The Academy at SOAR

PO Box 388
Balsam, NC 28707

Tel: 8284563435

The Academy at SOAR is designed for students who have faced challenges in a traditional classroom setting due to a learning disability.
By combining academics and adventure, we are better able to develop the whole child, allowing students to experience success both academically and personally.
Our student centered model provides students with the tools and experiences for success through instruction in the following components: Academics, Adventures, Self-Advocacy, Life Skills, Project Based Learning, Field Studies, Community and Empowerment.
Emphasis is placed upon applying knowledge to real situations, developing the whole person, and demonstrating the competence to thrive in society.
As a result, students walk away from the Academy empowered with self-awareness, a zest for learning, and a sense of self-sufficiency unknown before.

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Listed among the top 20 boarding schools (out of 329 schools) for:

Definition of Terms 2017 School Data	The Academy at SOAR	Boarding School Avg.
School Focus	College Prep	College Preparatory
Grades Offered	7-12	9-12
School Type	Co-ed	Co-ed
Supports Learning Differences (LD)	Yes	Yes
Religious Affiliation	Non-denominational	Non-denominational
Year Founded	1988	1910
Campus Size	10 acres	105 acres

Saturday Classes	No	No
Classroom Dress Code	Casual	Casual
Average Class Size	8 students	12 *National School Avg. » 20
Teacher : Student Ratio	1:8	1:7
ESL Courses Offered	No	Yes
% Faculty with Advanced Degree	50%	70%
Summer Program Offered	Yes	Yes

Yearly Tuition (Boarding Students)	$54,000	$52,700
Yearly Tuition (Day Students)	n/a	$28,270
Merit Scholarships Offered	No	No

List of Courses Offered

# Interscholastic Sports Offered	2	14
Sports	Kayaking, Rock Climbing

Year:	10 Most Popular College Choices (# Enrolled)
	Link to Matriculation Data

Our mission is to provide an alternative learning environment and differentiated instruction that nurtures self-discovery and independent inquisition. Many students have experienced difficulty in the traditional academic settings, stemming from a variety of factors including, but not limited to, ADD/ADHD, LD, negative feedback from peers and teachers, inability to self-advocate, peer influences, and poor academic performance. Beyond providing content instruction in each course, the Academy at SOAR seeks to modify the student`s perception of him or herself as a student, allowing them to become aware of their unique strengths, abilities, and challenges, along with techniques to overcome academic hurdles. This mission is carried out by providing differentiated instruction based on the needs of each student. Flexibility in instructional methods and course-work offerings is necessary to meet the needs of each student. Though traditional instruction is used at times during classroom days, the Academy at SOAR seeks to implement multi-sensory and individualized methods whenever possible to make learning experiences more relevant and meaningful.
LD types supported: ADHD, Dyslexia, Aspergers, Dysgraphia, Dyscalculia
School accreditations: AdvancEd Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), Small Boarding School Association (SBSA)