Explore the High School
TSA students graduate from our high school confident of their own abilities, articulate in the communication of their knowledge and their needs, effective as team members and empowered to take responsibility and leadership within their communities. Our curriculum consists of flexible, “intentional” academic, physical and social experiences that leverage each individual’s learning style to maximum effect.
The Sharon Academy High School is located at 205 Academy Drive (formerly 6704 Vermont State Route 14), Sharon, VT.
How We Will Get to Know You
Human beings learn best when they feel safe, valued, and respected. At The Sharon Academy (TSA), we are able to do what we do because getting to know our students is essential to determining how to support, nurture, and challenge them. From the moment they complete their Learner Profile conference as a part of enrolling to the moment they throw their cap in the air at graduation, we are paying attention to who they are. This is how we figure out how to support, nurture and challenge them. We’re small enough, and we pay enough attention that we can individualize our instruction and support—We meet each student where they are when they arrive and help them navigate their path to graduation.
Small Classes: Each grade consists of approximately 30 students. Our classes are small with 8–17 students in each class. Teachers come to know students as individuals, and are therefore able to both support and challenge students (see TSA HS Teachers talk about this balance by clicking here). Teachers are also able to help students personalize their learning wherever possible, suggesting offerings and opportunities that they know will interest them. Perhaps that means suggesting that the student join the Robotics team, complete a research project on the Renaissance in a way that involves their love for fashion design, join the Climbing team, perform in our Open Mic, or apply to the Governor’s Institute.
Vibrant Relationships: Students are encouraged to see their teachers as advocates and mentors. In fact, students at TSA call their teachers by their first names. Faculty typically serve in roles outside the classroom, as coaches, advisers, or elective instructors. A student might learn singing tips from their literature teacher who is also a classically trained vocalist. Or they might take a kayaking elective from their Chemistry teacher, or learn to play chess from their math teacher. This range of roles broadens the types of interactions our teachers have with students. It is one of the ways our staff gets to know students not only as scholars, but also as athletes, organizers, workers, and people.
Advisories: Students are individually assigned to Advisory groups moderated by a member of the faculty or staff. This is a safe forum in which students get to know each other and develop a mentor relationship with an adult. The Advisor-Student relationship develops over the four years of high school and at graduation this perspective uniquely equips the Advisor to introduce before the student’s own address. Having one person advocate for each student throughout their TSA high school experience provides stability, creates trust, and nurtures growth.
How We Will Value Who You Are
Safe Environment: We embrace diversity in every form and believe it is an inherently valuable characteristic of a learning and social community. The environment that we seek to provide is physically, socially, and emotionally safe for all students and reflects the respect, compassion, and support TSA has for each student.
Weekly All-School Meetings: Students run the weekly All-School Meetings. This is where all students, faculty, and staff gather to discuss whatever issues they have placed on the agenda – upcoming events, opportunities, and sharing appreciations. This sense of community and common responsibility are hallmarks of our school ethos; the All-School Meeting is just one manifestation of our respect for students.
All-School Musical: Each year, TSA transforms into its own theater production company in order to produce and perform a full-scale musical. For two weeks, which we call “Interim“, classes cease, and the entire school is united in the purpose of creating the performance. Students take the lead in most aspects of the show including the choreography, leading and playing in the band, designing and building sets, running and designing lighting and sound, and sourcing and making costumes. The seniors select the musical they wish to perform, and play the lead roles. TSA’s all-school musical creates community while providing true leadership opportunities.
How We Will Challenge You
We have high academic expectations for students, and we are uniquely flexible in helping students to identify their goals and to achieve them.
Academics: Our curriculum and teaching practices are academically demanding, problem-focused and when possible, connected to real-world endeavors. We emphasize personal responsibility, independent learning, leadership, teamwork, and presentation skills across the curriculum. As our classes are academically rigorous, we do not offer AP classes. Our small class sizes enable us to teach to a variety of learning styles and no one falls between the cracks. TSA is committed to a proficiency-based model of teaching and learning that results in graduates who have mastered content as well as a set of transferrable skills that set them up for success in life after high school. Learn more about our Proficiency-based Graduation Requirements and read the High School Program of Studies 2021-22 for more specific information.
Exhibitions: Students are required to complete and present an Exhibition prior to graduation. Exhibitions consist of written, visual, and oral components that develop and showcase students’ research, analysis, communication, and presentation skills, equipping them for college work and future employment. Students choose their exhibition topic, and spend the better part of a year researching and working with a faculty mentor to craft and defend an evidence-based claim. This exercise is the culmination of years of practice in research, analysis, and presentation skills, with opportunities given throughout the high school curriculum. Students’ comfort with giving presentations can be witnessed at our unique graduation ceremony, which calls upon all graduating students to demonstrate the art of public speaking with a self-composed valedictory speech.
Student Leadership: The Sharon Academy believes that it is important to foster leadership within our student body. Students might serve on TSA’s Board of Trustees, teach elective classes, organize school trips, lead extracurricular activities, or spearhead an aspect of the all-school musical. We firmly believe that taking well-considered risks and learning from mistakes is a powerful learning opportunity.
Community Service: Giving back to one’s community is a learning experience of its own. Students are encouraged to volunteer their time, energy, and skills as a way of demonstrating the “Standard 6″ skill of “community and responsible citizenship”. We know that skills such as collaboration, initiative, commitment to a team or organization, personal responsibility, and reliability are critical for post-secondary success, and engaging in meaningful community service is an excellent way to hone those skills.
Sports: There are no traditional physical education classes but while most students join Varsity and Junior Varsity teams, others participate in electives, club sports, or extra-curricular individual sports that fulfill the State of Vermont’s physical education requirements. Physical activity provides an important opportunity for self-discovery. Our sports teams have a no-cut policy so experience is not required and ability is enthusiastically developed over time. Our community is very supportive of our teams and we are proud of our teams’ achievements in competition.
If TSA sounds like a place for you, make a plan to Visit Us. We’d love to show you around!