School Profile (2008-2009)

NorthStar Academy (NSA) is a private, online, and Christian school which offers students in grades 7-12 a complete academic and diploma-granting program.

CEEB SCHOOL CODE

060-328

VISION STATEMENT

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

• enables students to remain with their families in overseas locations
• supplements Christian schools by supplying courses and instruction in particular subject areas, thus filling in the "gap" left by a shortage of teachers or students
• 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 vast majority of students at NSA are USA citizens who are living with their parents outside of the United States of America, and the vast majority of these students are “TCK's” (Third Culture Kids). Foreign national students, who live outside of their passport country, comprise only 2% of the student body at NSA. NSA serves over 615 students who are logging into NSA from over 40 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 he/she and his/her parents do not support the options of boarding school, expensive international schools, and relocation.

SCHOOL PERFORMANCE

Growth (from 1998-2008): 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 then grown to offering more than 80 core and elective classes to over 615 students in grades 7-12 during the past 2007-2008 school year.

Class Choices: NSA offers a complete academic and diploma-granting program which, for the 2008-2009 school year, consists of more than 90 classes which represent both core and elective classes. NSA students can choose from an array of classes ranging from Algebra 1 to Greek Mythology, and NSA offers 8 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: Biblical Studies, Business, Computer Science, History and Science.

ACCREDITATION

NSA is accredited by the Commission on International and Trans-regional Accreditation (CITA) and by North Central Assocation (NCA-CASI).

KEY INDICATORS

The teaching staff at NSA has identified the following 4 Key Result Areas (KRA’s) 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 ed. 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.

Average SAT scores: NSA students have earned, on average, the following scores on the SAT 1 test: Verbal: 636; Math: 615; Total: 1251

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