FAQ's
Q. How much does this school cost?
A. Northpoint is a FREE public school in the Prescott Unified School District. There is NO tuition.
Q. How many students attend Northpoint?
A. Northpoint opened with room for 100 9th grade students in the fall of 2006. The school added grade 10 in August 2007 and grade 11 in August of 2008, with a total enrollment of 160. In August of 2009, Northpoint will add grade 12.
Q. What if more than 100 students apply?
A. Entrance is on a first come, first served basis with priority given to the first 100 to register. All students (accompanied by parents) will go through an entrance interview before being fully accepted. Applications may be completed online, downloaded and printed, or picked up from the Northpoint office. Those applying after the first 100 will be placed on a waiting list.
Q. Where can I get an application?
A. Applications are available online or from middle school counselors or in the Northpoint school office.
Q. Is it true that ALL Northpoint students use laptop computers?
A. Yes, Northpoint has a 1-to-1 computer program, allowing all students to use a Macbook laptop.
Q. What are the class sizes?
A. There are between 15-25 students per class.
Q. Where is the school located?
A. The school is located at 551 First Street, in the former Mata Dexter School facility, in close proximity to downtown Prescott.
Q. Is there busing to Northpoint?
A. Yes, PUSD provides busing for students from throughout the Tri-city area
Q. How does this school differ from PHS?
A. Northpoint is significantly smaller. Northpoint has a curriculum that connects the learning through the use of learning expeditions, which are deep investigations of interesting topics, based AZ State Standards. The 2006-07 compelling expeditions at Northpoint were focused on the issues of immigration and water. Learning is hands-on and active where the focus is on creating high quality projects. Students at Northpoint spend a significant amount of time off-campus doing research and outdoor activities. ALL Northpoint students will be fully prepared to be successful in college.
Q. What percent of EL graduates go on to college?
A. The expectation is that 100% of the students apply and are accepted to a post-secondary school of their choice. Students will graduate fully prepared to excel in college. Northpoint is also creating a system that will support students while IN college as well, expecting that 75% of those that enter college will graduate within six years (compared to the national average of 31%).
Q. How are students assessed in a way that is meaningful to colleges and scholarship providers?
A. Students are assessed using standards and learning targets which are translated into grades. Passage portfolios are also used to evaluate and measure growth along with serving as a prime method for sharing learning with colleges.
Q. Do students receive grades that colleges understand?
A. Yes, students receive both an academic and character grade that reflects mastery of standards and learning targets and fulfillment of character norms.
Q. What extracurricular activities are offered?
A. Northpoint places significant value on extra-curricular activities. For this reason, a variety of both sports and academic extra-curriculars are offered. In the 2006-07 school year, Northpoint students participated in an Intramural program that offers several sports. Also, Student Government, Yearbook/Publications, and Model United Nations were offered to the initial Northpoint student body.
Q. Is the school calendar the same as PHS?
A. Yes, the calendar is similar, with coordinated breaks. There may be extended learning time added for additional opportunities.
Q. Are classes taught in 50-minute class periods?
A. No, classes are taught using blocks of about 80 minutes in length.
Q. Does Northpoint offer services for students with disabilities?
A. Yes, Northpoint is open to any student, regardless of disability, academic, or credit standing. The entrance interview provides clarity as to the expectations of Northpoint students and helps parents know if this is the best environment for their child.
Q. Does Northpoint offer lunch?
A. Yes, Northpoint offers a lunch program to all students.
Q. Is lunch time a closed campus?
A. Yes.
Q. Does the school day start and end at the same time as Prescott High School?
A. The start and end time is very similar to PHS.
Q. What evidence is there that this is an effective model?
A. Extensive research on the Expeditionary Learning model, along with small school success statistics, indicate that the model is very effective for all types of students.
Q. Is there a school nurse?
A. Yes, access to appropriate health personnel is available to the student body.
Q. Who are the teachers? What are their credentials? What qualifies them to teach in this kind of school?
A. All teachers at Northpoint are certified and obtain extensive training (supported with the Gates Foundation grant) before the school year begins. Also, Northpoint has a school designer that works closely with the staff, supporting the innovative work they are doing. For more information on the current staff, visit Northpoint's Faculty and Staff Bio Page.
Q. Are there a lot of field trips? How do they work and how much do they cost?
A. Students at Northpoint do field WORK, which leads them off campus at various times. They also get a chance to participate in team building activities off campus. For example, all Northpoint freshmen participated in a 5-day wilderness experience at the beginning of the school year. A student activity fee is collected at the beginning of the year, helping to cover various off-campus opportunities. Tax credit donations are used to cover some of these costs.
Q. Where have other EL schools been started?
A. Currently, there are around 150 EL schools within the U.S.; ten of those schools are in Arizona, but only Northpoint has received the distinction of being a Gates supported High School.
Q. How is the Gates money used?
A. The Gates / ELS grant, which has helped to start the school, is predominately used for teacher training and classroom support. Prescott is part of a select group of communities in the nation awarded this special grant through Expeditionary Learning.
Q. How do I know which high school is best for my child?
A. If you are looking for a school that is on the cutting edge within education, utilizing best practices that include hands-on activities, fieldwork outside the classroom walls, service, and adventure, then Northpoint could be a good fit. Northpoint is a college-prep school that utilizes small class sizes and a culture of collaboration.
Q. Can anyone attend?
A. Yes, Northpoint is a free public school. An entrance interview will be completed with parents and the student after receiving the application.
Q. Parent/teacher communication?
A. Consistent parent communication is a high priority for Northpoint.
Q. Parent responsibilities? Family involvement?
A. Parents are asked to share any expertise that they and the school find appropriate. Parents are expected to serve on a variety of school committees during the course of their son/daughter's HS experience. Parents are expected to attend all student-led conferences.
Q. Does Northpoint meet state standards and employ AIMS testing?
A. Yes, all learning expeditions begin with the state standards which are infused throughout the HS experience. Northpoint abides by all state and national mandates that pertain to public schools.
Q. How is EL different from Outward Bound?
A. Outward Bound is an adventure wilderness organization that works with youth on 7-28 day intensive experiences. Expeditionary Learning uses some of the O.B. design principles but is dedicated to creating rigorous schools that prepare students for post-secondary education and experience successful relationships.
Q. How is service incorporated into Northpoint?
A. All students are expected to fulfill a service requirement. Often, service opportunities are embedded within learning expeditions and the daily schedule.
Q. Is Northpoint NCA accredited?
A. Yes, Northpoint is gaining accreditation, through NCA, in the 2008-09 school year.
Q. Is it easy to transfer back and forth between PHS and Northpoint?
A. Because Northpoint will be NCA accredited, all credits earned at Northpoint would transfer to PHS and vice versa. Student progress is evaluated on a case-by-case basis to determine justifiable credit. Transferring to PHS will not be a problem, but students can only transfer to Northpoint if there is room.