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Newsweek Ranks Norfolk Academy Among Nation's Elite Schools in STEM Education

Nov 21 2019

Norfolk Academy is among the nation's elite schools in STEM education, according to a new report from Newsweek.

Newsweek looked at both public and independent schools from across America in its report released this month. It and STEM.org determined the rankings, considering which offer students the best experience in STEM, while also preparing them for life after graduation.

Norfolk Academy was the lone Hampton Roads-area school on the national top-500 list. Across Virginia, only Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Alexandria and Maggie L. Walker Governor's School in Richmond ranked better; both of those are public magnet schools.

STEM is a focus on science, technology, engineering, and math, subjects Norfolk Academy teaches through an array of distinctive programs. Norfolk Academy offers Engineering, Design, and Innovation classes to Lower School students (grades 1-6), developing their problem-solving skills. Upper School students can apply to be EDI Fellows, who learn hands-on by studying infrastructure problems facing vulnerable populations in Hampton Roads and elsewhere.

In the Upper School, Norfolk Academy offers advanced biology, chemistry, and physics, as well as a range of challenging electives, including advanced anatomy and physiology; advanced inorganic and organic chemistry; and ecosystem dynamics. Nearly all seniors complete a math sequence through calculus.

Norfolk Academy has also won several Best in State awards in TEAMS (Tests of Engineering, Aptitude, Math, and Science), a competition for middle school and high school students in which they apply their knowledge in STEM to global issues. NA also has a robotics team that has been successful in local, regional, and state competitions.

“With high-profile institutions in big urban areas and small but strong programs across the nation, America's future in science, technology, engineering and mathematics is in good hands," the Newsweek article said. “Just take a look at these successful schools. We hope one of them will be the right fit for your family."

See the full report at newsweek.com.