The New Haven Academy model works for students from all educational backgrounds.  We combine academic rigor and individual attention in a small learning community to ensure that each student is known well and pushed to meet high standards.  For specific details on Academic requirements, please see our Family Handbook.

Magnet Theme –  Facing History and Ourselves 

The school’s magnet theme is based on Facing History and Ourselves, a unique citizenship education program that encourages adolescents and adults to examine profound ethical questions about history, decision-making, prejudice, and violence, and to participate in finding solutions to real-world problems. As a member of the Facing History Innovative Schools Network, we commit to the following common principles.

  • We value the complexities of identity and combat prejudice in our school community.
  • We integrate intellectual rigor with emotional engagement and ethical reflections.
  • We examine choices of the past and their legacies to inform our choices today.
  • We foster dialogue, empathy, and civic participation.

Think Critically

At NHA, we teach students how to think. We have identified six habits that successful critical thinkers employ to explore their world and express their ideas.  These include Asking Questions, Finding Evidence, Making Connections,, Recognizing Perspective, Considering Alternatives, and Explaining Relevance.  We assess students’ mastery of these habits across all core disciplines at NHA.  At every level, we require them to develop and defend original ideas through essays, experiments, debates, and other forms of exhibition. After completing projects, students must present, defend, and reflect on them to show their mastery.

Be Responsible

Responsible work habits are essential to academic success. At NHA, we help students develop the skills necessary to be responsible, and we assess students’ mastery of these skills. Students who are responsible get more time and support to demonstrate academic mastery in coursework.

Get Involved

Yong people must practice making independent,m responsible decisions about how to live and work in the world. At NHA, by connecting the themes of Facing History and our approach to teaching and learning, we help students learn how to be thoughtful about the decisions they make in school, as family members, as community members, and finally as active citizens in a democracy.

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