Funding type Public charter school Opened September 2007 NCES School ID 330004000678 | Founded 2006 CEEB code 300118 Director Jennifer Cava | |
The Academy for Science and Design (ASD) is a public charter school located in Nashua, New Hampshire, United States. ASD concentrates on providing a STEM-based education. The academy is tuition-free for New Hampshire residents.
Contents
ASD opened in September 2007 and is currently serving 525 students from over 40 New Hampshire communities in grades 6 through 12. The academy offers a science, technology, engineering and math oriented curriculum beginning with algebra, integrated biology and chemistry, and physics in grade 7.
History
The establishment of the school was approved in March 2006. Its establishment was sponsored by Daniel Webster College. The school opened for the 2007-08 academic year. During the 2011-12 year grade 6 was added to the school. Prior to the 2012-13 school year ASDNH moved from its original location in Merrimack, New Hampshire, to its current location in Nashua, expanding the size of the student body. On October 3, 2014, Dr. Scott F. Bobbitt donated $30,000 for the construction of a full chemistry lab. In 2015, the Academy for Science and Design was ranked the 50th best high school in America by Newsweek., and rose to 44th in 2016.
Curriculum
The academy's goal is to be internationally competitive. Algebra, physics, chemistry, design, and biology are taught beginning in grade 7. Chemistry and biology are taught as one three-year course referred to as "Integrated Biology and Chemistry" or "IBC". Starting in 2012, world history (now known as "Social Studies") and language arts are taught as a package course titled "Humanities". Conceptual physics is also taught as a three-year course. Technology and design are taught in dedicated courses as "Technology Design" and "Technology Applications in Society". Information technologies are integrated throughout the curriculum. In addition to the course load, the students are required to complete 150 community service hours as well as a junior internship comprising approximately 100 hours in the specialty that they have chosen. Student projects emphasize research skills and engineering. Mandarin Chinese, German, and Spanish are offered as the initial foreign languages.