Nova High School

285 Students

High School 9th - 12th

School Overview

Nova High School, located in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Seattle, is a small, alternative public high school that operates on a philosophy of student autonomy and democratic decision-making. Unlike traditional high schools, Nova emphasizes a highly personalized learning experience where students are deeply involved in shaping their own educational paths. The school environment is characterized by smaller class sizes, an informal culture, and a strong focus on self-directed study, social justice, and critical thinking.

The school is well-known for its collaborative community, where the relationship between students and teachers is egalitarian rather than hierarchical. Academics are rigorous but flexible, often integrating interdisciplinary projects and community-based learning. By fostering a culture of mutual respect and individual responsibility, Nova High School aims to serve students who may feel constrained by the structure of a comprehensive high school and are instead seeking an environment that values their voice, creativity, and personal growth.

285

Total Students

15.3

Full-Time Teachers

18.7

Student/Teacher Ratio

30.2%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Nova High School
Demographic	Student Count
White	162
Hispanic	29
Black	9
Asian	6
Two or More	25
American Indian	1
Pacific Islander	1

White
162 (69.5 %)
Hispanic
29 (12.4 %)
Two or More
25 (10.7 %)
Black
9 (3.9 %)
Asian
6 (2.6 %)
American Indian
1 (0.4 %)
Pacific Islander
1 (0.4 %)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	High School
School Type:	Alternative School
Charter Status:*	Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction:	No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status:	N/A
District:	Seattle School District No. 1
Phone:	(206)252-3500
Grade Range:	9th - 12th
Total Students:	285
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	15.3
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	18.7
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes participating without using any Provision or the CEO
Qualified Free Lunch:	69
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	17

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Grade 9 56

Grade 10 69

Grade 11 85

Grade 12 75