Intellectual Courage
Because real learning happens outside one’s comfort zone, we encourage students to be bold. To seek answers in new places. To take a fresh approach, rather than just the next logical step. It’s what keeps learning exciting and makes it personal. At The Northwest School, students find a supportive community where they feel safe to take risks—and where mistakes are seen as an important part of learning. Fear of “not doing it right” takes a backseat as a new level of confidence emerges.
In the 6th grade Map Project, students create their own island – determining everything from topography to the society’s governing laws.
Twelfth-grade students have the opportunity to actively participate in a political campaign. Students select a candidate or ballot initiative, contact campaign headquarters, and put in volunteer hours leading up to election day.
Every student must take art courses from each discipline, Theater, Dance, Visual Art, Music.
Students elect to spend seven weeks immersed in study and culture abroad.
One of the key meta-skills I got from Northwest was to not beat myself up when I didn’t succeed on the first try but to use it as a teachable moment. I tried new things, failed, and tried again. When I did my first startup company I didn’t know how to do any of it but I was self-critical and I learned from it.
Emmett Shear ’01
CEO, Twitch