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Engage. Inspire. Empower.

Engage.

Our passionately engaged and supportive community continually challenges and guides students to discover their individual strengths.

By the Numbers

2

Campuses

175

Faculty & Staff

894

Students

1

Innovation Lab

18

AP Courses

50+

Sports Teams

1

Marching Band

24%

Diversity

Inspire.

Our programs and extracurricular offerings provide opportunities for leadership, for experiential learning and for students to pursue ideas and interests that inspire them.

I'm Ready to Explore

NSA

Lower School student working in art class

Health and Wellness

At NSA, students benefit from a school culture that prioritizes healthy growth in all areas of a student’s life—academic, social-emotional and physical. Jett serves as our facility dog, and she works with the school counselors daily to facilitate conversations about mental health and wellness.

Kindergarten teacher Colleen Perry reads to students

Dedicated Faculty

Our faculty is committed to providing the best level of education by getting to know your student to provide an individualized learning experience. They regularly participate in professional development to refresh and deepen their knowledge and discover new ways to engage, inspire and empower students.

Quote from the Sandra F. Birdsong Center for Academic Excellence

Support Services

Students are supported in a variety of ways, from their work in the classroom to life beyond the classroom walls. The Sandra F. Birdsong CAE provides individualized learning support, and a dedicated counselor in each division provides social and emotional support. Our advisory program fosters meaningful connections, serving as an invaluable link from school to home.

Personal and Academic Growth

Through a challenging, college preparatory curriculum and numerous extracurricular opportunities, students are inspired to discover and pursue their passions. The close relationships that are formed with teachers and advisors encourage personal and academic growth.

Service Learning

Students generate ideas, coordinate details and promote their cause to take an active role in positively shaping our community. Every spring, Upper School students spend an entire day volunteering throughout Hampton Roads.

Athletics

While exploring their passions, students are able to develop important life skills, such as responsibility, leadership, perseverance and working with others toward a common goal. NSA offers over 50 teams in 15 sports for students in grades 6-12.

Community

NSA is more than a school. We are a supportive community that is an extension of your family. From the first day of school to years after your student graduates, your family is a valued member of the NSA family.

Character

Honor Above All is the school motto. For years, these three simple words have inspired NSA students to place honesty and integrity above everything else. Each and every member of the community has a vital role to play in upholding this commitment that stays with students for a lifetime.

Innovation

Students are encouraged to develop and grow their natural curiosity through hands-on projects focusing on STEM education. Students are challenged to solve real-world problems, work together, think critically, set goals and evaluate information to build essential college and career readiness skills.

Creativity

From pre-kindergarten onward, students have many opportunities to explore the creative process, embrace imagination and cultivate an appreciation for the visual and performing arts. Along the way, passions and talents are unveiled in a way that can only happen in a nurturing community.

Pre-Kindergarten

Global Connections

Students are exposed to a variety of cultures, languages and traditions. They focus on identifying themselves as a member of a community and build empathy and tolerance for our similarities and differences. Cultural awareness is fostered through a variety of developmentally appropriate activities.

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Literacy Development

Through shared and individually-guided reading and writing, students expand their vocabulary and their knowledge about the world around them.

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Hand-Eye Coordination and Fine Motor Skills

A wide range of materials and activities encourages creativity and builds fine motor skills, laying the foundation for academic success.

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Science and Math

Outdoor play engages students in scientific thinking about the natural world. Early math skills are nurtured through exploration, construction and educational apps during technology time.

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Self-Expression

Through dramatic play, music and art, students are able to express their ideas and feelings while building confidence in their abilities.

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Early Engineering

Building activities introduce students to the basics of engineering and help them to build critical thinking, collaboration and communication skills.

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Lower School

Building Global Connections

Students continue to build on the foundation of global community awareness by inquiring into a variety of topics that impact global citizens. Students are encouraged to be curious, explore, research and discover more about the world around them. They also learn to value different perspectives and traditions.

Learn More about Building Global Connections

Lower School student celebrating Read Across America Day

Celebrations

Challenging academics are balanced by all of the fun activities in Lower School. Spirit weeks, homecoming, Saints Fest, a Halloween parade and classroom parties provide students with the opportunity to build and foster friendships.

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Lower School student and NSA facility dog Jett

Health and Wellness

Our guidance and counseling program ensures that we are also addressing the social and emotional development of each child.

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Lower School student at Celebrate America program

Public Speaking

From presentations to speaking parts at our grade-level programs, plenty of opportunities exist for students to gain confidence in themselves and their public speaking abilities.

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Lifelong Learning Skills

Students begin to discover their strengths and learn the importance of balance, time management, healthy work habits, organizational methods, study skills and test-taking strategies.

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Full STEAM Ahead

Students engage in interdisciplinary, experiential activities that uncover real-world connections and bring learning to life. From gardening to oyster restoration, our students are engaged in challenges that bring them together to solve problems collaboratively.

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Coding

Students use littleBits, LEGO MINDSTORMS and other educational resources to learn the basics of coding and develop their problem solving, logic and critical thinking skills. By learning these skills through the context of code, they are empowered to become creators rather than just consumers of technology.

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Critical Thinking

A math curriculum rooted in problem solving is used to deepen students’ number sense and their ability to tackle problems. We aim to provide these curious minds with an understanding of the “why” behind math rather than just expecting them to memorize formulas.

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Lower School students celebrating Unity Day

Leadership and Character

Early on, students learn the meaning of “honor” and respect for self and others. They are encouraged to be compassionate not only in daily activities but also through active participation in a variety of community service projects and activities throughout the year.

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Middle School

Go Saints!

NSA offers an expansive athletic program in grades 6-12 with over 50 teams in 15 sports. Our highly-qualified, compassionate coaches emphasize respect, teamwork, courage, integrity and determination on and off the field and courts. Strength, conditioning and performance training is offered to all Saints athletes.

Learn More about Go Saints!

Middle School Celebrations

Challenging academics are balanced by all of the fun activities in Middle School. Spirit weeks, homecoming, dances and advisory activities provide students with the opportunity to build and foster friendships.

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Advisory

Through group guidance and advisory lessons, students build a positive self-image and learn how to recognize their strengths and self advocate, providing them with the confidence to learn, explore and achieve successfully on their own.

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Student Support

The Middle School faculty works together to strengthen study and organizational habits, emphasizing self-directed learning and time management in preparation for the increasing demands of the Upper School.

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Digital Citizenship

A 1:1 Program places a device in the hands of every Middle School student, enabling them to collaborate with peers and learn essential research methods. An emphasis is placed on safety, responsibility and the importance of creating a positive digital footprint.

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Global Mindedness

Students explore the world outside of themselves and learn to respect and appreciate diversity through interdisciplinary and service projects. A cultural fair teaches students more about the cultures of Europe and Latin America. Community service activities on and off campus foster a sense of compassion and respect for others.

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Chalkboard with the Middle School daily kind quote

Community and Empathy

As part of the Daily Kind Program, students read a daily kindness quote and watch a short video featuring an act of kindness to foster a community of understanding and compassion. Our guidance and counseling program ensures that we are also addressing the social and emotional development of each child.

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Character and Leadership

The Middle School places equal emphasis on the character development of each student by developing personal integrity, leadership skills and a sense of the world outside of themselves. Students are encouraged to recognize their unique strengths while respecting differences in others.

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Upper School

Supportive Student Community

Cultivating a passionately engaged and supportive student community is one of the most important goals of our school. New clubs and enrichment opportunities are formed each year that match student interests and enable them to connect with peers and build friendships that last a lifetime.

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Leadership

Through participation in sports and opportunities such as the Student Council, the Honor Council, the Judicial Council or as a club officer, students learn to lead their peers and work together to achieve common goals.

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Members of the Recycling Club cleaning up litter

Service Learning

Students generate ideas, coordinate details and promote their cause to take an active role in positively shaping our community. In the spring, Upper School students spend an entire day volunteering throughout Hampton Roads for our annual Day of Caring.

Learn More about Service Learning

Advisory Program

Students are not only known, they are known as individuals throughout their Upper School years. A faculty member serves as a mentor for all four years and works with each student to encourage academic success and streamline communication from school to home.

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Creativity and Innovation

The STEM Innovation Lab includes an impressive list of tools and equipment, from automated machine tools to 3D printers and laser cutters. It is a place where doing is what matters, where trial and failure teach grit, determination and eventually success.

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Personal Advocates

Our college counselors spend a great deal of time getting to know each student. These strong connections allow for our counselors to advocate for each student’s admission. Partnering so closely with our students and their families leads to outstanding outcomes for our students.

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Hands-On Knowledge

Through project-based learning, students are challenged to solve real-world problems, work together, think critically, set goals, evaluate information and gather resources all within a set deadline to build essential college and career readiness skills.

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Internships

Students are able to explore their passions and experience potential careers by working as an intern on campus. Opportunities are available in early childhood education, the STEM Innovation Lab, technology, business and marketing.

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Honors, AP and PLTW Courses

We offer 17 honors and 18 AP courses as well as Project Lead the Way courses to enable students to strive for their best through progressively difficult classes each year.

Learn More about Honors, AP and PLTW Courses

Go Saints!

Learn More about Go Saints!

Empower.

From academics to athletics to the arts, students find classmates - plus teachers, coaches and advisors - who challenge them to take their ideas to the next level, who support them when they’re in doubt and who cheer them on when they confront their biggest obstacles. It’s this kind of community that helps students feel confident stepping outside of their comfort zones and taking the positive risks they need to become their best selves.

Emily Munson

Haley Webb '07

Joey Seal

Kimberly Work

Richard Murphy

Emily Munson

"I love the enthusiasm and excitement for learning that our students bring to the classroom every day. Their passion motivates me to be a better teacher and pushes me to find new ways to make my lessons engaging and inspiring. Teachers are supported by the administration to pursue professional development opportunities and are continually encouraged to grow our teaching craft. My amazing coworkers offer a strong support system both in and out of the classroom. We truly are a family at NSA!"

Well-Prepared for College and Beyond

We encourage a variety of interests and strong values for future success. Along the way, passions and talents are unveiled in a way that can only happen in a nurturing community. As a result, NSA students are well-prepared to reach their maximum potential in college and life.

Noah Giles '16

Business Intelligence Analyst, Atlantic Bay Mortgage

"NSA has a wide variety of opportunities for people to explore. For instance, I was able to play football and participate in theatre. I was able to experience things maybe I would not have tried at other schools."