General Information about the School

The Nueva School is a private school for gifted children, located in California. It was founded in 1967 in Hillsborough, and later expanded, opening another campus in San Mateo. The school accepts students from preschool to 12th grade.

Philosophy and mission

The main principle of The Nueva School is to create an environment where talented children can realize their potential intellectually, creatively and emotionally. The focus here is not only on academic achievement, but also on the development of critical thinking, creativity, social responsibility and emotional intelligence.

What makes the school unique:

• Educational approach: the basis of learning is design thinking - a method that helps students solve complex problems, experiment and work on their own projects.
• Flexible curriculum: students can explore the subjects they are interested in more deeply, participate in individual and group research.
• Small classes: attention to each student and an individual approach to learning.
• Development of emotional intelligence: children are taught to work in a team, understand emotions and develop empathy.

Campuses and infrastructure

• Hillsborough (Lower & Middle School) — junior and middle classes are taught here. The campus is surrounded by nature, it creates conditions for learning through play and research.
• San Mateo (Upper School) — a campus for high school students with modern laboratories, a library, art studios and areas for project work.

Thanks to its unique approach to learning, The Nueva School is considered one of the best private schools for gifted children in the United States and provides its graduates with a solid academic foundation for admission to leading universities.

Educational Programs and Approach to Learning

The Nueva School offers students the opportunity to explore subjects in greater depth, adapting the program to their level of knowledge, interests and abilities. There is no traditional system with rigid frameworks — students can work on their own projects, explore topics that really fascinate them, and apply their knowledge in practice.

Basic Educational Principles

• Design thinking. A key learning method that helps children develop creativity, find non-standard solutions and work on real problems. This approach is widely used in engineering, science, business and art.
• Interdisciplinary approach. Subjects are not studied separately, but are interconnected. For example, mathematics lessons may include elements of programming, and literature may be intertwined with history and philosophy.
• Development of emotional intelligence. At The Nueva School, children are taught to understand their emotions, interact with others and work in a team. This makes them not only successful students, but also confident people.
• Project work. Instead of standard tests and memorizing information, students create research projects, conduct experiments and participate in group initiatives.

Main Academic Areas

• Humanities — English language and literature, history, philosophy, social studies. The emphasis is on text analysis, argumentation and critical thinking.
• Science and technology — biology, chemistry, physics, computer science, robotics. Students work in modern laboratories, develop their own projects and participate in international competitions.
• Mathematics — in-depth study with the opportunity to get ahead of the school curriculum. For strong students, additional courses are offered, close to the university level.
• Art and music — painting, graphic design, theater, cinema, instrumental music. Students create art projects and participate in productions.
• Languages — in addition to English, the school teaches Spanish, French and Chinese.

University Preparation

High school students take courses close to the university level, participate in research and internships. The school also has a College Counseling program, where experts help you choose a university, prepare documents and write motivation letters.

In general, The Nueva School offers a unique education system that gives students not only solid academic knowledge, but also the skills necessary for success in the future.

Extracurricular Life and Opportunities for Students

The Nueva School strives to create an environment for students where they can not only gain knowledge, but also develop their talents, interests and social skills. Extracurricular activities play an important role in the formation of a personality, so the school offers a wide range of activities, clubs and programs that contribute to comprehensive development.

Clubs and Student Communities

Students can participate in various clubs where they do their favorite things, make friends and realize their ideas. Many clubs are organized by the students themselves, which means that everyone can offer their own initiative.

Popular clubs at The Nueva School:

• Science Club — research projects, participation in competitions and Olympiads in biology, chemistry and physics.
• Robotics and programming — working with technologies, creating your own robots and developing applications.
• Model UN — discussion of global issues and participation in international conferences.
• Debates — development of argumentation and public speaking skills.
• Theater Studio — staging performances, stage speech and acting skills.
• Photography and filmmaking — creating short films, photo stories and documentary projects.
• Journalism — writing articles and publishing a school newspaper.

Sports and Physical Activity

The school has a sports program aimed at developing discipline, endurance and team spirit. Students can participate in both traditional and less common sports.

Available sports:

• Basketball.
• Football.
• Athletics.
• Swimming.
• Fencing.
• Yoga and meditation.

In addition to competitions within the school, students take part in inter-school tournaments and sports camps.

International Programs and Trips

The Nueva School is actively developing international cooperation, allowing students to get acquainted with the cultures of other countries and expand their horizons.

• Educational tours — trips to Europe, Asia and South America with an emphasis on history, science and art.
• Exchange programs — the opportunity to study temporarily in foreign partner schools.
• Internships and scientific projects — participation in research programs in conjunction with universities and technology companies.

Preparing for the Future: Mentoring and Career

High school students can participate in professional mentoring programs. They work with experts from various fields, undergo internships and get an idea of their future career.

Support formats:

• Meetings with representatives of business, science and art.
• Master classes from school graduates who have entered leading universities.
• Preparation for admission to universities with individual consultations.

Extracurricular life at The Nueva School is as rich as academic life. Here, students get the opportunity to try themselves in different areas, discover talents and find like-minded people. This approach helps not only in studies, but also in the formation of personality, preparation for adulthood and future career.

Admission to The Nueva School

Getting into The Nueva School is not easy — the school carefully selects students, focusing on their abilities and potential. The main attention is paid to academic achievements, creativity and personal qualities, since the educational institution was created for gifted children who are ready for a non-standard approach to learning.

Who Can Enroll

The school accepts students at different levels of education:

• Lower School (kindergarten — 4th grade).
• Middle School (5–8 grades).
• Upper School (9–12 grades).

Admission is possible at any stage, but the competition is especially high for younger classes. A limited number of students are enrolled in high school, as most continue their education at the school after Middle School.

Application Process

• Filling out the application form — submitted through the school's online system, includes information about the child, academic achievements and interests.
• Testing and portfolio — younger students undergo diagnostics of cognitive abilities, and older students provide the results of standard tests (ISEE, SSAT) and examples of work.
• Interview — held with the candidate and his parents, it is important to show motivation, creative thinking and readiness to study in an environment of gifted children.
• Teacher recommendations — mandatory for applicants to middle and high school.
• Visiting the school — it is desirable for the candidate to visit the campus and participate in trial classes.

The admissions committee evaluates not only academic training, but also the child's ability to think outside the box, work in a team and show initiative.

What documents are needed

• Applicant's questionnaire.
• Report card for the last two years.
• Teacher recommendations.
• Test results (for Middle and Upper School).
• Personal essay or creative task (upon request).

The deadlines for submitting documents depend on the level of education, but most often applications are accepted in the fall, and decisions on enrollment are published in the spring.

How American Butler can help

The process of admission to The Nueva School requires serious preparation, and every stage is important here — from submitting an application to an interview. American Butler takes care of organizational issues so that your family can focus on the main thing — choosing the best school for your child.

What we do:

• We organize a visit to the school at a convenient time for you.
• We take care of the transfer and meeting.
• We conduct an individual tour of the campus.
• We help to prepare and submit documents.
• We select tutors to prepare for tests.

Leave a request, and we will help you at every stage — from organizing a visit to the school to full support of the admission process, including preparing the child and solving everyday issues.