Welcome to the New River Academy’s “Academics” cyber-home.
We are very proud of our academics and the advantages our education offers you. The links below detail every aspect of the New River Academy academics programs. Take your time and discover the advantages of this unique learning institution.
The New River Academy is a co-ed secondary school, offering accredited college-preparatory courses, with an extra-curricular focus on whitewater kayaking. Our goal is to provide traditional education in an experiential setting, emphasizing reading comprehension, communication, critical and disciplined thinking, and deductive reasoning in a classroom environment that fosters an appreciation for learning. Our classroom structure, with a teacher student ratio averaging 1:2, promotes daily active discussion in which peers and teachers are equal partners in the learning process.
The New River Academy fosters individuality, accountability, creativity, and international diplomacy through the everyday challenge of community living, small class size, international travel, and kayaking. Classes at the New River Academy are scheduled as they would be in a traditional high school. Each class meets 5 times per week, for 55 minutes. Our academic calendar is divided into four 7-week quarters.
The New River Academy will accommodates students requiring advanced classes. AP courses are aligned with the standards set by the College Board and classes are teacher led, rather than independent study. Per the new College Board requirements, all AP syllabi are turned in to the College Board prior to the beginning of the school year for course audit leading to official approval by the Board. Students will take the AP exam upon completion of the course. AP courses taught in the past are: AP Biology, AP Physics, AP Calculus, AP English, and AP Spanish Language.
Additionally, the New River faculty can tailor instruction to accommodate individuals with special needs in the class room. This individualized instruction, along with a small class size and nightly help from a mentor, has allowed students who struggle in traditional class settings to thrive academically and personally. Success in school coupled with the natural confidence that comes from strengthening one’s skills on the river has boosted the self esteem and increased the initiative of our students.
New River Academy is accredited by the National Private Schools Accreditation Alliance, and is a 501c3 nonprofit organization.
How do I enroll?
Discover the three easy application phases.
College Placement:
We are proud of the edge we provide our students in earning their college acceptance letter.
Course Descriptions:
Inspiring teachers take advantage of their international locations within their course curriculums.
Graduation Requirements:
Detailed information for those of you seeking a high school diploma with the New River Academy
Online School Systems:
We utilize four online school systems that allow families to keep track of everything from online reports to tuition balances.
The New River Academy Diploma:
What does it mean to graduate from the New River Academy?
Linda Anderson, whose son Eric took three AP courses, has this to say:
"With his AP scores from Huge Experiences, and the scores from his previous AP classes, our son will enter Virginia Tech with 21 credits. Clearly, I think his scores demonstrate that Huge can successfully combine a high level of paddling instruction with a demanding academic course load. As parents, we appreciated the personalization of his curriculum, and the dedication of your staff in ensuring that all of the needed material was taught. The quarterly reports, and emails, also helped us gauge his progress, and provide encouragement and advice when needed. Our son's AP scores provide some solid proof that your holistic approach to education gives equal weight to academic training."