North Hills Preparatory School emphasizes an educational program that provides a challenging, coherent, and relevant curriculum for a heterogeneous population. The school's academic departments develop intra-departmental instruction while working together to ensure that students see the interconnection of educational fields. In all subject areas (Math and Sciences, Humanities, English, Performing Arts, Fine Arts, History, and Social Studies), students are instructed in a manner that builds responsible problem solvers, individuals who honor diversity and embrace the totality of learning. We also emphasize the importance of utilizing current technologies as an integrated component to our curricular requirements.

Addressing WASC Expected Schoolwide Learning Results

EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATORS
By providing North Hills Prep students with a variety of ways to demonstrate understanding, NHP guides students in developing effective communication skills. Various forms of instruction, including the use of collaborative strategies, cooperative learning strategies, and student choice in assessment, have enabled students to access the core state curriculum while developing essential critical thinking skills. In addition to traditional assessments, NHP assignments have integrated art projects, technology (internet research, PowerPoint, graphic art), and interdisciplinary materials in conjunction with the aforementioned teaching strategies to allow students to practice authentic, appropriate, and meaningful communication. To foster this, NHP educators and behavioral staff create a safe learning environment where the “risk” of learning is encouraged.

SKILLED INDIVIDUALS
To assist in the development of skilled individuals for the future educational/professional environment, NHP utilizes state created frameworks and texts to develop curriculum. This ensures access to comparable educational materials found throughout the state. Content is delivered through a variety of modalities and as mentioned, students are provided with various vehicles to prove mastery of essential academic content. In addition, courses such as Life Skills for the 21st Century, Foods, Computers, and Web Design provide our students the opportunity to develop proficiency in areas that are necessary for life after high school.

LIFE LONG LEARNERS
For students to successfully access core academic standards and to accommodate the varying levels of growth and ability in the student population, NHP fosters the development of meta-cognitive awareness. This involves encouraging NHP students to utilize personal strengths while developing areas in need of improvement. Teachers create lessons and assignments that are innovative to draw students into the class and develop an interest in various subject matters. Along with two/three week progress reports, students work with teachers, therapists, the Dean of Faculty, and the Dean of Students to problem solve academic, social, and behavioral issues in the classroom. Students receive academic counseling from homeroom teachers and are offered tutoring to help support the development of vital skills. Through the combination in development of individual student talents, personal strengths/learning styles, and interests with the fostering of curiosity, adaptability, and flexibility, NHP will promote a continued interest in future academic/professional pursuits.

RESPONSIBLE PROBLEM SOLVERS
The unique student population at NHP faces both academic and social challenges. The use of an open communication model where information is shared between educational, clinical, and administrative staff provides a model for our students to develop and utilize responsible and reasoned problem resolution. The behavioral philosophy of NHP is based on the Choice Theory model, a model which promotes individual responsibility and stresses the connection between action and emotional well being. A goal of the faculty and staff is to assist our students in taking responsibility for their actions and experiencing personal growth by guiding students through their journey to becoming responsible problem solvers.

SOCIALLY AND PERSONALLY CONSCIENTIOUS INDIVIDUALS
North Hills Prep recognizes that what students learn affects their perspective of the world around them. To create a balanced educational experience, the students are provided with varied perspectives in the arts and sciences. To accomplish this, NHP’s curriculum is developed using diverse texts, films, cultural events, forums/speakers, and field trips to enrich the student experience. Through study, research, discussion, and debate, students will formulate defensible opinions on how we, as individuals and as a community, fit responsibly into the world order. NHP students will develop respect, empathy, and appreciation for diversity and use their talents to gain context and connection with both the local and global community.

Career and Transition Counseling

The Career and Transition Counselor will facilitate school-wide assessments of students to determine career interests and abilities. In addition, the teaching staff will be provided with vocational materials to insure ongoing instruction in this area. Each student will be met with individually to discuss realistic occupational options, given their interests and skills. Through this meeting, a plan will be developed to assist them in meeting their goals. Opportunities for off-campus vocational classes and work experiences, which provide job referrals, will be given to the student and their family.

SAT Scores

In the past year eleven students have participated in the College Board SAT Assessment for college entrance. The average score is an 1141. The average verbal score is 559 and the average math score is 582. These scores are something for us all to be proud of. Two students participated in the SAT II Achievement Tests. The average written score was a 480 and the average math score was a 550. Each student is required to take a third achievement test and the average of that test was a 490.