About NELA 

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Northpoint Expeditionary Learning Academy presents a full spectrum of high school courses through challenging hands-on projects known as learning expeditions. Students engage in intensive studies utilizing a compelling topic or theme, such as water quality, the civil rights movement or the industrial revolution. Teachers collaborate to design learning expeditions that align with Arizona Standards, emphasizing high achievement through active learning, character growth and teamwork.

This innovative and research-based approach to teaching and learning has been shown to motivate students to learn more in depth, work harder and accomplish more than they thought they could do.

What is Expeditionary Learning?
Good question! Expeditionary learning involves rigorous academic work centered on compelling topics that are both interesting and relevant to high school students. At different times, subjects are taught together; for example, math and science might focus on a common topic and work together. Teachers help set up fieldwork experiences, taking students off campus to gain rich knowledge that can be applied to the learning expedition. Not only do teachers work together to create a culture of teamwork, but students are fully immersed into the concept of Crew - meaning that none of us are passengers - building community is of the highest priority!

What is the difference between a theme and an expedition?

The success of Northpoint Expeditionary Learning Academy (NELA) is easily seen, heard, and felt. After graduating its first group of seniors in May of 2010 and 100% college acceptance rate, the Prescott, AZ school has developed a reputation of solid academics that infuses engaging
learning where students are gaining knowledge both within and beyond the classroom walls. Students are performing and parents are very satisfied as evidenced within recent surveys where 96% of parents give the school an “A” or “B” rating.

To hear more from what students say about their Northpoint experience check out:

http://www.northpointacademy.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=67&Itemid=48

Now in it’s fifth year of existence, NELA has transitioned from a high school within the Prescott Unified School District to an independent charter school; a move that will allow more flexibility and autonomy. NELA families have accepted this transition with excitement evidenced by the highest enrollment at the school in five years. Because of the high quality charter application and the NCA accreditation the school has already received, NELA was awarded the highest federal start-up grant possible for new charter schools, now given through the state of Arizona---
over $690,000.

This grant, along with strong local support, will help Northpoint continue to offer its established high quality programming. This includes laptops for every student and a week-long wilderness experience which helps kick-off the school year and establish the strong culture that supports
academic rigor within a safe and nurturing environment. There are many areas to highlight where NELA shines as a model example of both an
Expeditionary Learning high school and a high school of the future. One example would be the high quality digital portfolios that all Northpoint students construct. Using their laptops, students store evidence of academic achievement and growth and then share their portfolios with a panel
of community members at the end of their 10th and 12th grade school years. Students must present their portfolio with excellence in order to move on to the next grade or graduate. Also, students at NELA get to participate in Intensives (held at the end of each semester), which are two-week classes that focus on an “elective” subject area. Students are traveling all over the state, the country and abroad bringing their learning back to the Prescott Community. In the last four years, NELA teachers have taken students to South Africa, Mexico, Germany, and Cambodia. To learn more about Northpoint’s intensives check out:

http://www.northpointacademy.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=22&Itemid=18

Besides the culture building, quality work, and phenomenal experiences NELA students are having, they are also scoring very well on a variety of academic measures. In 2009-10 the Northpoint seniors scored 12% higher on the ACT (college readiness test) than the national average. On statewide tests, the Arizona Instrument to Measure Standards, NELA had 90% of their students scoring in the “Meets” or “Exceeds” level for Language Arts—significantly better than district and state counterparts.

NELA has become an exemplary school within the EL network, implementing the EL model with fidelity proving that academic achievement and character development can and should be a part of the high school experience.

Student Quotes:

"I would have never been able to survive at a traditional high school. If Northpoint was not here, I do not know where I would be."

"Hands on learning means being able to get an in depth experience of what you are learning by going out into the field, instead of sitting in a classroom."

"Sunlight or fluorescent light?"