School Profile (2011-2012)

NorthStar Academy (NSA) is a private, online, Christian school that offers students in grades 5-12 a complete academic and diploma-granting program.

CEEB SCHOOL CODE

252-825

VISION STATEMENT

Our vision is to create an interactive community of online learners.  We serve schools (Christian and secular alike) and home-based learners in a flexible, practical, and personal format.  Through the internet, the instruction comes to the student wherever he or she may live. We envision an online school that:

• enables students to remain with their families in overseas locations

• supplements schools by supplying courses and instruction in particular subject areas, thus filling in the “gap” left by a shortage of teachers or students

• supports those in transition and or relocation situations

• supports those who are off schedule and need to make up a course

• offers a 21st century venue that will prepare students for educational forums they will face in the future

• supports the home-based learner

Our ultimate vision is to equip and train students to be salt and light to their neighbors and to the world.

ONLINE COMMUNITY UNIQUENESS

The majority of students at NSA are USA citizens living with their parents both inside and outside of the United States, and the majority of these students are “TCKs” (Third Culture Kids). Foreign national students, who live outside of their passport country, comprise about 2% of the student body at NSA.  NSA serves students who are logging into NSA from over 75 different countries.  The “typical” NSA student does NOT have a home-schooling background but does have a traditional day-school background, and this “typical” NSA student has chosen to attend NSA because they prefer other options beyond boarding school, expensive international schools, or relocation.

SCHOOL PERFORMANCE

Growth (from 1998-2012):  NSA began offering classes from grade 7-11 in the fall of 1998 with 32 students, of whom 20 were full-time.  NSA has since grown to offering more than 140 core and elective classes, as well as more than a dozen Advance Placement © courses to nearly 725 students in grades 5-12.  Dual credit college courses began in Spring 2011.

Class Choices:  NSA offers a complete academic and diploma-granting program that, for the 2011-2012 school year, consists of more than 125 classes, representing both core and elective classes.  NSA students can choose from an array of classes ranging from Algebra 1 to Greek Mythology, and NSA offers more than a dozen Advanced Placement © classes.

Diploma Options:  NSA students may choose to earn a Standard or Advanced Diploma, and within the Advanced Diploma option, students may choose to specialize in any one, or combination, of the following categories of studies:  Business, Christian Foundations, Computer Science, History, and Science.

Advanced Class Options:  NSA offers Advanced Placement (AP)© classes for Computer Science, Calculus, Biology, Chemistry, World History, US History, European History, Micro Economics, Statistics, Literature and many more.

ACCREDITATION

NSA is accredited by Southern Association of Colleges & Schools (SACS) and is a member school of Network of International Christian Schools (NICS) and the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI).

KEY INDICATORS

The teaching staff at NSA has identified the following four key result areas (KRAs) on which we focus our continuous school improvement efforts:

1. Communication with Students and Parents
2. Continuous Improvement of Online Instruction
3. Continuous Professional Development of Teachers
4. Community Building Among Student Body, Parents, and Staff

STUDENT PERFORMANCE

Completion rates: NSA has experienced student completion rates ranging from 72%-100%, depending on the school year and class examined. 

Completion rates of print-based correspondence distance education programs:  40%-41%

Student Awards: NSA students have earned the National Merit Scholarship and other significant financial scholarships while also earning placement in the Who’s Who Among American High School Students and placement in the National Honor Roll and Society.

Average SAT scores:  NSA students have earned, on average, the following scores on the SAT test:

Verbal: 636; Math: 615; Total: 1251

Average ACT score:  27

Post Secondary Choices of Students: 75% of the students go on to 4-year universities while 7% go on to 2-year colleges. 13% are undecided, and 5% choose “other” options (e.g., military, vocational schools, etc.).

College/University Admissions:  Higher education institutions that have accepted NSA graduates, include, but are not limited to, the following: