Located in a beautiful mountain town in Costa Rica, New Summit Academy is an independent, year-round, supportive boarding school and study abroad experience for adolescent males (ages 14-18) who are in grades 9-12. Integrating college prep classes with cultural immersion, service projects, adventure trips and travel, New Summit offers an excellent environment for academic and social-emotional growth. An intentionally small learning community, New Summit works with up to 26 high school students who enroll for a minimum of 6 months. New Summit Academy students are bright, creative, and capable but may struggle with anxiety or depression, executive functioning, attention, self-confidence, identity or difficult social or family dynamics. Within this supportive boarding school, students build positive coping skills for their anxiety, adopt healthier lifestyles for their mood, and develop strategies to support their learning and executive functioning needs.

Our academic program goes beyond traditional college preparation. With small class sizes and individualized supportive advising teams, we believe in nurturing well-rounded individuals equipped with the competence and confidence to thrive in an ever-evolving world. Our balanced schedule and 21st century curriculum is designed to engage students in rigorous studies while also cultivating a diverse set of perspectives and experiences that set graduates apart from their peers. Academic skill development is incorporated into each class, with larger projects broken down into smaller steps, hard skills integrated into lessons, and social skills gently guided by teacher and peer feedback.
Executive functioning skill development is facilitated by an advising team that works closely with each of our students to set quarterly goals and outline concrete, measurable actions to reach those goals. Students build and solidify techniques to initiate and monitor their work, to stay organized, to manage time and prioritize, to be resilient in the face of challenge, and to advocate for themselves when support or differentiation is needed.

Our location in Costa Rica is no accident. Costa Rica is an experiential learner’s paradise. Because of the country’s strong environmental and educational values as well as its unparalleled natural resources, opportunities for experiential learning are limitless. From lowland jungles to cool mountain cloud forest, Costa Rica’s diverse landscapes and rich biodiversity create the perfect backdrop for experiential education.
Our Aventura program sends students to national parks, wildlife reserves, indigenous communities and many other fascinating places that encourage personal growth and learning. Each year, students immerse in the rich culture of an international destination like Panama or Peru. Students also become Wilderness First Aid certified and SCUBA certified so they can safely continue these pursuits after New Summit Academy.
Our student-led clubs manage their own budgets and coordinate long weekends for surfing, scuba diving, cooking, film and more. Each week, our peer-elected student council meets with school directors to discuss community affairs, advocate on behalf of their classmates and plan for weekend recreation. Thanks to a variety of nearby options, students can join specialized fitness classes or form sports teams like basketball and soccer to compete in tournaments and games in the community and at nearby schools.
New Summit Academy students are artists, photographers, filmmakers, linguists, philosophers, athletes and musicians. Our creative students engage in Arts and Elective classes and clubs and, in doing so, make use of our acoustically-designed music studio, recording and mixing room, our documentary film editing suite, culinary arts facilities, athletics and fitness offerings, and other interest-oriented activities.