Benjamin Franklin said, “An investment in education always pays the best interest.” We at New Vistas know this is true. So, how do you, as a caring, motivated parent, identify the school best prepared to meet the goals you have for your child? How can comparisons be made among the many school choices available? What makes New Vistas different from a public school, a ‘traditional’ public school, a charter school, gifted classes and other private schools and academies? We are very proud to share with you who we are, and precisely what we do at New Vistas that makes our school unique and exceptional in a field full of academic choice.

·        Structure and Assessment:

o       All new students are tested upon entering school and, in addition to ongoing classroom assessment, all students are formally tested in reading and math twice yearly using standardized measures. Test levels are administered to students based on previous spring test scores. (Over 90% of our students take tests designated for levels higher than their grade levels.)

o       In the fall, the results of these tests are used to determine the specific concepts and skills to be taught to each student and to identify groupings for instruction.

o       In spring, all students K–6 are again tested to assess their growth from the previous spring. These scores are shared with students’ parents.

·        Grouping for instruction:

o       Within each classroom, children are grouped to insure that instruction will target their needs directly. Students make maximum progress academically as there is no ‘ceiling’ for instruction at any level.

o       Groups are monitored and evaluated for appropriate placement of each child throughout the school year. (Many students work at grade levels several years ahead of their own.)

o       Within these groups, teachers use the proven strategy of direct instruction

·        Unique Supportive Programs:

o       Early Reading: Beginning in preschool, children are taught readiness skills, monitored for mastery, and begin a formal reading program when each child is ready, whether two, three or four years of age.

o       Children are challenged to excel in core curriculum areas. Students have intense phonetic instruction while reading literary classics, and advance mathematically at an accelerated pace.

o       Individual Home Reading Programs: All children preschool-6^th grade meet individually three times weekly with a reading program teacher who directs, monitors and plans a home reading program uniquely suited to their abilities.

Additional programs including science, social studies, computers, Spanish, music and P.E. along with our staff of nearly 100 (student to staff ratio 4:1), add to the integrity of the educational program we are proud to offer at New Vistas.

We invite you to talk with us if we can assist you in any way. We too are here by choice!