New Summit Academy

Our Story New Summit Academy (NSA) was founded in 2005 through a partnership between five founders and eleven families seeking better educational options for their sons. What began on a modest mango farm campus in Atenas, Costa Rica, where the first students helped paint cabins, build desks, and co-create the school handbook, has grown into a tight-knit, owner-operated boarding school with more than 21 years of continuous operation. All five founders continue to work full-time on the beautiful campus. The school has served over 500 alumni and maintains an intimate learning environment limited to 24 students at a time. In 2025, New Summit Academy was named a "Must-Watch Small Boarding School" by K12 Digest, recognizing its innovative, relationship-based approach to education. Programs & Trainings Academic Approach & Core Classes, Small-group instruction with an average class size of six students and a 1:4 student-to-teacher ratio, supported by a Learning Specialist and individualized academic support. NSA Resume Program, A structured pathway for students to document and build academic, personal, and experiential credentials for post-secondary success. Graduation Requirements & Diploma Track, Complete high school graduation standards with full transcript requests and academic record management. College Guidance & University Preparation, Dedicated counseling for college selection, applications, and transition; alumni have successfully matriculated to universities such as St. Lawrence University. Executive Functioning Coaching, One-on-one and small-group coaching to develop organization, time management, planning, and independent learning skills. Learning Specialist Support, Personalized interventions helping students understand their unique learning profiles and acquire strategies for long-term academic success. The Unique NSA Approach to Personal Growth, A phased framework including Planning Growth, Facilitating Growth, and Assessing Growth with individualized development objectives. Family Involvement Program, Integrated family services designed to engage parents and guardians in the student's academic and personal growth process. Recreational Aventuras, Outdoor adventure and recreational excursions building teamwork, resilience, and environmental awareness. Integrated Aventuras, Experiential learning trips that integrate academic and personal growth goals with outdoor challenge and reflection. International Aventuras, International travel experiences designed to broaden global perspective and cultural competence. Service Learning, Student-led community service projects throughout Costa Rica involving budget management, planning, and meaningful local contribution. Homestay Program, Immersive living experience with Costa Rican host families to develop language skills and deep cross-cultural understanding. Cultural Immersion, Ongoing programming in Costa Rican traditions, language, history, and daily community life. Student Leadership, Formal and informal leadership roles including mentoring new students, organizing activities, proposing guideline changes, and leading campus initiatives. Clubs & Activities, Student-driven extracurricular clubs and interest-based activities shaped by learner passions. Professional Certifications, Training and certification opportunities such as Wilderness First Aid (WFA) and CPR at professional levels. Creative Expression & Music, Opportunities to write, record, and produce original music and albums, plus navigate emotions through creative arts. Campus Living & Boarding Life, Full residential program developing independent living skills, peer mentoring, and shared community governance. Specialties Supportive boarding school environment for high school males in grades 9-12 Relationship-based, owner-operated education with founders on-site full-time Small-scale, high-touch learning community capped at 24 students Experiential and adventure-based learning through the Aventuras program Executive functioning support and learning differences accommodation College preparatory curriculum with dedicated transitional guidance Student agency and democratic participation in school governance Cross-cultural immersion and study abroad experience in Costa Rica Service learning and community leadership development Family-integrated growth and therapeutic academic support Methods & Approach NSA employs a relationship-based, student-centered educational model emphasizing agency, personal choice, and self-discovery. Instruction combines collaborative learning in micro-classes with individualized support from a Learning Specialist and executive functioning coaches. The personal growth framework moves intentionally through planning, facilitating, and assessing phases. Experiential learning is central: students engage in tiered Aventuras (recreational, integrated, and international), service learning, homestays, and cultural immersion. The community operates as a co-creative environment where students advocate for their needs, influence school policy, manage budgets, organize activities, mentor peers, and lead local projects. Authenticity and transparency are core values, evidenced by a website built and maintained by students and staff using real photographs from student experiences. Who It's For High school males in grades 9-12 who are bright, creative, and capable yet have not thrived in traditional school settings. Ideal for students who need to rebuild academic confidence, develop independence, and re-engage with learning through individualized support. The program serves young men who benefit from executive functioning coaching, very small class sizes, and a structured boarding environment, as well as those seeking cross-cultural immersion, adventure-based learning, and a clear pathway to college and university admission. Families looking for an intimate, owner-operated, relationship-driven alternative to conventional boarding schools will find a strong fit. Facilities & Practical Info Full-time residential boarding campus situated in Nueva Cumbre, Atenas, within Alajuela Province, Costa Rica. The school maintains a tight-knit community with a hard cap of 24 students. English is the primary language of instruction, delivered within a Spanish-speaking cultural immersion context. The campus is owner-operated with all five founders residing and working on-site full-time. Programming runs year-round with a full academic calendar; admissions operate on a rolling basis. All visual documentation and website content are authentically created by the student body and staff. Location Address: Alajuela Province, Atenas, Nueva Cumbre, Costa Rica Hours: See website for academic calendar and admissions schedule The "+" Named a Must-Watch Small Boarding School for 2025 by K12 Digest Exceptional 1:4 student-to-teacher ratio with an average class size of six Owner-operated for 21+ years with all five founders working full-time on campus 500+ alumni since 2005 with demonstrated college and university outcomes Genuine student agency: learners organize activities, mentor peers, manage budgets, propose policy changes, and lead community projects Authentic transparency: website and all photographs are created by students and staff from real experiences Comprehensive college guidance with successful placement at competitive universities