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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.
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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.
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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.
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At New Summit Academy, we serve capable, thoughtful adolescent males whose progress has slowed due to anxiety, depression, executive functioning challenges, or social stress. These students are bright, creative, empathetic, and open. And they're also stuck.
Think of New Summit when a student needs time, structure, and therapeutic support — but also real school, real relationships, and a clear path forward.
Think of New Summit when a student needs time, structure, and therapeutic support — but also real school, real relationships, and a clear path forward.
What makes New Summit Academy different from many programs is that personal growth support, college prep academics, and experiential education are fully integrated. Therapy isn’t something students leave class to attend; it’s woven into the rhythm of daily life. Therapists are active members of the community, working alongside academic advisors and student life mentors to help students build insight, skills, and momentum.
Place matters, too. Costa Rica’s pace and culture naturally support regulation, reflection, and reconnection, offering students space to reset and build confidence while moving forward academically. Studying abroad in Costa Rica, learning a new language, and leading service and cultural exchange initiatives foster positive identity development.
Place matters, too. Costa Rica’s pace and culture naturally support regulation, reflection, and reconnection, offering students space to reset and build confidence while moving forward academically. Studying abroad in Costa Rica, learning a new language, and leading service and cultural exchange initiatives foster positive identity development.
New Summit Academy isn’t about getting students “back on track.” It’s about helping them build a stronger one so they can transition with confidence to traditional boarding schools, day schools, universities, trade schools or gap year programs.
For a student who might benefit from a different pace, a different place, and a deeply supportive boarding community, New Summit Academy could be the right next step.
For a student who might benefit from a different pace, a different place, and a deeply supportive boarding community, New Summit Academy could be the right next step.
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January often arrives with pressure for teens and parents alike to start over, fix everything, and become someone entirely new.
At New Summit Academy, we take a different approach. Real growth doesn’t require reinvention. It requires support, structure, and the space to make steady, meaningful progress.
At New Summit Academy, we take a different approach. Real growth doesn’t require reinvention. It requires support, structure, and the space to make steady, meaningful progress.
Many of the adolescents who come to our supportive boarding school arrive exhausted by academic, social, emotional, and internal expectations. They are not “broken,” and they don’t need to be replaced by a new version of themselves. What they need is a reset rooted in consistency, accountability, and connection.
Growth happens when students feel safe enough to be honest, regulated enough to reflect, and supported enough to try again.
Our year-round boarding school in Costa Rica is intentionally designed to reduce noise and increase clarity. Through small class sizes, daily structure, therapy, experiential learning, and cultural immersion, students begin to understand themselves better, not as a list of problems to solve, but as capable young people learning new skills. Progress might look like improved emotional regulation, healthier peer interactions, or renewed academic engagement.
These changes are often subtle at first, but they compound over time.
Growth happens when students feel safe enough to be honest, regulated enough to reflect, and supported enough to try again.
Our year-round boarding school in Costa Rica is intentionally designed to reduce noise and increase clarity. Through small class sizes, daily structure, therapy, experiential learning, and cultural immersion, students begin to understand themselves better, not as a list of problems to solve, but as capable young people learning new skills. Progress might look like improved emotional regulation, healthier peer interactions, or renewed academic engagement.
These changes are often subtle at first, but they compound over time.
For families considering supportive boarding school, especially at the start of a new year, it’s important to know that success is not defined by perfection or dramatic overnight change. At New Summit Academy, success is forward motion. It’s helping students build momentum they can carry with them long after they leave our campus.
A new year doesn’t require a new kid. It simply requires the right environment for growth to take root.
A new year doesn’t require a new kid. It simply requires the right environment for growth to take root.
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As we close out 2025, Dr. Heather Tracy, Executive Director and Co-Founder of New Summit Academy, shares a short message of gratitude, reflection, and hope for what lies ahead. We’re honored to celebrate with our partners and community 20 years of our supportive boarding school and study abroad experience in Costa Rica, along with a year of meaningful growth at The Bridge Costa Rica.
Thank you for being part of a community committed to helping young people grow, contribute, and thrive. See you in 2026!
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Last week, members of the New Summit Academy and The Bridge Costa Rica leadership team traveled to New England for a series of conferences, school visits, and alumni connections that highlight our role as a trusted partner within the broader boarding school community.
A key moment of the trip was Executive Director Dr. Heather Tracy’s participation in an expert panel at the The Association of Boarding Schools (TABS) Conference in Boston. The discussion, focused on navigating the fine line between traditional and therapeutic boarding schools, underscored an important truth: while many students thrive in supportive boarding school settings, others benefit from a structured, relational reset before they can fully access academic and community life. New Summit Academy’s 6-12 month study abroad model in Costa Rica continues to serve as that bridge, blending U.S.-accredited academics with intentional social-emotional skill-building, cultural immersion, and therapeutic support.
The team also visited several partner schools across Vermont, Massachusetts, and Connecticut, strengthening collaboration around student transitions, wellbeing, and guided independence. Meanwhile, Dr. Danny Recio joined colleagues at the NE NATSAP Conference and spoke at The Greenwood School about how supportive gap experiences help “late bloomers” develop confidence, purpose, and readiness for adulthood.
The team also visited several partner schools across Vermont, Massachusetts, and Connecticut, strengthening collaboration around student transitions, wellbeing, and guided independence. Meanwhile, Dr. Danny Recio joined colleagues at the NE NATSAP Conference and spoke at The Greenwood School about how supportive gap experiences help “late bloomers” develop confidence, purpose, and readiness for adulthood.
These partnerships matter. This year, 64% of our 2025 graduates enrolled in a more traditional boarding school, evidence of what early intervention, thoughtful planning, and social-emotional development can accomplish.
Whether through our supportive high school abroad, our gap year at The Bridge, or our growing portfolio of collaborations with schools, New Summit Academy remains deeply committed to helping adolescents and young adults reset, grow, and return ready to thrive.
Whether through our supportive high school abroad, our gap year at The Bridge, or our growing portfolio of collaborations with schools, New Summit Academy remains deeply committed to helping adolescents and young adults reset, grow, and return ready to thrive.
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At New Summit Academy, cultural immersion is at the heart of our supportive boarding school and study abroad experience in Costa Rica. This month, our Cultural Immersion class had the privilege of welcoming artists from Los Borucas, an indigenous community renowned for their vibrant mascaradas: hand-carved wooden masks representing animals, ancestral spirits, and powerful cultural symbols.
Students learned each step of the traditional process, from sketching and carving to painting and finishing. Guided by Boruca artisans, they even created their own miniature masks, discovering firsthand how patience, creativity, and cultural heritage come together through art.
Cultural immersion is one of the most meaningful elements of a high school abroad program. At New Summit Academy, students regularly engage with the local community, whether through service projects, homestay Sundays, shared meals, or campus celebrations like Día de las Culturas and Día Nacional de las Mascaradas. Within our multicultural faculty and student body, they practice Spanish, build cross-cultural communication skills, and learn how to navigate differences with empathy and curiosity.
By learning from others, New Summit Academy students ultimately learn more about themselves, and carry those insights into their futures.
Cultural immersion is one of the most meaningful elements of a high school abroad program. At New Summit Academy, students regularly engage with the local community, whether through service projects, homestay Sundays, shared meals, or campus celebrations like Día de las Culturas and Día Nacional de las Mascaradas. Within our multicultural faculty and student body, they practice Spanish, build cross-cultural communication skills, and learn how to navigate differences with empathy and curiosity.
By learning from others, New Summit Academy students ultimately learn more about themselves, and carry those insights into their futures.
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We kicked off our fall conference season earlier this month at the North American Boarding School Workshop (NABSW) in London, England. Representing New Summit Academy and The Bridge Costa Rica, Strategic Enrollment Director Adam Beeson joined boarding school colleagues, international agents, and educational consultants from around the world for several days of connection and professional exchange.
The NABSW event provided an ideal setting to share how New Summit Academy and The Bridge create supportive boarding and study abroad experiences for students who benefit from intentional community, experiential learning, and holistic personal growth. Conversations throughout the workshop reinforced a shared commitment among schools and partners to help students thrive academically, emotionally, and socially.
Beyond the formal meetings, many of the most meaningful moments came during informal conversations: exchanging ideas, comparing experiences, and exploring future collaborations that strengthen healthy, student-centered communities across borders.
Beyond the formal meetings, many of the most meaningful moments came during informal conversations: exchanging ideas, comparing experiences, and exploring future collaborations that strengthen healthy, student-centered communities across borders.
The London workshop marked the first of several professional events this season. Dr. Danny Recio, Director of The Bridge Costa Rica, recently attended the Young Adult Transition Association (YATA) conference in San Diego, and next month Executive Director Dr. Heather Tracy will join Danny and Adam at NE NATSAP in Burlington, Vermont, The Association of Boarding Schools (TABS) in Boston, Massachusetts, and for boarding school visits across New England.
Together, these events reflect an ongoing commitment to global connection, shared learning, and the continued growth of supportive educational communities.
Together, these events reflect an ongoing commitment to global connection, shared learning, and the continued growth of supportive educational communities.
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By mid-October, many parents notice a familiar pattern: a student who seemed ready for the school year is suddenly struggling to keep up. A bright, capable teen may appear anxious, withdrawn, or unmotivated. Another might be creatively talented but unable to focus academically. Some students experience heightened anxiety, symptoms of depression, or difficulty managing executive functioning tasks.
If this sounds familiar, you are not alone. Across the U.S., Canada, and beyond, parents of struggling high school students are seeing how quickly the structure of a school year can expose underlying emotional or learning challenges, including ADHD or other neurodivergent profiles.
If this sounds familiar, you are not alone. Across the U.S., Canada, and beyond, parents of struggling high school students are seeing how quickly the structure of a school year can expose underlying emotional or learning challenges, including ADHD or other neurodivergent profiles.
Why Some Students Struggle Mid-Semester
Summer often provides a break from the pressures of school, offering teens more sleep, freedom, and autonomy. When the school year begins, the sudden demands of homework, social dynamics, and schedules can overwhelm students who previously seemed to thrive. Many develop unhealthy coping mechanisms (excessive screen time, withdrawal, or perfectionism) as they attempt to manage stress.
At New Summit Academy Costa Rica, we recognize these challenges and understand that struggling students need more than traditional interventions. Our school focuses on helping adolescents develop resilience, emotional regulation, and executive functioning skills in a structured, supportive environment.
At New Summit Academy Costa Rica, we recognize these challenges and understand that struggling students need more than traditional interventions. Our school focuses on helping adolescents develop resilience, emotional regulation, and executive functioning skills in a structured, supportive environment.
The Supportive Study Abroad Experience
Our supportive boarding school and therapeutic study abroad program provides adolescent males with a 6-12 month opportunity to step out of their current environment and reset. Students continue earning U.S.-accredited, college-prep credits while receiving clinical and academic support tailored to their needs.
Living in Costa Rica, teens engage in experiential learning, service projects, leadership activities, and cultural immersion — all designed to help them regain confidence, reduce anxiety, and develop life skills that transfer back home.
These immersive experiences benefit neurodivergent learners, students with ADHD, and those experiencing emotional challenges, preparing them for a successful return to school.
Living in Costa Rica, teens engage in experiential learning, service projects, leadership activities, and cultural immersion — all designed to help them regain confidence, reduce anxiety, and develop life skills that transfer back home.
These immersive experiences benefit neurodivergent learners, students with ADHD, and those experiencing emotional challenges, preparing them for a successful return to school.
A Supportive Boarding School Community
Unlike traditional boarding schools, our approach emphasizes a personalized balance of academics, social-emotional counseling, and experiential growth. Students work closely with mentors, clinicians, and teachers to address the underlying issues affecting their school performance. By providing structure, emotional support, and tools for self-regulation, we help students move from struggling to thriving.
Parents across the U.S., Canada, Europe and beyond have seen their teens return home more resilient, motivated, and equipped with strategies to manage stress, executive functioning, and social-emotional challenges.
Parents across the U.S., Canada, Europe and beyond have seen their teens return home more resilient, motivated, and equipped with strategies to manage stress, executive functioning, and social-emotional challenges.
Take The Next Step
If your child is struggling this fall, it’s not too late to provide support that can make a meaningful difference. Contact our Admissions Team today to explore whether New Summit Academy Costa Rica could be the right fit for your family.