Academics

Powerful learning setting students up for success in high school, and beyond.

Educational philosophy

Alzar School develops young leaders through authentic, meaningful experiences. On the academic front, Alzar School’s semesters achieve powerful outcomes by combining the benefits of experiential education, small class sizes (average student teacher ratio of 4:1), and individual feedback for personal growth. Students spend time in designated and active followership and leadership positions, both on campus and in the field, and take on increasing responsibility over the semester. Cultural exchange and outdoor adventure provide experiences that extend our classrooms. These non-traditional settings provide the platform for authentic lessons in problem-solving, resiliency, communication, and more.

“I can say without a doubt that Ellie’s classroom performance and her ability to inspire and uplift other people is largely a direct result of her Alzar experience and the effect it had on her.” –Educator at Davidson Day School, NC

Curriculum

The curriculum of Alzar School is designed for students pursuing a challenging course of study at their sending schools. In our semester program, Alzar School offers a variety of traditional courses to coincide with typical schedules of motivated sophomore and junior students. Students typically take seven classes while at Alzar School: math, science, English, history, Spanish, leadership, and PE.  Core classes are taught at the Honors or AP level.  If a student needs a course that Alzar School does not offer, Independent Study may be a possibility. The Curriculum Guide contains a complete list of courses and descriptions.

An Alzar School education is designed to set students up for continued success in high school and beyond, and data shows that student GPAs increase after a semester at Alzar School. Education is expanded through the unique opportunities presented by international and residential programming. You can learn more about college readiness and how we work with sending schools.

“I expect that Alzar School itself helped in my college applications, but I know that what I had to say about the unparalleled growth, broader perspective, and deeper understanding of life I learned at Alzar School was a true differentiator.”
— Isaac, Fall 2013, Stanford University

Accreditation

Alzar School is accredited by the Northwest Accreditation Commission (NWAC) and
Cognia. Additionally, Alzar School has been approved by The College Board to offer Advanced Placement (AP) courses and administer AP exams and the PSAT.

We are often asked about transcripts, assessments, accommodations, standardized testing, etc. Detailed information about these topics can be found in our Curriculum Guide (see link above).

Academic Accommodations

We are committed to offering students both the challenge and the support they need to learn at high levels. If a student receives academic accommodations at their sending school, families should communicate this information with the Alzar School Director of Studies (studies@alzar.org).  Alzar School will work to uphold and provide academic accommodations as much as feasible given our unique settings, environments, and program.  Further, Alzar School boasts a low teacher to student ratio and small classes, which allow for individualized attention and instruction.