Nova Classical Academy: A Comprehensive Overview

Nova Classical Academy is a tuition-free, public charter school located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, offering a classical education to students from Kindergarten through 12th grade. Founded in 2003, the academy is committed to academic rigor, virtue development, and character formation.

Educational Philosophy and Academic Model

Nova Classical Academy employs a classical education model structured around the Trivium: grammar, logic, and rhetoric. This approach underpins the curriculum across various subjects, including English/literature, Latin, mathematics, science, and humanities. The academy integrates character education and virtue development into daily life, fostering a well-rounded educational experience.

The Trivium, consisting of grammar, logic, and rhetoric, is integrated into the learning process for all students. This process leads to a more robust understanding, sound opinions, and the creation of new problem-solving methods for complex issues.

Grammar: This stage involves collecting parts to determine what works within systems, relying on input from family, students, and staff.
Logic: Students learn to analyze and critique information.
Rhetoric: Students learn to articulate and defend their ideas.

Class Sizes and Student-Teacher Ratios

The academy maintains a focus on personalized attention through its class sizes. Kindergarten classes have approximately 20 students, while grades 1-5 have around 27 students per class. The upper grades typically have smaller class sizes, especially in electives and advanced courses. The district-wide student-teacher ratio is about 13.4:1.

Academic Performance and Rankings

Nova Classical Academy students demonstrate strong performance on state tests. According to Niche, approximately 79% of students show proficiency in reading and 76% in math. The school is rated "A" overall on Niche, and GreatSchools rates the Lower School highly among K-5 schools in Minnesota.

National Rankings: Nova Classical Academy Upper School is ranked #134 in the National Rankings.
Minnesota High Schools: It holds the #2 spot in Minnesota High Schools.
Minneapolis Metro Area: It is also ranked #2 in the Minneapolis, MN Metro Area High Schools.
Charter High Schools: The academy is #31 in Charter High Schools.
STEM High Schools: Nova Classical Academy is #497 in STEM High Schools.

U.S. News & World Report calculates these values for schools based on student performance on state-required tests and internationally available exams on college-level coursework (AP® and IB exams).

Demographics and Enrollment

Nova Classical Academy enrolls approximately 1,018 students in grades K-12. Around 21.8% of students are eligible for free or reduced lunch, indicating a commitment to serving a diverse student population.

Before and After-School Care and Transportation

Nova Classical Academy offers "ScholarZone," a fee-based before-and-after-school care program for K-5 students. Free bus service is provided for St. Paul residents, ensuring accessible transportation for students. Schedules may change during school holidays. Doors open at 8:25 AM for student arrival, and the school session starts in the first week of September and ends in the third week of June.

History and Growth

Nova Classical Academy opened its doors in 2003 as a K-6 school. Over the years, it has grown to include grades K-8 and eventually K-12, graduating its first class of seniors in 2013. Initially based in St. Paul's Highland Park neighborhood, the school has expanded its facilities to accommodate its growing student body. In 2010, the school began renting additional space for students in grades 6-8, referred to as the Upper Campus.

School Divisions and Dress Code

The school is divided into two sections: the Lower School (School of Grammar) for grades K-5 and the Upper School for grades 6-12. The Lower School has a student population of 470, with 80 students in kindergarten and 78 students in each of grades 1-5. Lower school students wear white or maroon shirts and maroon plaid jumpers or navy pants.

Read also: The success of Nova SBE

Extracurricular Activities

Nova Classical Academy offers a range of extracurricular activities, including arts, athletics, debate, and community service. The academy's mock trial teams have achieved significant success, competing in international tournaments and advancing to the Minnesota High School Mock Trial State Tournament multiple times.

Varsity sports at Nova include boys and girls soccer, boys and girls cross-country running, volleyball, boys and girls basketball, boys and girls ice hockey, baseball, girls lacrosse, boys and girls track, and boys tennis. Nova is a member of the Skyline Conference.

Strategic Planning

A Strategic Plan is a deliberate effort to establish a holistic, evolving plan that guides an organization for 3-5 years. Strategic Planning provides the opportunity to engage in reflection - a critical habit of learning - and refocuses on relevant priorities and decision-making. The 2017-2022 Strategic Plan led the academy through complex and uncertain times, yet allowed it to remain focused on developing compassionate and articulate graduates poised to engage as thoughtful global citizens. Planning began in October with community listening sessions and surveys that provided invaluable insight into how to strengthen the classical model, support students, and prioritize focus through the next five years.

Noteworthy Events

In 2013, Nicholas Zinos sued Nova for violating his sixth-grade daughter's right to freedom of speech after she was stopped from distributing anti-abortion materials at school. In 2016, David and Hannah Edwards filed a charge of discrimination alleging that Nova failed to provide an environment for their daughter to "undergo a gender transition… in a safe and timely way." Both cases were eventually settled.

College Readiness

High school students take AP® exams and IB exams to earn college credit and demonstrate success at college-level coursework. Higher educational institutions grant credits or advanced placement based on student performance on AP® exams.

Proportion of 12th Grade Class Who Took an Exam: 71%
Proportion of 12th Grade Class Who Scored 3+ on an Exam: 64%
Exam Takers in 12th Grade Class Who Scored 3+ on an Exam: 89%

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