Our Approach

What prevents young people from becoming everything they are meant to be? At The Neighborhood Academy, we have identified the heavy and complex burdens that underserved young people bring to school, and have crafted a unique approach to address them: 

We have developed a culture of respect and success.

Our faculty and staff deliberately cultivate a school culture that is inviting, familial, safe, and invigorating. Young people, especially those from distressed communities, cannot learn, grow, and thrive in an environment that lacks emotional warmth.

We have a full day filled with both learning and fun.

In order to meet the academic needs of our students, we run a comprehensive school calendar. The average day for our high school students features a full complement of classes, tutorial, advising, after-school arts and athletics, and study hall. For our middle school students, in addition to classes and an after-school program, the day is broken up with a mid-day activity, through which they experience engaging arts and athletics programs. During the summer months, our returning students have a six week Summer Session during which they take classes, trips to local cultural institutions, and weekly visits to local and regional colleges and universities. 

We meet the physical, emotional, and psychosocial needs of our students.

Through our holistic educational model we provide a safe environment, inside and outside of the classroom, where all students have the opportunity to thrive. We provide three meals every day, individual and group counseling for all students, transportation to and from school, and a constant assessment of what may be troubling students both within and outside the classroom. We believe that as we invest in the whole person, students grow into leaders who embody resiliency and a clear sense of self.  

We support our alumni through college graduation and beyond.

If we want our students to excel in both college and the workplace, it is crucial that we continue to support them once they leave our campus: many first-generation college students experience challenges due to a lack of social and systemic support systems. Thus, we have an intentional support system in place for our alumni, including counseling for all aspects of college life, and assistance in securing internships and post-college work.  Staff members highly value visiting alumni on their campuses each year.

We provide structure and high expectations.

We are clear and transparent about the community standards that we attempt to live out and reinforce on a daily basis.  Expectations we have for our students place a high value on a balanced mindset; cultivating character, work ethics and accountability.  Our school has zero tolerance for drugs, alcohol, bullying, or violence of any kind. We have an atmosphere of high challenge coupled with high support.  These expectations are all set within the framework of a structure geared towards graduation, matriculation to college, and obtaining a four-year degree. If a young person is expected to succeed and given a clear path to do so, they will strive to meet what is expected of them.

We encourage our students to embrace their spirituality.

We have a deep commitment to serving the spiritual life of our youth and their families. Our high school curriculum includes the academic study of philosophy, ethics, and world religions. While the school does not evangelize or advance any particular faith, we do promote the study of, and respect for, all the world’s great religions. We believe that spiritual development is an essential part of healthy adolescence. We begin every school day with a non-sectarian worship service and encourage our students’ participation in the faith community of their choice.