washington, Hawaii, New Hampshire, Montana and Illinois which allows high school juniors and seniors to attend college courses numbered 100 or above, while completing high school. It is simi ...
program and take classes at a local community college
A community college is a type of undergraduate higher education institution, generally leading to an associate degree, certificate, or diploma. The term can have different meanings in different countries: many community colleges have an open enr ...
.
Nova is a safe space for students of all identities, sexual orientations, ethnicities, religions, and backgrounds, and is an advocate for mental health awareness. Nova has worked on creating their own Teen Health Center specific for their students which is actively inclusive to their diverse demographics. There are many days dedicated for speakers and social justice work.
Notable staff, alumni and former students
*Reiko Aylesworth
Reiko M. Aylesworth (born December 9, 1972) is an American actress. She is known for playing Michelle Dessler in the action television series '' 24''.
Early life, career start
Aylesworth was born December 9, 1972, in Evanston, Illinois, and is ...
, actress best known from the TV series '' 24''
* Theodore Cecil DeCelles, electronic musician and author
*Stephen Funk
Stephen Funk (born June 15, 1982) is a former United States Marine Corps Landing Support Specialist and Lance Corporal reservist. He was the first person to publicly refuse to deploy in Iraq.
Background
Stephen Funk decided to enlist in the Unite ...
, the first U.S. military service member to publicly refuse to deploy to the US war in Iraq
* Stefan Gruber, animator and performance artist
* America Hoffman, son of ''Abbie Hoffman
Abbot Howard Hoffman (November 30, 1936 – April 12, 1989) was an American political and social activist who co-founded the Youth International Party ("Yippies") and was a member of the Chicago Seven. He was also a leading proponent of the ...
''
*Matthew Lawton, writer and comedian
*Rose McGowan
Rósa Arianna McGowan (born September 5, 1973) is an American actress and activist. After her film debut in a brief role in the comedy ''Encino Man'' (1992), she achieved recognition for her performance in the dark comedy ''The Doom Generation' ...
, actress and singer
*Bonnie McKee
Bonnie Leigh McKee (born January 20, 1984) is an American singer and songwriter. Her debut album '' Trouble'' was released in 2004 by Reprise Records. After being dropped, she took a musical hiatus and established herself as a songwriter. She ...
, singer and songwriter
*Eve Rickert
Eve is a figure in the Book of Genesis in the Hebrew Bible. According to the origin story, "Creation myths are symbolic stories describing how the universe and its inhabitants came to be. Creation myths develop through oral traditions and there ...
, co-author of ''More Than Two
''More Than Two'' is a non-fiction book about consensual non-monogamous relationships. The first edition, ''More Than Two: A Practical Guide to Ethical Polyamory,'' written by Franklin Veaux and Eve Rickert, was published in 2014 by Thorntree ...
''
*Brisa Roché
Brisa Roché (born April 26, 1976 in Arcata, California) is an American singer-songwriter who sings primarily in English, occasionally in French, and who has spent much of her life residing in France.
Early life and career
Roché was raised ...
, musician
See also
*Disability rights
The disability rights movement is a global social movement that seeks to secure equal opportunities and equal rights for all disabled people.
It is made up of organizations of disability activists, also known as disability advocates, around ...
*LGBTQ+
LGBTQ people are individuals who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or questioning. Many variants of the initialism are used; LGBTQIA+ people incorporates intersex, asexual, aromantic, agender, and other individuals. The group i ...
* BIPOC+ rights
*Social justice
Social justice is justice in relation to the distribution of wealth, opportunities, and privileges within a society where individuals' rights are recognized and protected. In Western and Asian cultures, the concept of social justice has of ...
References
External links
NovaKnows (Nova's student-created website
Seattle Public Schools - Nova High School
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nova Project, The Alternative schools in the United States Central District, Seattle Public high schools in Washington (state) Seattle Public Schools 1970 establishments in Washington (state) Educational institutions established in 1970