Arts and elective courses at New Summit Academy provide students with a unique opportunity to explore their emotions, express themselves authentically, and embark on a journey of self-discovery.

Our students are talented photographers, filmmakers, musicians and artists. Their exploration of the arts is an important element of our college prep curriculum, and for good reason.

A 2019 study from Brookings found that "a substantial increase in arts educational experiences has remarkable impacts on students’ academic, social, and emotional outcomes," including:

• An improvement of 13% in standardized writing scores
  
• A nearly 4% increase in positive contribution to the learning community
  
• An 8% increase in showing compassion for others
  

We are excited to share this selection of the incredible student work from our photography class last academic term. Photography students not only receive expert guidance from our documentary filmmaking and photography teacher, they learn to use professional-level editing software in our campus studio.

Not every teen is a fit for a traditional school environment, and that’s not a failure. It just means they need something different, something more supportive, and something that fits who they are, not who they’re expected to be.

At New Summit Academy Costa Rica, we work with families and professionals to determine if our program is the right match. Our students are capable, bright, and creative, but many arrive here feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or disconnected.

So, who is a good fit for New Summit Academy?

Let’s take a closer look at the students who tend to thrive in our unique, integrated environment.

1. Bright Students Who Struggle with Traditional School Systems
New Summit Academy students are often:

• Intelligent and thoughtful
  
• Curious and creative
  
• Capable of high achievement
  

But they may also struggle with:

• Executive functioning: procrastination, disorganization, task initiation
  
• Perfectionism or fear of failure
  
• School refusal or avoidance
  
• Burnout from academic or social pressure
  

They need a space where they can reconnect with learning without fear, shame, or overload, and where they can experience success again, on their own terms.

2. Teens Who Are Emotionally Aware but Overwhelmed
Our students often aren’t “behavioral” - in other words, they aren’t acting out. In fact, they’re usually quite self-reflective and aware of their struggles.

They may deal with:

• Anxiety or social anxiety
  
• Depression or low self-worth
  
• Emotional sensitivity
  
• Chronic stress or burnout
  

At New Summit Academy, we normalize emotional growth. Personal development is not a side track; it’s fully integrated into the student experience.

3. Adolescents Ready for a Change, But Not a Lockdown
New Summit Academy is not a residential treatment center. We’re also not a rigid or punitive environment.

We serve students who:

• Need more structure and support than a traditional school
  
• Don’t need containment or intensive clinical intervention
  
• Are ready to take ownership of their growth with support
  

Our model is called Supportive Immersion. Students are immersed in meaningful experiences (academics, travel, cultural exchange, service, outdoor adventures) with caring adults guiding them every step of the way.

4. Students Who Benefit From Smaller, Relationship-Based Communities
Our ideal student has:

• A desire to be seen and known
  
• The capacity to form positive relationships
  
• A willingness to engage in community
  

We are a small boarding school by design. With just 20–30 students on campus at a time, we are a place where students are never anonymous and always supported.

This structure is especially powerful for students who feel isolated, excluded, or lost in larger schools.

5. Families Who Want a Collaborative, Purposeful Experience
We work best with families who:

• Want to be involved in the process
  
• Are looking for a values-based experience
  
• Are open to therapeutic support that focuses on growth, not pathology
  

Parents participate in:

• Regular family calls and coaching
  
• Family workshops and on-campus visits
  
• Collaborative work with our team to set and review goals and plans
  

This isn’t just a placement. It’s a partnership.

Who We’re Not Right For
New Summit Academy is not the right setting for students who:

• Need 24/7 clinical monitoring or containment
• Struggle with active addiction or aggression
• Are unwilling to engage in community norms or structured routines
• Require intensive psychiatric care

We’re a supportive boarding school, not a treatment center, and we aim to maintain a safe, supportive, and emotionally attuned community for all students.

Is Your Teen a Fit for New Summit Academy?
If your child is:

• Bright, but underachieving or burned out
• Emotionally aware, but struggling with stress, anxiety, or executive functioning
• Needing more support than a traditional school can offer
• Ready to explore the world, grow personally, and re-engage in learning...

…then New Summit Academy Costa Rica might be exactly what you’ve been searching for. We’d love to connect and explore what’s possible.