About Nova
OverviewNOVA is an independent, coeducational day school that offers an educational program from pre-kindergarten (three-year-olds) through grade 12. The school was founded in 1997, and the purpose-built campus is situated in a residential neighborhood near the city center. The school year is divided into two semesters and extends from late August to mid-June. During the year, students have a one-week fall break (October), a three-week winter break, a shorter (February) break, and a one-week spring break (April).Curriculum
The Early Education Center and the Elementary division offer the IB’s Primary Years Program (PYP). The PYP is an inquiry-based educational framework that is focused on developing the whole child, recognizing the importance of the academic, social, emotional, cultural, and physical development of children. Pre-kindergarten (three and four-year-olds) curriculum is a play-based curriculum learning environment. Our PK4 students also experience learning that prepares them for the next stage, Kindergarten. The elementary school uses the American Education Reaches Out (AERO) standards, aligned with the U.S. Common Core state standards for literacy and numeracy. It also uses the AERO standards for Science, Social Studies, and World Languages. Specialty classes, such as Art, Music, Dance, and Physical Education, are included for students in grades K to 5. Macedonian language classes in grades K-5 are offered to local and international students. The secondary school offers the IB Middle Years (MYP) and Diploma (DP) Programs. Foreign languages (French, German, Spanish, and Italian), along with Macedonian language classes, are part of the curriculum for grades 6-12. The school uses Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) and the PSAT 8/9/10/11 to benchmark academic achievement and growth. The Center for Differentiated Learning (CDL) offers support for classroom integration of children with IEPs and pull-out interventions tailored to their specific needs. After-school activities are provided to all grades in sports (soccer, volleyball, basketball, tennis, gymnastics, cross-country, swimming), arts (drama, band, choir, ballet, hip hop), languages, math, science, robotics, knowledge bowl, and speech/debate. The school is home to SuperNOVA athletics; grades 6-12 participate in CEESA events and sports. Most NOVA graduates matriculate to higher education institutions in EU countries, the U.S., and Asia/Australia.
FacultyIn the 2022-2023 school year, NOVA has 202 total staff including 118 teachers, 10 of whom are U.S. citizens, 74 host-country nationals, and 34 third-country nationals from the UK, France, Peru, Canada, Serbia, and Turkey. All teaching faculty maintain a teaching certificate and/or credential.
Facilities The school campus is composed of purpose-built buildings dedicated to an early education center, elementary, lower secondary, and upper secondary school. A sky bridge connects the elementary and secondary school buildings. To improve the mobility of our students, faculty, and staff, the school utilizes a panoramic elevator. Additionally, the school campus includes separate buildings for student support services, and administration offices as well as a separate building for the business office. The outdoor spaces include three gated playgrounds, a small soccer field, a basketball court, and a large outdoor amphitheater. The entire campus offers wireless connectivity. There are five science labs, three art rooms, two libraries, two full-service cafeterias with the third one under construction, two indoor amphitheaters, two music studios, two dance studios, a drama room, an elementary gym, and a design studio. The school uses an adjacent sports and recreational center for its physical education classes, bigger events, and competitions.
