Frequently Asked Questions
How was Nova Classical Academy started?
What is a Charter School?
Who Sponsors Nova?
How many students attend Nova?
What are the class sizes?
Does Nova charge tuition?
Does Nova offer full day or half day kindergarten?
What are the school hours and calendar?
Do St. Paul students get preference for enrollment?
Does Nova have any admission requirements?
Does Nova have a gifted program?
Does Nova provide Special Education services?
Does Nova have band and/or orchestra?
What specialists does Nova have?
Does Nova have computers?
What foreign languages are offered at Nova?
Does Nova have a gym?
What extra-curricular activities are offered?
Does Nova offer busing?
Does Nova have a hot lunch program?
Do Nova students wear uniforms?
How was Nova Classical Academy started?
Nova Classical Academy was founded by three St. Paul parents: Elisa Knudson, Simon Fung and Teresa Schulte. These parents saw a need in the public school system for the kind of rigorous classical education typically found only in private schools. They also saw a need for a school that acknowledged parents as the primary educators of their children and which sought to assist them in that task. Nova Classical Academy opened in the fall of 2003 with approximately 165 students in grades K-6. Grades 7 and 8 were added in 2004 and 2005 and we will eventually educate students in grades K-12.
The founders of the school were greatly influenced and inspired by the book The Well-Trained Mind: A Guide to Classical Education at Home by Jessie Wise and Susan Wise Bauer. We highly recommend that anyone considering enrolling a child or teaching at Nova Classical Academy read this book to gain an understanding of our philosophy of education.
A charter school is a public school that receives public education funding and is open to all children in the state in which it is located. In general, a charter school is independent of the local school district, nonsectarian, tuition-free, and governed by a board of directors elected from among the parents and staff of the school as well as interested community members. In return for increased accountability for results, charter schools are free of many regulations governing traditional public schools. Charter schools must have a sponsor to oversee these accountability efforts. Minnesota passed the first charter school law in 1991 and saw the opening of the first charter school in the nation in 1992. Now, 40 states and the District of Columbia have laws allowing the creation of charter schools. In Minnesota, charter schools are part of the state's system of public education.
Charter schools may be sponsored by schools boards, institutions of higher learning and certain nonprofit corporations. Contracts with sponsors must be examined and renewed every three years. Nova is sponsored by Friends of Ascension, a nonprofit corporation organized specifically to sponsor knowledge-based charter schools. Friends of Ascension sponsors a number of other charter schools in the Twin Cities.
How many students attend Nova?
We currently enroll approximately 310 students in grades K-8. We have two sections each of grades K, 1, 2, 3 and 7, and one section each of grades 4, 5, 6 and 8. We will add a second section of 4th grade next year, 5th grade the year following, etc.
Nova holds a K-12 charter. We will eventually expand into a full high school. Although we had hoped to do this seamlessly, certain strategic issues have to be resolved before we can responsibly begin enrolling high school students. This is a high priority for the Board of Directors and the Administration of the school.
20 students in kindergarten, 22 in grades 1 and 2, and 24 in grades 3 and up.
No. Nova Classical Academy is a public school and is funded by general education revenues just like any other public school. We do expect parents to participate in fund-raising activities, and some non-required programs are fee-based. There is a fee for the afternoon kindergarten enrichment program, but no fee for the half-day, morning only program.
Does Nova Offer Full Day or Half Day Kindergarten? >
As noted above, Nova offers half day kindergarten at no charge, and also offers an optional afternoon enrichment program for enrolled kindergartners on a fee basis. The fee for the enrichment program for the current year (2006-2007) is $2,250 for the full year, $1,500 for the second and third trimesters only, and $750 for the third trimester only. A kindergarten student may enroll in the afternoon enrichment at the beginning of the 1, 2nd or 3rd trimesters.
What are the school hours and calendar?
For 2006-2007 our hours are 9:00 am to 3:40 pm for grades 1-8 and the full day kindergarten + enrichment. Half day (morning) kindergarten hours are 9:00 am to 11:30 am. Our school calendar for this year is posted on our website.
Do St. Paul students get preference for enrollment?
No. With limited exceptions, charter schools do not have geographic preference areas. Any Minnesota child in the offered grades is eligible to enroll, but parents must apply for admission for their children. Charter schools DO have sibling preference. Please see our handout on the application process for further information regarding deadlines and lottery procedures.
Does Nova have any admission requirements?
There are no academic or geographic admission requirements, but, as stated above, application must be made in writing. In addition, applicants who are admitted MUST come to an orientation interview and sign a partnership agreement to be enrolled. Grade placement and promotion will be determined on the basis of skills assessments.
Does Nova have a gifted program?
We are extremely committed to providing appropriately challenging studies to gifted students within the framework of our classical curriculum. Our core curriculum is accelerated and enriched and meets the needs of most moderately gifted students. In addition, we use ability grouping and clustering to ensure that all students are comfortably challenged. Parents, and students themselves, share a large part of the responsibility for making this successful.
Does Nova provide special education services?
Yes. We contract with Northeast Metro Independent School District 916 for the provision of all special education services for our students.
Does Nova have band and/or orchestra?
Playing an instrument is not only personally enriching, but research indicates that it helps with academics, especially math. Instrumental instruction and band are offered at Nova through the Hill-Murray Parish Band Program. This is a fee-based program.
What specialists does Nova have?
We employ specialists in the areas of Art, Music, Physical Education and Latin.
Computers are an essential part of schools today - for teaching, research, communication and presentations. It's important to keep in mind, however, that computers are not an end in themselves, but a tool to help accomplish other goals. Nova's students have access to computers in all classrooms as needed.
What foreign languages are offered at Nova?
All students study Latin beginning in 3rd grade.
Nova's campus has both indoor and outdoor facilities for recreation and physical education.
What extra-curricular activities are offered?
Nova currently offers students the opportunity to participate in the following extra-curricular activities: Chess Club, Drama Club, Book Club, Art Club, Philosophy Club, Math Team, Volleyball Team (5-6 co-ed), Newspaper, Yearbook, and summer enrichment courses.
We provide transportation at no cost to any St. Paul resident who lives more than two miles from school. We also offer some bus service for a fee to some students who live within the two-mile limit or outside of the city limits. In addition, we will assist in matching families who are interested in carpooling.
Does Nova have a hot lunch program?
Yes. We contract with Caravan Kids for catered lunch services.
Do Nova students wear uniforms?
Yes. You may view our uniform policy in the School Policy's section of our website.
