Frequently Asked Questions about New Vista High School

Absolutely! In recent years, on average, over 60% of our seniors applied to and were accepted by a four-year college of their choice. A transcript analysis of our class of ’10 indicates that 75% of those graduates are eligible for four-year colleges. Our students are accepted at all the public colleges of Colorado, and CU-Boulder is probably the most popular destination for our graduates.

Our graduates have also been accepted at the following highly competitive public universities, private colleges and art institutes: Public universities: University of California, University of Wisconsin, University of Maryland, University of Texas, and University of Washington, Private colleges and universities: Bard, Barnard, Bates, Beloit, Bennington, Boston University, Bowdoin, Brown, Bucknell, Clark University, Colorado College, Columbia University, Connecticut College, Cornell College, Dartmouth, Earlham, Grinnell, Hamilton, Hampshire, Knox, Lewis and Clark, McGill, Mills, Mount Holyoke, NYU, Oberlin, Occidental, Pitzer, Pomona, Reed, Sarah Lawrence, Scripps, Skidmore, Smith, Spelman, Stanford, Vassar, Wellesley, Wesleyan, and William and Mary, Art colleges and institutes: American Academy of Dramatic Arts, Art Institute of Chicago, Berklee College of Music, California Institute of the Arts, Kansas City Art Institute, Minneapolis College of Art and Design, NYU – Tisch School, Parsons School of Design, Pratt Institute, Ringling School of Design, and Rhode Island School of Design.

Other graduates enroll in state colleges, community colleges, technical colleges and art institutes. A small percentage directly enter the work force.

New Vista has a distinct set of graduation requirements that differ from the requirements that apply at all other BVSD high schools. We require our students to earn credit in nine Common Learning areas which include: Applied Technology, Arts, Inter-personal Skills, Intra-personal Skills, Language Arts, Math, Science, Social Studies and World Language. Students must earn grades of B- or higher in order to meet requirements in these areas. Students also have the opportunity to focus their studies on their own post high school path, whether that is meeting college entrance requirements, preparing for art school or beginning a technical education. Finally, every student must complete a Culminating Project in his or her Junior or Senior year that involves a minimum of 120 hours. These projects are designed by students in conjunction with a graduation committee.

In our block schedule most students take three different classes each quarter and earn additional credit in Advisory and Community Experience (see below). Students can take additional courses by coming early in the morning. By the end of the year, students taking the basic schedule will have been in the same number of courses as their peers in other high schools.

Block schedules allow for more in-depth focus on fewer subjects at a time. This format supports our goal of increasing student engagement in learning. Most courses last only one quarter, but in science and world language, students typically take two consecutive quarters in the same subject, the equivalent of a full-year course at a conventional high school.

Yes, if there is space available and the schedule can be made to work. New Vista’s block schedule and quarter system do not perfectly coincide with other schools’ seven and eight period days and their semesters. It is usually easiest to coordinate schedules at the beginning or end of the day. Grades earned at other high schools must meet New Vista’s graduation requirements.

Yes. New Vista students have full access to the TEC course offerings in both the morning and afternoon sessions. Transportation to and from TEC from the New Vista campus is provided by the district.

Every New Vista student is in a multi-age advisory of approximately 18 students and almost every teacher in the building is an advisor. Students stay with the same advisor for their entire career at New Vista. Given the wide range of options available to students, advisors support their advisees in designing their educational programs and insuring that these programs lead to graduation. Advisors also work with the whole group of students to promote and maintain a positive school climate, discuss school issues as they arise and develop their students’ inter-personal skills.

New Vista students can earn credit for off campus learning experiences that take place outside the school day or school year as long as they are supervised and evaluated by qualified community mentors. Examples include team sports, fitness programs, world language study, independent studies, music or other private lessons, etc. The Learning Unit Contract coordinator works with each student to identify learning goals, devise assessments and insure follow through on commitments.

No. All classes at New Vista are heterogeneous, including students of all ages and abilities who have the background knowledge needed for our courses. Teachers have sophisticated strategies for challenging all students, including those with the strongest academic skills. We have successfully served many high functioning students over the school’s history.

Once a student is has exhausted a subject area at New Vista (and is either a junior or senior), he or she may participate in the concurrent enrollment program. This program allows students to take classes at CU or Front Range Community College at no cost to the student or family. Our off-campus learning opportunities, Community Experience and Learning Unit Contracts, provide another way for students to have their educational needs met.

Homework loads depend on what classes a student is taking in a given quarter. Since students, with their advisors, determine their own schedules, they can exercise significant control over how much homework they have at any given time. In every class, students must do all homework assignments and class projects satisfactorily in order to pass the class. Most assignments can be revised until they are at the level of B work. Teachers do not assign homework or projects to keep students busy, but to support and assess learning. Assignments involve preparing for upcoming lessons, practicing skills, applying skills and knowledge to new material, and demonstrating proficiency in the subject.

While there are some quizzes and tests at New Vista, there are no final exams. Most classes require that students demonstrate their knowledge and skill through projects that reveal the students’ mastery of the material and the ability to apply what has been learned to new situations.

In the visual arts, classes are offered during every time slot each quarter. Offerings include drawing, painting, sculpture, ceramics and jewelry making. Most classes are open to all levels, but we do offer some classes targeted at beginners as well as a Portfolio Development class for students preparing to apply to art schools.

We also offer Black and White Photography, Digital Imaging and Video Production classes.

New Vista is not large enough to support band and orchestra programs comparable to those offered at the comprehensive high schools. Instead, we offer a program unlike that available elsewhere. Each quarter we offer a Performance Ensemble class which gathers diverse musicians, with the instruments they already play, and teaches them the skills of improvisation and ensemble work. Students who want to pursue this work throughout the year, can participate in our after-school performance band.

We also offer courses in World Music, focusing on either drums or marimbas, as well as opportunities for singers.

Students from New Vista may participate in the bands and orchestras of other schools, subject to space availability, skill level and scheduling compatibility.

New Vista stages one full-length theater production each year, based in Third Quarter’s AM Block, along with one or two other classes focused on scene work and acting skills. Opportunities exist in these venues for students with both acting and technical interests. Students also have the opportunity to participate in a Theater Improvisation class offered through our Workshop Program.

Previous students, wishing to pursue theater arts more intensively, have pursued a number of different options: performing in productions at their attendance area high school, participating in community-based theater groups, focusing their Culminating Project on theater arts, co-directing productions at New Vista and organizing theater-based Community Experiences for their peers.

Range Community College, some of which may qualify for support under the Concurrent Enrollment Program.

New Vista has a small PE program and a smaller sports program, but students have access to all the athletic programs at their attendance area high schools. Each quarter, in PM Block, we offer both a Fitness and Conditioning class and a class that focuses on one PE activity. This year we are highlighting Ultimate Frisbee, Volleyball, Yoga and Basketball.

Two years ago we fielded a highly successful club Volleyball team in the Boys League (we had some female players, too!). When there is sufficient student interest, we will field the team again. If interest develops in Ultimate Frisbee or another sport, we would gladly support a team in that activity as well.

We can only support teams in low cost sports that operate outside the main high school sports scene. Since every student can try out for all high school sports at his or her attendance area high school, we do not attempt to duplicate their significant efforts in this area.

Yes, but it’s very basic. Students’ private body parts must be covered by street clothing that does not sport slogans that might be offensive to other students, teachers, or members of the community. We do not measure the length of shorts or skirts or the width of shoulder straps. We ask that students come to school dressed for learning, not for a club scene. Administrators reserve the right to ask students to put on additional clothing or leave the building. This rarely occurs.

New Vista has an open campus which allows students to leave during the lunch hour. Typically, students either bring their own lunch and eat in school or leave school to eat at nearby restaurants and grocery stores. We have microwaves for student use, but no refrigerators. Students are allowed to eat in many spaces in the building, so long as they clean up after themselves.

Our vending machines comply with district guidelines for healthful snacks and include small frozen entrees.