Semester School

What is a Semester School?

Semester school is a term used to describe a school that complements a student’s secondary education by providing them with the opportunity to step out of their regular school for half an academic year and step into a uniquely different educational setting while continuing their required academic studies. The academic curriculum at semester schools tends to be college preparatory, interdisciplinary, and experiential.

Conserve School is proud to be a member of the Semester Schools Network.

Click on this link to visit the Semester Schools Network website.

Typical Semester School Characteristics

Semester school curricula are built around themes including environmental sustainability, marine ecology, organic farming, ethics and leadership, visual arts, and others. The curricula tend to be place-based drawing on the resources and opportunities of each school's unique location.
Semester schools are boarding schools. Community living is a key element of the experience. Through living closely with peers and teachers and working together to benefit the school community students develop their communication, leadership, and cooperative skills.
Semester schools enroll college bound sophomores, juniors, and or seniors. Most semester schools focus primarily on students from just one grade level.
Semester school programs run from 14 to 18 weeks.
Semester schools tend to be small, enrolling from 15 to 60 students a semester with average class sizes ranging from 5 to 15 students.
Semester schools are private schools that charge tuition and offer financial aid. Depending on the school and a student’s family situation the cost can range from no cost to several thousands of dollars.
Most semester schools are located in the United States.

Benefits of a Semester School

Attending a semester school can:

Intensify a student’s interest in and motivation for learning.
Allow a student to pursue a special area of interest in depth.
Complement a student's education with experiences that aren't available at their home school.
Broaden a student’s range of skills and interests and increase their maturity level.
Give students a head start on developing the independence, good judgment, and life skills necessary for living away from home before they leave for college.
Provide students with a unique, eye-catching experience that sets them apart from other applicants when applying to colleges.
Provide students from public schools a boarding school experience without the cost or time commitment of a four-year school.

Semester Schools Network Members

Alzar School is located near Cascade, Idaho, United States.
Maine Coast Semester at Chewonki is located near Wiscasset, Maine, United States.
CITYterm located in New York City, New York, United States.
The Island School is located at Cape Eleuthera, Bahamas.
The Mountain School is located near Vershire, Vermont, United States.
The Outdoor Academy is located near Pisgah Forest, North Carolina, United States.
Oxbow School is located near Napa, California, United States.
HMI Semester is located near Leadville, Colorado, United States.
The Traveling School for Girls takes girls to Africa and South or Central America.
The School for Ethics and Global Leadership is located in Washington, D.C., United States.

Other Semester Schools

Click here for Hawaii Outdoors Institute Semester School Website Focused on sustainability, environmental conservation, leadership, culture, and community service, Hawaii Outdoors Institute is located near Honoka'a, Hawaii, United States.
Click here for Kroka Semester Programs Website An expeditionary semester program based out of Marlow, New Hampshire.
Click here for the Steward Outdoor School A semester school for environmental science and outdoor education for middle schoolers, is located near Ivoryton, Connecticut, United States.