- Published on
What happens when learning is rooted in purpose, connection, and real-world experience? Our Executive Director, Dr. Heather Tracy, joined Lori Boll on the SENIA International Podcast this week to share insights from our work at New Summit Academy and The Bridge Costa Rica!
During the episode, Dr. Tracy explores the philosophy behind New Summit Academy's model of Supportive Immersion, an approach that blends experiential learning, cultural immersion, and strong relational support. By stepping outside traditional academic environments and into meaningful real-world experiences, students have the opportunity to reconnect with their strengths, build resilience, and rediscover a sense of purpose.
The conversation also highlights the importance of redefining success. Rather than measuring achievement through a narrow lens, New Summit encourages students to better understand themselves, develop confidence in their abilities, and discover what they uniquely have to offer the world.
We’re grateful to SENIA International for hosting this inspiring conversation and helping share the possibilities of inclusive education.
The conversation also highlights the importance of redefining success. Rather than measuring achievement through a narrow lens, New Summit encourages students to better understand themselves, develop confidence in their abilities, and discover what they uniquely have to offer the world.
We’re grateful to SENIA International for hosting this inspiring conversation and helping share the possibilities of inclusive education.
- Published on
For 40 years, The Good Schools Guide has helped parents with every aspect of choosing the best education for their children. Currently, the Guide offers more than 1,300 reviews of UK schools along with nearly 300 international school reviews covering 40 countries across the globe.
New Summit Academy's recent "What the School Says" contribution highlights those elements of our supportive boarding school that help it stand apart from any other school in the world.
Here is an inside look at the feature:
New Summit Academy's recent "What the School Says" contribution highlights those elements of our supportive boarding school that help it stand apart from any other school in the world.
Here is an inside look at the feature:
Tucked into the hills of one of Costa Rica’s sunniest small towns, New Summit Academy is a short-term boarding school where students typically enrol for one academic year. It offers something rare in the world of independent education: a supportive boarding experience combined with the adventure of studying abroad. The result is a school that feels both transformative and deeply grounding for bright young men who need a fresh start, a confidence boost or simply a different kind of educational journey.
Serving boys aged 14-18, New Summit Academy remains intentionally small, with only 26 students on campus at a time. Young men come from around the world seeking a place where they can be understood, challenged and supported in equal measure. Many arrive with anxiety, perfectionism, ADHD, executive functioning challenges or the weight of stress from competitive or mismatched school environments. What they share are strengths: curiosity, empathy, creativity and a desire to reconnect with their own potential.
Serving boys aged 14-18, New Summit Academy remains intentionally small, with only 26 students on campus at a time. Young men come from around the world seeking a place where they can be understood, challenged and supported in equal measure. Many arrive with anxiety, perfectionism, ADHD, executive functioning challenges or the weight of stress from competitive or mismatched school environments. What they share are strengths: curiosity, empathy, creativity and a desire to reconnect with their own potential.
The school’s academic programme blends university-preparatory coursework with experiential learning and cultural immersion. Classes are small and relational, giving students the structure they need while allowing them to work closely with teachers who really know how they learn. It’s not unusual to see students conducting field science in the rainforest, practising Spanish with local community partners or building interdisciplinary projects that connect academic subjects with the world around them. Learning feels alive and personal.
Therapeutic coaching is woven seamlessly into everyday life. Students meet regularly with on-campus therapists who help them build healthy coping strategies, manage stress, strengthen executive functioning skills and understand themselves more fully. This is not a clinical environment; it’s a school with intensive social-emotional support. The atmosphere is warm, conversational and growth-oriented.
Life outside the classroom is one of New Summit Academy’s greatest strengths. Students explore Costa Rica’s national parks, volcanoes, cloud forests and coastlines through carefully planned adventures that build confidence and resilience. Weekends may include hiking, white-water rafting, service projects, cultural trips, surfing on the Pacific coast or pursuing creative passions like music, photography and filmmaking. These shared experiences create strong friendships and a steady sense of belonging.
Therapeutic coaching is woven seamlessly into everyday life. Students meet regularly with on-campus therapists who help them build healthy coping strategies, manage stress, strengthen executive functioning skills and understand themselves more fully. This is not a clinical environment; it’s a school with intensive social-emotional support. The atmosphere is warm, conversational and growth-oriented.
Life outside the classroom is one of New Summit Academy’s greatest strengths. Students explore Costa Rica’s national parks, volcanoes, cloud forests and coastlines through carefully planned adventures that build confidence and resilience. Weekends may include hiking, white-water rafting, service projects, cultural trips, surfing on the Pacific coast or pursuing creative passions like music, photography and filmmaking. These shared experiences create strong friendships and a steady sense of belonging.
The school emphasises independence within structure. Students learn to manage responsibilities, handle real-world tasks, collaborate with peers and contribute to community life. Staff describe it as 'guided independence', the right balance of autonomy, accountability and encouragement.
Families choose New Summit Academy because it offers space to reset without losing momentum. On average, students enrol for one academic year, though some remain through graduation. After Costa Rica, many students transition successfully into more traditional boarding schools, while others return home with renewed confidence or move directly on to university. Whatever the next step, they leave Costa Rica more resilient, more self-aware and more capable young men.
In a world full of independent schools, New Summit Academy stands apart. It is adventurous, relational, grounded in wellbeing and unmistakably student-centred – a place where young men can rediscover joy in learning, in connection and in themselves.
Families choose New Summit Academy because it offers space to reset without losing momentum. On average, students enrol for one academic year, though some remain through graduation. After Costa Rica, many students transition successfully into more traditional boarding schools, while others return home with renewed confidence or move directly on to university. Whatever the next step, they leave Costa Rica more resilient, more self-aware and more capable young men.
In a world full of independent schools, New Summit Academy stands apart. It is adventurous, relational, grounded in wellbeing and unmistakably student-centred – a place where young men can rediscover joy in learning, in connection and in themselves.
- Published on
When a teen is struggling with anxiety or depression, school is often where it shows first.
Mornings become harder. Grades drop despite ability. Social situations feel overwhelming. Motivation fades. Families try therapy, tutoring, accommodations, yet the overall pattern remains the same.
If traditional school isn’t working, it may not be about effort. It may be about environment.
Mornings become harder. Grades drop despite ability. Social situations feel overwhelming. Motivation fades. Families try therapy, tutoring, accommodations, yet the overall pattern remains the same.
If traditional school isn’t working, it may not be about effort. It may be about environment.
Why Environment Matters
Large, fast-paced schools can unintentionally intensify anxiety. Students may feel overstimulated, socially exposed, or constantly behind. For teens experiencing depression, the pressure to “push through” can deepen withdrawal and self-doubt.
A small, supportive boarding environment offers something fundamentally different:
Structure reduces uncertainty. Relationship reduces isolation. Together, they create the foundation for growth.
A small, supportive boarding environment offers something fundamentally different:
- Predictable daily structure
- Small class sizes
- Close relationships with adults
- Personalized academics
- Built-in residential community
Structure reduces uncertainty. Relationship reduces isolation. Together, they create the foundation for growth.
What is a Supportive Boarding School?
A supportive, therapeutic boarding school blends accredited academics with integrated emotional support. Therapy is not separate from school life; it is woven into advising, residential routines, and mentoring relationships.
At New Summit Academy, enrollment is intentionally small so each student is known deeply. Faculty and residential staff understand not just academic performance, but the full picture of a student’s emotional and social experience.
Support may include:
This layered approach allows students to practice coping skills in real time — not just talk about them in an office once a week.
At New Summit Academy, enrollment is intentionally small so each student is known deeply. Faculty and residential staff understand not just academic performance, but the full picture of a student’s emotional and social experience.
Support may include:
- Individual and group therapy
- Integrated executive functioning coaching
- Structured study halls
- Regular advisor check-ins
- Experiential and outdoor learning
- Cultural immersion and travel
This layered approach allows students to practice coping skills in real time — not just talk about them in an office once a week.
Rebuilding Confidence
Anxiety and depression often erode a teen’s sense of competence. Over time, capable students begin to see themselves as incapable.
Confidence is rarely restored through pressure. It returns through small, consistent wins:
Structure creates safety. Safety allows risk. Risk builds resilience.
For many families, distance also creates space to reset family dynamics. Parents step out of the role of daily academic enforcer, allowing relationships to soften and rebuild.
Confidence is rarely restored through pressure. It returns through small, consistent wins:
- Completing assignments on time
- Participating in class
- Navigating peer relationships
- Contributing meaningfully to the community
Structure creates safety. Safety allows risk. Risk builds resilience.
For many families, distance also creates space to reset family dynamics. Parents step out of the role of daily academic enforcer, allowing relationships to soften and rebuild.
When Might a Supportive Boarding School Be Worth Exploring?
A supportive, therapeutic boarding school may be appropriate if:
It is not the right setting for teens who require acute psychiatric stabilization; a small, supportive boarding school like New Summit Academy is not a residential treatment center. But for students who are capable but struggling, boarding school can provide steady, relational accountability.
When anxiety or depression begins to define your teen’s school experience, it can feel discouraging. In the right environment (one grounded in structure, connection, and individualized support) many students rediscover confidence, belonging, and renewed academic momentum.
- School avoidance is increasing
- Academic performance has significantly declined
- Anxiety is interfering with daily functioning
- Depression is leading to isolation and disengagement
- Outpatient therapy alone has not shifted the pattern
It is not the right setting for teens who require acute psychiatric stabilization; a small, supportive boarding school like New Summit Academy is not a residential treatment center. But for students who are capable but struggling, boarding school can provide steady, relational accountability.
When anxiety or depression begins to define your teen’s school experience, it can feel discouraging. In the right environment (one grounded in structure, connection, and individualized support) many students rediscover confidence, belonging, and renewed academic momentum.