Academics at Nova

Nova’s innovative teaching and learning approach provides inquiry-, project-, and problem-based instruction where students apply their learning through application, performance, and portfolio-based assessment.  Nova is a non-graded competency-based program with a long history of successfully transitioning students into their post high school college and career goals. Our coordinating system provides a robust and individualized advisor and mentor for every student. Students share decision making and learn individual and social responsibility in a personalized and safe environment. Nova operates with a growth mindset where we build into our curriculum and our committee and advisory systems academic, social, and emotional development. 

Grading System

Nova is an accredited public school. Nova does not assign grades to students, nor do we rank students. Instead, all courses are competency-based. Students earn credit by demonstrating all course competencies. Students who do not demonstrate competency in a course’s content do not receive credit for that course until all of the course competencies have been demonstrated. The closest equivalent of our grading system would be A level work in a standards-based grading system. Our course competencies are rigorous, requiring IB/AP-level demonstration of learning and achievement. It has been our experience that the competency-based system of credit fosters a challenging, highly creative, and intrinsically-motivating learning environment that develops college-ready skills for all graduates.