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Lower School
Lower School students are challenged by an academically demanding curriculum and supported by a close-knit community. Faculty and staff take a comprehensive approach to character education by developing a total school environment that supports the core values taught in the classroom.
Our Lower School is an academic community dedicated to the intellectual, emotional, physical and moral development of each child. The goal of the character education program is to develop students socially, ethically and academically by infusing core values into every aspect of the school culture and curriculum.
Our core curriculum is enhanced by the wealth of cultural opportunities available throughout the Hampton Roads area. Students understand and internalize the qualities that help them grow into caring, successful and productive young men and women. Students are also offered the opportunity to become involved in clubs sponsored by teachers and parents.
Admission to our Lower School is selective. Consideration is based on the applicant’s past academic performance, test scores, teacher recommendation and a personal interview with the parent and applicant. We are an accelerated school with a challenging curriculum, admitting motivated students who can benefit from and contribute to our program. While expectations for academic achievement are high, nurturing the individual potential of each child remains a focus.
Middle School
Using the school’s philosophy as a basis, the middle
school curriculum is collegially developed to provide a solid
academic and moral foundation to prepare the students for
the demanding college-preparatory curriculum they encounter
in the Upper School. Middle school curriculum decisions address
the whole child by encouraging special talents and attempting
to accommodate various learning styles. Even while challenging
the intellectual abilities of the students, the Middle School
teachers are nurturing, tolerant and patient. The synergism
of collaborative teaching with highly energetic and flexible
teachers has met with great success.
Hampton Roads Academy is a college-preparatory school. The Middle
School supports this end with a challenging academic program designed
to prepare middle school students for their critical upper school
years. Class size in the Middle School averages approximately fifteen
students, which allows for a significant amount of teacher-student
interaction. The sixth grade curriculum is designed to enable students
to acquire the knowledge and skills for success in their remaining
middle school years. The seventh and eighth grade curricula are
designed to build on the knowledge and skills gained in prior years. |
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Upper School
At HRA, our students experience a balanced education that centers
on three important aspects of adolescent life: an exclusively college-preparatory
academic environment, an exciting and stimulating extra-curricular
program, and an emphasis on character development and honor.
Led by a diverse and ambitious faculty, the Upper School maintains
a strong curriculum, small classes, and a strong individual advising
program that help to ensure that all students succeed as individual
learners. Graduation requirements provide an important balance of
work in all essential academic disciplines including English, history,
foreign language, science, math, visual arts, performing arts, and
physical education. Talented teachers help support Advanced Placement
courses in English Literature, Calculus, Studio Art, Chemistry,
Art History, Physics, Biology, Latin, French, Spanish, German, European
History, American History, English Language and US Government. In
addition, the performing and visual arts programs have long been
a source of pride at HRA, offering many extra-curricular and classroom
opportunities. HRA’s standardized test scores, including AP
and SAT scores consistently place our graduates among the top private
schools, a fact reflected in our excellent college placement record,
one that includes some of the most competitive colleges and universities.
The Upper School attempts to meet the needs of all students by
providing a complete extra-curricular and athletic program, led
by our team of excellent coaches and club sponsors. The HRA athletic
program includes opportunities for boys and girls teams in cross-country,
basketball, track, tennis, swimming, cheerleading, and soccer. Girls
may also choose volleyball, softball, and field hockey, while boys
may play baseball, football, and lacrosse. Of course, many other
clubs and activities also exist to keep kids connected to the school
community, including: Forensics, Model United Nations, Community
Service Clubs, Student Government, Yearbook, Odyssey of the Mind,
Newspaper, and various academic clubs. HRA works very hard to keep
students connected and active in their teen years.
At the core of the HRA experience is the Honor Code. The faculty
work with students on understanding issues of honor, and try hard
to make issues of character central to the upper school experience
through community service, a strong advisory program, and an emphasis
on ethics in the everyday life of the school. HRA provides a social
environment that emphasizes trust, freedom, opportunity, and accountability.
Students are given a great deal of trust to maintain the standards
of the school, to work with faculty on issues related to the school's
Honor Code, and to plan many school activities and fund-raisers.
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