School Life at NCA
Tour the building
New Century Academy provides a small school environment that packs a big punch. With two separate project-based learning spaces, a full gymnasium, alternative learning spaces, science lab, kitchen/cafeteria, workshop, and more, NCA provides the learning environment you need, without needing ten minutes to walk to your next class.
NCA has a more relaxed and less anxious vibe.
Current NCA Student
Discover Project-Based Learning & E-term
Project Based Learning
Have you ever struggled with traditional book learning, felt uninterested in the topics you were learning, or wished you could learn more about a topic not taught in school? Then project-based learning (PBL) is for you! Through PBL, you can take charge of your own learning, choosing topics, challenges, complex questions or community problems to explore. Gain skills such as project management, problem solving, communication, and public speaking throughout the process that is guided by your advisor. Whether you are interested in writing up a business plan for an exciting business idea or solving the recycling contamination problem in your community, the project is led by YOU from start to finish. At the end of the project, present your learning to the class and your advisor to receive a grade and school credit.
E-term
What if we told you that you could spend a week going bowling, snowmobiling, designing and building your own kites, learning how to basketweave, studying the in-depth psychology of Harry Potter, or learning how to ice skate AND receive school credit for them? All of those course have taken place through NCA’s unique program called exploratory term (E-term). Three times a year, students are given the opportunity to discover new and innovative skills through week-long seminars chosen by the the teachers based upon student interests. Students are able to sign up for the seminars of their choice and many of those seminars include exciting field experiences!
Service Learning
At NCA, we prioritize service learning, making it a graduation requirement through the senior portfolio. We help facilitate meaningful service opportunities, encouraging students to engage in various community activities. Through this process as a student, you gain valuable insights, develop critical thinking skills, and contribute to addressing local and global challenges. Upon completion, you not only fulfill academic criteria buy you also cultivate a deeper understanding of yourself and your role in creating positive change in the world!
Senior Projects & Portfolios
In each NCA student’s senior year, they are required to complete a 100-hour senior project, as well as a reflective senior portfolio that includes journal entries, service learning, a resume, grade transcripts, and letters of recommendation. Students create a team for their project including two NCA advisors, a junior student, and a community mentor to help guide them in their project. Seniors work on this project throughout the whole school year and present them on two esteemed nights in the spring. From restoring vehicles to building beds to deep dives into cartography and graphic design, the topic is up to you as a senior and is approved by your advisor. The senior project is truly the capstone of a student’s time here at NCA.
Advisory
NCA was founded upon the advisory concept, and all students are assigned to an advisory when they enroll. Your advisory is made up of a small group of students that stay together throughout their time at NCA and is led by one advisor. Advisory is a time dedicated to project-based learning, character education, goal setting, team building, service learning, and more! Think about your advisory as being a small family within the NCA community.
National Honor Society
Being inducted into the National Honor Society is a significant honor that acknowledges and celebrates the choices and, at times, sacrifices each student has made throughout their high school journey.
NHS membership is awarded for excellence in scholarship, leadership, service, and character. Eligibility is open to sophomores, juniors, and seniors who have attended NCA for at least one semester. Initial consideration requires a cumulative GPA of 3.25, with a further evaluation based on service, leadership, and character. All categories carry equal weight. Inductees are expected to maintain high standards of academic achievement and uphold the values that earned them membership. Reach out to Ms. Dolge or Ms. Julian for more information.
Explore Activities
Whether it’s sports, academics, or the arts, NCA provides a wide range of activities for students to participate in throughout the school year. Can’t find the right fit for you? Learn more about creating your own student-led club!
There’s always a group of people who enjoy what you enjoy.
Current NCA Student
Student Transportation
NCA is proud to offer full-service transportation, via ACC Midwest for all students in a wide radius of our school. Please work with the office staff to get transportation set up. Parents and students are also responsible for reading and knowing the school bus rules. If bus rules are not followed, the bus driver reserves the right to remove bus privileges, and disciplinary action may follow.
School Apparel
Shop for apparel at the school store!
