New Vista High School

700 20th Street

School District

Boulder Valley Re 2
Grade

9-12
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:16
Type

public

School Map for Boulder Valley Re 2 School District

GreatSchools Rating

The school rating calculation is based on four ratings: the Student Progress Rating or Academic Progress Rating, College Readiness Rating, Equity Rating, and Test Score Rating each designed to show different facets of school success. Learn more about GreatSchools Ratings

Reviews

Submitted by parent on November 29, 2021

Great academic program coupled with innovative immersive style. Fewer classes per quarter lets teachers and students focus and go deeper. Minimum passing grade of B for core curriculum sets high standards.
Submitted by student on May 14, 2021

as a student i can say that this school hides ugly with beauty. The teachers never respond to my emails or comments. They don't teach all they do is hand out worksheets and say have a good day. How am i supposed to learn? My grades take months to update. When i turn in stuff that i have redone to try to get a better grade it takes weeks for the teacher to respond and by that time i have already failed the class. This school needs to either start getting on to the teachers for not doing their job or get new ones.
Submitted by student on November 03, 2018

So great!! I really can't adequately express how grateful I am to NV. I just wouldn't have the opportunity to succeed on the same level elsewhere. At New Vista, I was given the chance to become a leader on so many occasions, and I always took it. I loved the quarter system and the close relationships with staff. I actually want to teach at NV someday, that's how wonderful it was. Please don't believe the false stereotypes, students here are so engaged and so smart and so hardworking.
Submitted by parent on October 22, 2016

My daughter attended New Vista for 11th and 12th grades. My son is a freshman there. I have nothing but high praise for New Vista, its teachers and curriculum. Contrary to popular (uninformed) beliefs about New Vista, students ARE well prepared for college. Students ARE encouraged to take classes and engage in activities at other schools when they are not offered by New Vista, and the school helps that happen. New Vista is NOT any more drug/alcohol prone than any other high school. New Vista has a strong Equity program that encourages thought provoking engagement and RESPECT among students and teachers. Additional benefits of New Vista are the inclusion of all grade levels in each class, an advisory program where the student is closely mentored by one teacher for four years, motivated teachers allowed to teach their passion which makes for more interesting course electives. New Vista isn't for every student, but when it is the right fit, amazing results ensue.
Submitted by student on September 14, 2016

Some parents report that this is an improvised school, missing subjects etc. 1,Adults here do model AND encourage respect, cell phones and profanity are NOT free in the classroom, the toilets are not disgusting, and work fine (I honestly don't think toilets need to be replaced unless damaged in a way that gets in the way of the use), since when are "smartboards" required for good learning. Personally, a whiteboard and projector are PERFECTLY fine for learning (we also don't have to deal with the constant freezing of the screen, and CONSTANT restarts and shutdowns of the smartboards), there is a great art program, there is more than just Spanish for a language. I am taking American Sign Language, they offer you to study abroad for a foreign language, and I will be going to CU to take Japanese. There is the grade standard math classes, I am taking a physics course, there have been absolutely NO leaks so far when it rains, the heaters work fine (we had to turn it down last week due to the building getting too warm),
Submitted by parent on January 25, 2015

Though this is a safe school for kids needing a smaller more nurturing environment, New Vista is neglected, unsupported, and maligned by BVSD. The principal is too young and inexperienced to lead. He seeks approval and popularity from the students. Adults here do not model, expect, or encourage respect. Everyone is addressed by 1st names. Profanity and cell phones are used freely in the classrooms. The building is run down physically to a surprising degree. There are no locker rooms (used for storage, contain filthy broken toilets that don't work), no athletics (just ultimate frisbee), no smart boards, a feeble arts program, only Spanish for language, marginal math and science courses (no calculus; no physics one year when BVSD cut funding for it), and no music program. Roof leaks and mildew abound. The heating system is antiquated - our student reports classrooms in the 40s on frigid days. This is an impoverished school with anemic parent presence. New Vista's supposed crown jewel - the science program linking to CU Boulder labs - lacks leadership and is disorganized. Good points: Diverse language arts courses; room for independent exploration, for the self-directed.
Submitted by parent on January 11, 2015

New Vista has been the most positive experience in my son's academic life over the past decade. He was forced by family circumstances to move several times and change schools frequently. New Vista is his all time favorite in so many ways. The school is a vibrant, creative and caring community. The curriculum is meaningful and he is self motivated to study and learn. Both students and teachers treat everyone with respect. In this age of bullyism accepting others for who they are is a genuinely significant positive. It feels so wonderful to ask Kevin "How was school today?" when he walks in the door and each day hear some version of this response: "Great!" with a happy grin. Hooray for New Vista!
Submitted by parent on January 07, 2015

New Vista HS is a great place for independent thinkers. If you want the standard package, look elsewhere. It was our first choice school, not last resort, due to the block schedule (bigger chunks of time to get into a subject); a variety of teaching methods (not all read this book/write this paper/take this test -- altho there is some of that); allowances & accommodations for independent study; and more accountability/responsibility thrust upon the students. If you want 8 subjects a day, plus full athletics/extracurriculars, there are other options in town. My student is "2e" -- twice exceptional -- with some gifted bits and some learning difficulties at the same time. The administration does not support talking about gifted kids (I don't know if the elitist association is too much of a turn off), but my student has been extremely well served by this school. He'll also likely be taking classes at CU across the street as a high school junior next year. We'd choose it again in a heart beat, as it is preparing him very well for college & for life.
Submitted by parent on July 04, 2014

Our daughter will be entering her senior year at New Vista in the Fall and has been at the school since 10th grade. The school's block system that allows students to dive deep into a smaller number of subjects each quarter is a perfect fit for her learning style. Classes are small enough to allow all students to participate and form solid relationships with each other and with the teachers. We are so glad that we chose New Vista when we were considering other public high school options in the Boulder area.
Submitted by parent on July 04, 2014

I disagree with the parent who said that New Vista students are not prepared properly for college. My child works every night and weekend on homework assignments and enjoys the time spent because the assignments are mostly challenging. There were also exams in most classes though not all. However, it is true that the focus is not on testing but on critical thinking and student-driven projects. These projects do an excellent job of preparing students for college and beyond because they require them to do independent research, manage their own schedules, choose how they want to communicate their ideas, and work in teams. At the end of each quarter, students are invited to present their work to an audience. Students are responsible for planning their own academic schedules with the support of an advisor who's with them all four years. New Vista is not for everyone because of the level of responsibility placed on the students, but for motivated students who enjoy or need an alternative, small school setting, it's a great option,
Submitted by parent on May 12, 2014

As a parent of a 4 year New Vista student, I cannot in good conscious recommend this school. Despite what a student review said below, this school does NOT prepare your kid for college or the real world. There is minimal testing and even less homework. Time management is not a skill learned at this school, nor is accountability - you don't get your homework done on time, that's ok, you can have an extension. The only reason that my daughter is prepared to go off to college is because we made her take classes at CU concurrently, so she would learn good study habits and get a sense of what kind of homework she can expect next year. With less than 80% of the senior class making it to graduation this year, I think that NVHS has to make some tough choices about their curriculum and the way that they teach.
Submitted by student on May 19, 2013

New Vista was the perfect place for me. Community engagement, real-life applications, mutual trust, and social justice are just a few of the pros of going to NVHS. It is NOT A LAST RESORT SCHOOL. It is a place where students of all backgrounds, orientations, and beliefs are welcome. It is a place where all students can be challenged, regardless of academic achievement. It is a place where all students are respected--and expected to give respect in return. There is a very real community of engagement at New Vista. Apathy is present, to an extent; all schools have burnouts. But New Vista students strive for excellence in so many areas. What's unique is that New Vista actually SUPPORTS them in those endeavors. Every student is cared for, challenged, supported, and educated. I firmly believe there is no better high school in the BVSD school district.