Boarding School Review - Established 2003

New Summit Academy Costa Rica

Alajuela Province, Nueva Cumbre Atenas 20501
Tel: 18006099496
newsummitacademy.com
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Quick Facts (26-27)

  • Grades: 9-12, PG
  • Enrollment: 26 students
  • Yearly Tuition (Boarding Students): $77,400
  • Average class size: 6 students
  • Application Deadline: None / Rolling
  • Source: Verified school update
New Summit Academy Costa Rica Photo #4 - Student-led clubs manage their own budgets and coordinate long weekends for surfing, scuba diving, cooking, film and more.
New Summit Academy Costa Rica Photo #5 - Our multicultural community is truly representative of life at an international boarding school, with faculty and staff coming from countries like the United States, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Argentina, Trinidad and Tobago, and the Dominican Republic, to name a few.
New Summit Academy Costa Rica Photo #6 - Our creative students engage in Arts and Elective classes and clubs and, in doing so, make use of our acoustically-designed music studio and our recording and mixing room.
New Summit Academy Costa Rica Photo #7 - Thanks to a variety of nearby options, students can join specialized fitness classes or form sports teams like basketball and soccer to compete in tournaments and games in the community of Atenas and at nearby schools.
New Summit Academy Costa Rica Photo #8 - Executive functioning skill development is facilitated by an advising team that works closely with each of our students to set quarterly goals and outline concrete, measurable actions to reach those goals.
New Summit Academy Costa Rica Photo #9 - With an abundance of green space, an outdoor basketball half-court, disc golf course, weight and cardio gym, our campus is designed to facilitate healthy lifestyles.
New Summit Academy Costa Rica Photo #10 - From lowland jungles to cool mountain cloud forest, Costa Rica's diverse landscapes and rich biodiversity create the perfect backdrop for experiential education.
New Summit Academy Costa Rica Photo #11 - Each week, our peer-elected student council meets with school directors to discuss community affairs, advocate on behalf of their classmates and plan for weekend recreation.
New Summit Academy Costa Rica Photo #12 - Upon graduation, some students transition back home to complete high school, others to more traditional boarding schools, and many to an impressive array of colleges and universities.
New Summit Academy Costa Rica Photo #13 - Students become Wilderness First Aid certified and SCUBA certified so they can safely continue these pursuits after New Summit Academy.
New Summit Academy Costa Rica Photo #14 - Students produce full-length documentary films and premiere them at campus events with guidance from our documentary filmmaking teacher.
New Summit Academy Costa Rica Photo #15 - At New Summit Academy, we emphasize student agency by integrating personal choice and self-discovery into every aspect of boarding life.
New Summit Academy Costa Rica Photo #16 - Academic skill development is incorporated into each class, with larger projects broken down into smaller steps, hard skills integrated into lessons, and social skills gently guided by teacher and peer feedback.
New Summit Academy Costa Rica Photo #17 - Each year, students immerse in the rich culture of an international destination.
New Summit Academy Costa Rica Photo #18 - Cultural immersion is a powerful way to learn and grow. Faced with differences in values, customs, and beliefs, New Summit Academy students naturally reflect on their own families, home communities, and national cultural norms.
New Summit Academy Costa Rica Photo #19 - Our Aventura program sends students to national parks, wildlife reserves, indigenous communities and many other fascinating places that encourage personal growth and learning.
New Summit Academy Costa Rica Photo #20 - Our balanced academic schedule and 21st century curriculum is designed to engage students in rigorous studies while also cultivating a diverse set of perspectives and experiences that set graduates apart from their peers.
New Summit Academy Costa Rica Photo #21 - At New Summit Academy, we are constantly in touch with the local community, working together on service projects, playing sports, participating in cultural celebrations, eating at our favorite restaurants, spending time with our homestay families each Sunday.
New Summit Academy Costa Rica Photo #22 - The breadth and depth of experiences in which our advisors participate allows them to truly "know" and "see" a unique being in each of our students.
New Summit Academy Costa Rica Photo #23 - Costa Rica's strong environmental and educational values as well as its unparalleled natural resources make opportunities for experiential learning limitless.
New Summit Academy Costa Rica Photo #24 - Students build and solidify techniques to initiate and monitor their work, to stay organized, to manage time and prioritize, to be resilient in the face of challenge, and to advocate for themselves when support or differentiation is needed.
New Summit Academy Costa Rica Photo #25 - In their time at New Summit Academy, students earn at least 75 hours of community service.
New Summit Academy Costa Rica Photo #26 - Each year, Costa Rica ranks as a leading study abroad destination. The safety and security combined with the country's rich cultural and biodiversity allows for adventure, service and experiential learning and nurtures healthy cross-cultural coming of age experiences.
New Summit Academy Costa Rica Photo #27 - In the classroom, students learn to advocate for their needs while co-creating learning experiences with our skilled teachers. Our academic model provides each unique student with an opportunity to experience success in a way that best fits their individual learning journey.
New Summit Academy Costa Rica Photo #28 - The impressive resume you build while studying abroad is unique, enriching and sets apart your college applications.
New Summit Academy Costa Rica Photo #29 - We empower students to advocate for their needs and interests, influence school decisions, mentor new students, propose changes to guidelines, organize activities, manage budgets and lead community immersion projects throughout Costa Rica.
New Summit Academy Costa Rica Photo #30 - Direct flights from major US airports like New York, Atlanta, Miami, Houston, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Denver deliver students and families to Costa Rica in 3 to 5 hours. Once in Costa Rica, our campus is just 25 minutes from the San Jose airport in the town of Atenas, popularly named "The Best Climate in the World."
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About the School

  • New Summit Academy Costa Rica is an independent, year-round, supportive boarding school and study abroad experience for adolescent males (ages 14-18) who are in grades 9-12.
  • Integrating college prep classes with cultural immersion, service projects, adventure trips and travel, New Summit offers an excellent environment for academic and social-emotional growth.
  • An intentionally small learning community, New Summit works with up to 26 high school students who enroll for a minimum of 6 months.
  • New Summit Academy students are bright, creative, and capable but may struggle with anxiety or depression, executive functioning, attention, self-confidence, identity or difficult social or family dynamics.
  • Within this supportive boarding school, students build positive coping skills for their anxiety, adopt healthier lifestyles for their mood, and develop strategies to support their learning and executive functioning needs.

Quick Facts (26-27)

  • Grades: 9-12, PG
  • Enrollment: 26 students
  • Yearly Tuition (Boarding Students): $77,400
  • Average class size: 6 students
  • Application Deadline: None / Rolling
  • Source: Verified school update

Top Rankings

New Summit Academy Costa Rica ranks among the top 20 boarding schools (out of 269 schools) for:

Category
Attribute
Community Size
Small student body (number of students)
Boarding Focus
High percentage of boarding students
Student Attention
Small average class sizes
Student Attention
Low student-teacher ratio

School Overview

2026 School Data
New Summit Academy Costa Rica
School Focus
College Preparatory
Grades Offered
9-12, PG
School Type
All-boys
ADD/ADHD Support
Yes
Supports Learning Differences (LD)
Yes
Dual Language Immersion Program
Yes
Secondary Immersion Language
Spanish
Religious Affiliation
Non-denominational
Year Founded
2005
Campus Size
7 acres

Student Body

Enrollment
26 students
% Students Boarding
100%
Offers Post-Grad Year
Yes

Academic Profile

Saturday Classes
No
Classroom Dress Code
Casual
Average Class Size
6 students
Student-Teacher Ratio
4:1
ESL Courses Offered
No
% Faculty with Advanced Degree
80%
Summer Program Offered
Yes
Accreditations
Cognia (formerly AdvancED / SACS CASI / NCA CASI) (Cognia)
Small Boarding School Association (SBSA)
The Association of Boarding Schools (TABS)
Courses

Tuition & Financial Aid

Yearly Tuition
(Boarding Students)
$77,400
(Tuition for minimum enrollment period. Need-based financial aid available.)
Merit Scholarships Offered
Yes

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Admissions

Application Deadline
None / Rolling
Average Percentile SSAT
n/a%
Director of Admissions
Heather Tracy, Ed.D.
Adam Beeson, MA
Application URL
Online Application

Sports

# Interscholastic Sports Offered
1
Sports
Intramural Sports Only
Colors
Green and Blue

Extracurriculars

Total Extracurricular Organizations
36
Extracurriculars
Club or Organization:
Backcountry ClubClimbing Club
Cooking ClubCurrent Events
Film ClubFishing Club
Gardening ClubHistory Club
Scuba ClubSkate Club
Student CouncilSurf Club


Arts and Music Programs:
Culinary ArtsDigital Music Production
Documentary FilmmakingGraffiti Art
GuitarKeyboard
Music StudioPercussion
PhotographyVisual Arts
Vocals


Recreational Athletic Programs:
BasketballCross Country
CrossfitDisc Golf
Flag FootballMountain Biking
Personal TrainingRock Climbing
SkateboardingSoccer
SurfingUltimate Frisbee
Yoga

School Notes

  • Since 2005, New Summit has been helping students build healthier relationships with themselves and others, enhance motivation to set and reach goals, and become more resourceful global citizens.
  • Campus: New Summit Academy's lush, seven-acre campus contains gardens and outdoor gathering spaces, four dormitory houses, a student clubhouse, an academic building with five classrooms, a well-equipped academic resource room and a large common space for community meetings and events. The administrative building houses staff offices as well as our gym, outdoor basketball court, dining hall and student lounge spaces.
  • Academics: with small class sizes and individualized supportive advising teams, the school nurtures well-rounded individuals equipped with the competence and confidence to thrive in an ever-evolving world. Academic skill development is incorporated into each class, with larger projects broken down into smaller steps, hard skills integrated into lessons, and social skills gently guided by teacher and peer feedback.
  • Executive Functioning: executive functioning skill development is facilitated by an advising team that works closely with each student to set quarterly goals and outline concrete, measurable actions to reach those goals. Students build and solidify techniques to initiate and monitor their work, to stay organized, to manage time and prioritize, to be resilient in the face of challenge, and to advocate for themselves when support or differentiation is needed.
  • Arts and Creativity: New Summit Academy's music studio hosts a variety of musical instruments and digital music software as well as recording equipment for students to jam or record and mix their music. The film studio is updated with the latest film and photography editing software to facilitate the school's documentary filmmaking and photography classes. Culinary and visual arts facilities allow for a wide range of creative pursuits.
  • Cultural Immersion: Spanish and cultural immersion are key components of learning at New Summit Academy, with service projects, community events, recreation, and the homestay program developing global competencies and cross-cultural communication skills. The school's multicultural community is representative of life at an international boarding school, with faculty and staff coming from countries like the United States, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Argentina, Trinidad and Tobago, and the Dominican Republic, to name a few.
  • Adventure and Travel: through the school's signature Aventura program, students embark on weeklong national park adventure trips, nature-based outings and international culture travel to destinations like Panama, and they leave New Summit Academy with professional certifications such as Wilderness First Aid and scuba diving. From lowland jungles to cool mountain cloud forest, Costa Rica's diverse landscapes and rich biodiversity create the perfect backdrop for experiential education.
  • Student Life: the peer-elected student council meets with school directors each week to discuss community affairs, advocate on behalf of their classmates and plan for weekend recreation. The school's student-led clubs manage their own budgets and coordinate long weekends for surfing, scuba diving, cooking, film and more.
  • Social-Emotional Growth: students are supported by their advising teams, which include a therapist, therapist assistant, an academic advisor and student life mentors. Therapists work afternoons and evenings and attend recreational activities and school trips to guide the milieu and build rapport with students. A range of individual counseling, group counseling and family work is available at New Summit Academy.
  • Graduates: upon graduation, some students transition back home to complete high school, others to more traditional boarding schools, and many to college or university. The school's goal is to support each student in the best path for their future.
  • Costa Rica: named "The Friendliest Country in the World" and consistently ranked one of the happiest countries on the planet, Costa Rica's history as a peaceful nation has nurtured an environment centered on warmth and acceptance. Each year, Costa Rica ranks as a leading study abroad destination. The safety and security combined with the country's rich cultural and biodiversity allows for adventure, service and experiential learning and nurtures healthy cross-cultural coming of age experiences.
Source: Verified school update
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Frequently Asked Questions

How much does New Summit Academy Costa Rica cost?
New Summit Academy Costa Rica's tuition is approximately $77,400 for boarding students.
What sports does New Summit Academy Costa Rica offer?
New Summit Academy Costa Rica offers 1 interscholastic sports: Intramural Sports Only.
What is New Summit Academy Costa Rica's ranking?
New Summit Academy Costa Rica ranks among the top 20 boarding schools for Small student body (number of students), High percentage of boarding students, Small average class sizes and Low student-teacher ratio.
When is the application deadline for New Summit Academy Costa Rica?
The application deadline for New Summit Academy Costa Rica is rolling (applications are reviewed as they are received year-round).
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Quick Facts (26-27)

  • Grades: 9-12, PG
  • Enrollment: 26 students
  • Yearly Tuition (Boarding Students): $77,400
  • Average class size: 6 students
  • Application Deadline: None / Rolling
  • Source: Verified school update
School location map

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