Nova Classical Academy

1455 Victoria Way

School District

Nova Classical Academy
Grade

K-5
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:16
Type

charter

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 March 05, 2024

Excellent and thoughtful curriculum with exceptional and caring teachers.
Submitted by parent on January 06, 2023

My experience with Nova could not be more positive. My only child is a kindergartner there and he absolutely loves it. He had anxiety about school but Nova has helped him through it, including on his bus ride.
Submitted by parent on January 13, 2020

My daughter transferred away from Nova a few years ago for various reasons and now regrets it because, and I quote " I have learned NOTHING in two years in this (new) school "
Submitted by other on June 07, 2017

As a former student of Nova I have read through last year's news on their actions (or lack thereof) regarding a kindergartner who was being bullied. I felt pushed to give my own experience regarding bullying, because from what I have seen and heard from students still in Nova, nothing has changed.Perhaps when kids are still innocent teaching virtues really does dissuade bullying among peers, I was a student there in elementary school, but my experience is so far beyond current curriculum that I can't say the fact that it made no difference in my attitude stands true today.Kids aren't magically kinder or more open at Nova, from first to tenth grade I didn't really have a lot of friends and that had quite a bit to do with the culture of the school. There is certainly a "holier-than-thou" attitude rampant with both students and staff. Frequently teachers will remark on the supposed stupidity of public school children and the students at Nova learn from this. The foundation of upper school culture is feeling superior by putting the rest of public school students down.I vividly remember when my locker was vandalized with rude messages and my study guides were purposefully destroyed I tried to get help. The response I received was some paraphrase of "What do you want me to do about it? It's almost the end of the school year anyways." Bullying is not erased at the end of the year. I was bullied for five years at Nova. Nobody did anything to really try and help me. Teachers overheard students making fun of me for crying over my distress and did nothing.There is also stigma around neuroatypical and neurodivergent people at this school. I still struggle with clinical depression and it certainly didn't help that in class a teacher instigated a conversation about how depressed people were "annoying". Teachers at my current high school and Nova both were very unwilling to work with 504 plans, let alone an IEP. At Nova it was much worse than my public high school, so if you are considering Nova Classical Academy for a middle or particularly a high school student, keep this in mind.I would otherwise recommend Nova for most elementary and some middle school students. The foundation of this education can enable your child to take AP classes or do PSEO much more successfully. However, if your student is miserable, it's not worth it.
Submitted by parent on November 17, 2016

My kids are very excited to go to school , they are so happy to share all the things they learn. NOVA!!!
Submitted by parent on November 10, 2016

Our family came to Nova from a different district that was highly regarded and doing well. It was overcrowded, understaffed, and most of the attention went to kids who were struggling. We have been at Nova 4 years. We are very happy. The staff is engaged and challenging. In addition, the expectation around behavior in and out of class is great. Kids are asked to think about their character. Are they fair, kind, and patient? These are life skills.Yes, they have homework every night. Yes, they are still able to have athletics and extracurriculars during the week. These kids are taught how to manage their time.The content of the curriculum is fantastic! My 2nd grader is covering Alice In Wonderland and The Canterbury Tales. I think a lot of people who take the time to review are disgruntled. Nova is certainly imperfect. But, in comparison to what we have experienced, Nova is far better.
Submitted by other on October 06, 2016

We are new to NOVA and optimistic about the school despite of the past issues we read/heard in the media.
Submitted by parent on September 03, 2016

As a parent of three NOVA students for over 10 years, I caution parents considering sending their children to NOVA. Many positive reviews state much of what was true from the start of NOVA until about 2013. A large problem is that NOVA built a new school facility. Because of increased operating costs NOVA was forced to increase the number of students entering NOVA & to accept lateral transfers in the upper school. High performing classical schools (Eagle Ridge, Colorado Springs) do not accept lateral transfers due to the difficulty of getting those students to do well in classes such as Latin. There is a small but growing group of liberal parents among these newer families who seek out NOVA only because of our high test scores. These parents are not interested in classical education but are well versed in catch phrases. The high test scores are the direct result of parent involvement & the parents being the primary educators. The board of directors in 15'-16' removed direct parent involvement in selecting curriculum materials and placed this power in the hands of a few board members who are social justice warriors. Several families that were at NOVA from the start have now left or preparing to leave at great emotional and financial cost. NOVA has replaced their original reading program for a less rigorous one, removed Singapore Math from the upper school, and removed the instruction of logic from the school of logic (6-8 grade). Logical? The dumbing down of NOVA has begun. Like most ordinary public schools, the values of parents take a back seat to organized movements advocating social change by targeting our youth.
Submitted by parent on September 02, 2016

I have a student who has been at Nova since the early years, and now is in the high school. I regret that my child made the decision to stay for high school, as there are excellent regular public high school options with more vibrant communities and evolved approaches to educating adolescents. My child is a very good student, works hard, is involved in extracurriculars, and has had, on paper, a successful experience. The culture of the school, however, is smug and focused only on achievement. Not love of learning, not exploring new ideas, not creativity. Achievement is god at Nova. The motto "we learn not for school but for life" is a joke. Any student will tell you it's all about test scores. My kid feels, with a couple exceptions, teachers don't really care about the students as people at all. There is very little effort made to connect. Lots of people who appear to have gone into teaching because they like to hear themselves talk. It's very cold.The school sets out a very strict code of conduct for students, from dress code to attendance. Detention can be given in the upper grades when a student has three infractions, for things as minor as forgetting a pencil or being in class but not in your seat when the bell rings. At the same time, high school students are doing college-level work. It's no surprise that one quarter of this year's senior class is doing PSEO. Nova has a great reputation, and in many ways is doing a good job in the early grades, but when looking at its great test scores in the high school, don't forget to ask about attrition. Many students leave along the way and before middle or high school, because the school caters only to the most gifted students.
Submitted by parent on April 23, 2016

As a former parent, I have watched important decisions regarding children's safety at Nova be left to parent mob rule instead of letting qualified professionals keep kids safe. The school does not empower their administrators and teachers to take action when needed. A quick google news search will tell you whether this is somewhere you feel comfortable sending your children.
Submitted by parent on February 24, 2016

Nova has shown great results through adherence to a Classical model supported with development aimed to produce independent thinking, sound judgment and values. Naturally, some parents have confused/conflated this with religious principles, but most continue to respect the administration and staff and their adherence to state law.
Submitted by parent on February 24, 2016

It's regrettable that a small group of families have taken to attacking a school they claim to have a long standing, positive relationship with over one issue. We have also been at Nova for quite some time and have been so pleased with our experiences at the school, despite the recent conflict. While imperfect, Nova remains overwhelmingly collegial, wonderfully inspired, and a brilliant model of the Classical tradition in a public, secular environment.
Submitted by parent on February 22, 2016

Nova is a charter school that offers a rigorous curriculum. It is highly demanding, and pulls students up to a higher level. Like all newer schools there have growing pains as students and parents offer input and the school meets the changing needs of a larger school. This year the school board has had to adapt yet again to follow the law in regard to a new kindergartener. This school appeals equally to very conservative and very liberal parents which means that occasionally there is disagreement about what type of changes should be made. As a moderate conservative, I feel that the school has done a good job of following the secular laws it is required to adhere to. This school is an excellent choice for a student that needs to be challenged!
Submitted by parent on February 22, 2016

I also enjoy watching my kids read and learn from the great authors and thinkers of history. From the journals of Christopher Columbus to the writings of philosopher Cicero. There is not a better school out there. Don't take my word for it, schedule a visit at Nova and see for yourself.
Submitted by parent on February 22, 2016

I have a child in both the lower and upper school. The lower school teachers are fabulous. The classrooms are for learning but they allow for fun and stretching. They have been very flexible with my son who has extra needs. My older son has loved the transition to the upper school and the homework he has is very manageable. In addition, the new administration has worked very hard to make sure Nova is an accepting school for all.
Submitted by parent on February 22, 2016

Nova has consistently had a reputation for providing a rigorous academic experience. I want to offer a counter-balance to the slew of warnings regarding the future of the school. The recent changes made by the new administration (for example, addressing parent concerns about homework load and work-life balance; revamping the honors program to create separate honors courses instead of extra work for honors students in normal classes; and the expansion of AP curricular offerings) were all made in response to parent input. While we currently seem to be experiencing some very visible disagreement from a relatively small portion of our community, the school is in fact quickly moving toward improving many things about the curriculum and student life that were negatives rather than positives about the school. No school is perfect. Academically, Nova is without question the best free school option in the Twin Cities. As a public charter school, we are working very hard to be inclusive and welcoming to all. I would encourage anyone who is interested in a rich and thoughtful educational experience to learn more about what it means to have a classical curriculum in a secular and diverse setting.
Submitted by parent on February 22, 2016

My children have been at Nova for five years now, and I have seen the elementary, middle, and high schools up close as they have gone through each program.Nova is an outstanding school at every level but it's the high school where I feel my children are particularly fortunate -- Nova offers for free the sort of education that people pay tens of thousands of dollars per year to get for their children. From grade school through high school, they read challenging, interesting books (Seamus Heaney's "Beowulf" in 6th grade, which the kids read with support and encouragement; "Dr. Faustus" in 10th grade). The history classes use primary sources even in middle school. At every level, Nova students are taught to write coherently, think logically, argue persuasively, and speak eloquently.The teachers are outstanding; the administration fosters a real connection to the parents and students; the community is supportive.
Submitted by parent on February 22, 2016

As a parent with two children at Nova, we have been awed at the depth and breadth of the education they receive there. They come home eager to talk about what they've learned and are constantly singing the songs that help them remember history, grammar, and geography. The teachers love teaching and are attentive to student needs, both academically and socially. Nova's administration and board have modeled the classical virtues of prudence, temperance, fortitude, and justice as they have worked to implement anti-bullying and gender-inclusion policies in the face of vocal opponents who do not seem to understand that Nova is a public school that does not operate under parental controls. We feel very lucky to have our kids at Nova and appreciate the staff and administration at all levels.
Submitted by parent on February 22, 2016

Our family is incredibly happy at Nova and feel it is a wonderful, supportive, and accepting school. We are happy that all children are welcome at Nova and that the administration is committed to following the law, supporting all children, and keeping everyone safe. To be clear, the administration and board have not created the divide within Nova. They have consistently listened to all sides, almost to a fault. They have had innumerable meetings, answered tons of emails from families, and made sure that everyone was a part of this process. They have worked hard to reach consensus and, as a public school, stay compliant with state law. Our family is proud to have our kids at Nova and to have our current administration leading us. And there is the little factor of getting a great education on top of it from committed, knowledgeable teachers. :)
Submitted by other on February 20, 2016

Nova started off as a very good school, and for most of the years that we have been there (12 1/2) we have been pleased with the staff, faculty, and parents. Unfortunately, due to transgender activists at the school, the entire school has become a battleground for social issues, rather than focusing on academics, which are what a school should be all about. There are many things that are obviously starting to fall at the wayside as a result of this upheaval. I do not think the future of Nova looks good academically or financially, and therefore would discourage parents from sending their children to Nova.