Each year, many New Summit Academy students complete their supportive study abroad experience in Costa Rica and choose to enroll in a more traditional boarding school in the United States to finish high school.

When we check in with our graduates, their families and their new schools, we hear the same thing:

Recently, a boarding school in New Hampshire told us that one New Summit Academy graduate is serving on their prestigious Restorative Justice Council, a position he was elected to due to the maturity and emotional intelligence he has exhibited since joining their community.

Another recent graduate is leading new and prospective student tours at his boarding school in Tennessee because of his ability to connect with people from a wide range of backgrounds and perspectives.

After graduating high school at New Summit Academy, another young alumnus decided to complete a post-graduate year at a boarding school in Connecticut, where he was able to join the varsity soccer team and graduate his PG year with high honors.

Why do our alumni who continue their education at a boarding school tend to thrive?

​Consider these words from a 2023 graduate, who is now applying to an incredible list of colleges from his rigorous boarding school:
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This really says it all. Students at New Summit work closely with our faculty, advisors, and their peers to develop a holistic set of skills that allows them to succeed in the classroom and, more importantly, in life beyond academics.

Students solidify executive functioning skills at New Summit Academy by engaging with their teachers in collaborative, student-driven classes that develop critical thinking abilities that transcend those needed for traditional academics.

Students set goals for and apply these skills - which include planning and time management, task initiation, and flexibility and problem-solving - as they learn to contribute to the campus community, navigate their roles serving on Student Council, work with their teams to personalize a balanced weekly schedule, immerse in a new culture and language, and rebuild their family relationships.

The traditional academic skills developed at New Summit Academy are crucial for next-step educational success, including at rigorous boarding schools and through college and beyond.

However, the combination of academic hard skills with the social-emotional growth, healthy coping skill development, relationship building, and ownership of process truly develops students ready to take on any challenge after they leave our supportive boarding school.

Do you want to learn the essentials about New Summit Academy Costa Rica? We've got you covered!

We can all picture that student. You know the one.

The student who flourishes in his creative pursuits, but who is just getting by academically and socially with the amount of support available at his school.

The student who is brilliant, but whose anxiety is so high that he misses class, gets stuck trying to write that first paragraph, and can't seem to turn in his homework.

The student who is a natural leader with a good heart, but who always seems to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

We can all picture that student, and we can all agree on one thing: we don’t want this student to simply survive until the end of the term (or worse, be asked to withdraw).

We see his potential, and we want him to thrive. So how do we get him there?

As professionals, we often need to step away from our institutions - to travel, attend conferences, or join leadership retreats - in order to find inspiration and bring back new skills and ideas. This reset can be particularly helpful when we are feeling overwhelmed by a challenge or stuck professionally.

Adolescents can share similar benefits from an intentional reset, and they can move from surviving to thriving before a crisis ensues.

A supportive study abroad experience is one proven way teens can shake things up, reaping the rewards of a gap semester and a therapeutic intervention to build the mental fitness needed to return to their schools and find academic and social-emotional success.

At New Summit Academy Costa Rica, we know the power of collaboration.

An adolescent gains so much more when the support systems in his life integrate to work together rather than seek out isolated, short-term “fixes” to the teen’s struggles.

That’s why we join forces with schools, consultants, therapists, coaches, and families to ensure the supportive study abroad terms we offer guide each student in their unique path to a thriving future.

Embracing a different path can be scary, and there are a lot of myths out there:

Myth: The student will be “off track” academically when he returns to a more traditional school.
Truth: New Summit Academy is accredited by Cognia, and our highly qualified teachers guide students through US college-prep classes - along with a diverse set of experiences that result in an impressive resume - which allow for a smooth transition back to a more traditional school.

Myth: The student will be “missing out” on his high school experience.
Truth: This student is not being who he wants to be anyway, which leaves him at risk to fall into unhealthy coping mechanisms like screens, substances, or isolation. Studying abroad creates a fast track to more positive identity development.

Myth: Costa Rica is too far away.
Truth: Direct flights from major US airports in New York, Atlanta, Miami, Houston, and Los Angeles will have you here in a few hours. Once on the ground, our campus is just 30 minutes away from SJO, our academic calendar allows for home visits every two months, and it's easy to stay connected to home.

Myth: Working with a contracted therapist a few times each week is just as good.
Truth: What we know about adolescent brain development is that immersive, supported learning experiences - allowing for space and time to practice, collect data, reflect on the process, and revise strategies - maximizes growth and helps internalize skills for lasting change.

If you know a high school student who would benefit from a supportive study abroad experience at New Summit Academy, please reach out to [email protected].

Still need to learn more? Here are 12 Things To Know About New Summit Academy.