The Nova Project, also known as Nova is a small public alternative high school. The Nova Project is located at 2410 East Cherry Street in Seattle, Washington, and is operated by the Seattle Public School District. Its goal 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 created by students, parents and teachers in 1970. Throughout the history of the school the student body has been made up mostly of people who don't accept traditional education systems because of exclusive environments and rigid teaching methods. Some students were understimulated by traditional education while others have social or personal risk factors in attending traditional high school. Many students value Nova for its student-led curriculum, which allows students who are under-stimulated by regular schools to work ahead at their own pace. A Nova student can pursue a rigorous, personalized academic plan that may be unavailable at a large, impersonal school.
The grading system is competency-based and is credit/no credit with 80% mastery required for credit. Each student is guided by a coordinator who helps them design a personal learning plan that draws on the many courses offered to create a balanced education. Students at Nova, as with other Seattle Public Schools, may participate in the Running Start program and take classes at a local community college.
In early summer of 2009, Nova was relocated from the Mann Building to the Meany Middle School site, where it was co-housed with the World School. Nova returned to the newly remodeled Mann Building in 2015.
Notable Staff, Alumni and Former Students
- Reiko Aylesworth, actress best known from the TV series 24
- Stephen Funk, the first U.S. military service member to publicly refuse to deploy to the US war in Iraq
- Rose McGowan (Also went to Roosevelt High School), actress and singer
- Bonnie McKee, singer and songwriter
- Joe Szwaja, teacher and activist
- Brisa Roche, singer and songwriter
- Stefan Gruber, artist, alumni and teacher
- Michael Oliver Warren, student & original design team of Nova (1970) also attended Queen Anne High School prior to and after NOVA
- Dominic Holden, editor of The Stranger newspaper
- Terrance McKittrick, philosopher and comic critic.
- Harrison Moretz, Chen and Hunyuan Taiji Master and Teacher
- Gary Luke, President and Publisher of Sasquatch Books
See also
- Alternative school
- Alternative education
External links
- NovaKnows (Nova's student-created website)
- Seattle Public Schools - Nova High School