Study Abroad at New Summit Academy in Costa Rica
- Costa Rica
- Atenas
About Program
Located in a beautiful mountain town in Costa Rica, New Summit Academy is an independent, year-round, supportive boarding school and study abroad experience for adolescent males (ages 14-18) who are in grades 9-12. Integrating college prep classes with cultural immersion, service projects, adventure trips and travel, New Summit offers an excellent environment for academic and social-emotional growth. An intentionally small learning community, New Summit works with up to 24 high school students who enroll for a minimum of 6 months. New Summit Academy students are bright, creative, and capable but may struggle with anxiety or depression, executive functioning, attention, self-confidence, identity or difficult social or family dynamics. Within this supportive boarding school, students build positive coping skills for their anxiety, adopt healthier lifestyles for their mood, and develop strategies to support their learning and executive functioning needs.
Video and Photos
Program Highlights
- Small class sizes and individualized supportive advising teams with academic skill development incorporated into each class, larger projects broken down into smaller steps, hard skills integrated into lessons, and social skills gently guided by teachers
- Executive functioning skill development facilitated by an advising team that works closely with each student to set quarterly goals and outline concrete, measurable actions to reach those goals
- Spanish and cultural immersion are key components of learning, with service projects, community events, recreation, and the homestay program developing global competencies and cross-cultural communication skills
- The signature Aventura program has students embarking on weeklong national park adventure trips, nature-based outings and international culture travel as well as professional certifications like Wilderness First Aid and Scuba
- Students are supported by their advising teams, which include a therapist that works afternoons and evenings and attends recreational activities and school trips to guide the milieu and build rapport with students
