FAQs

SAEL is a college preparatory public charter high school that uses a project-based, hands on, interdisciplinary approach to learning. We are tuition - free and have the same academic standards and expectations as other public schools, but with a focus on making the learning relevant. Community partnerships and frequent work in the field give students a chance to truly experience their learning with experts. Service learning is not just used as a singular event, but a means of discovering the world and helping to preserve, protect, and support it. Although SAEL will definitely challenge students to think critically, it is a school for all types of learning and thinking styles. Students are given the opportunity to create high quality work that will serve a real purpose in the community. Our foundation of EL Education and the clear results of EL schools across the country adds legitimacy to our dynamic approach to the creation of an engaging, inviting, and rigorous school program. We work together to form a strong school culture that supports tolerance, diversity, and excellence. We are a small school that can offer individualized attention. Character education is woven into how we teach and how we learn. Students are not only pushed to think critically, discuss passionately, and learn deeply, but they are also asked to do this while examining the issues in our world from multiple perspectives and with open minds. All students are expected to apply to college and will need to complete all a-g level coursework in order to graduate. This does not mean students must blindly choose college after high school, but instead are empowered to engage in the application process with guidance from SAEL staff so they are prepared for the many applications they will be faced with throughout their lives. We believe all doors need to be open to our students when they leave SAEL. We are excited to be able to support students to find their path after high school, whether they choose college, trade school, the military, or a gap year program. Students from SAEL have been accepted to schools like UC Berkeley, UC Davis, UC Santa Cruz, Oberlin, Reed, Harvey Mudd, Prescott College, Sac State, Chico State, Humboldt State, Colorado College, Lewis and Clark, Worchester Polytechnical Institute to name a few. In order to make an active choice about next steps, best fits, and bright futures, students are given the chance to explore real work as they interact with the real professions to which their academic subjects are tied. We believe our students can and will succeed and we know we have the means of providing those opportunities to the individuals who trust us with their education. We are CREW not passengers, which means we consistently collaborate with students to flex our growth mindset and to support one another at SAEL.

SAEL students have been accepted to colleges like UC Berkeley, UC Davis, Oberlin, Reed, Lewis and Clark, Regis, Northern Arizona University, Cal Poly, Prescott College, Warren Wilson, Colorado State, Washington State, Kalamazoo College, Clark College, Sierra College, Humboldt State, Chico State, Butte College, University of Montana, Colorado School of Mines, and Evergreen State (so far!). SAEL uses a standards-based approach which means students will be studying the same state and national skills as any other public school student. We just approach the learning and grading of those skills differently. SAEL is WASC accredited, a part of the nationally recognized Expeditionary Learning network, and a CCSA member school. The majority of our college preparatory classes are a-g certified with a couple more in development. This means SAEL students will be prepared and eligible for the UC/CSU system and for colleges throughout the country. Students are encouraged to take on "extensions" of their learning in the form of teacher and student-designed projects and inquiries to make the learning go deeper individually or in study groups. Students can also take honors level courses for their core academic classes in the 11th and 12th grades. Specific AP classes are offered as well. Expeditionary Learning high schools nationwide work to achieve a 100% college acceptance rate and SAEL plans to do the same with each one of our graduating seniors. Numerous college admissions representatives have spoken with our students, families, and faculty. They have all assured us that a standards or mastery based grading approach is not only welcome, but can often provide more information to colleges about the skills a student may possess in character and academics. You can find more information about the college process and how we support it at our SAEL Guidance Website. You can find a great Edutopia article about how Mastery Based Grading is accepted at colleges and considered positive innovation in schools here.

For additional information about help with internet access during this time see below or if you are currently enrolled reach out to SAELinfo@sierracademy.net if we have not already been in touch to support:

Clubs for 19-20 (so far!):

SAEL offers a variety of clubs and extracurriculars as well as Varsity Sports in Volleyball, Basketball, Cross Country, Track, and Soccer. Crew Council serves as student government and there is also the biocultural leadership opportunity every year for students selected to go to Panama's Mamoní Valley during a Fall Intensive. Clubs at SAEL have included Art, Eco, Gardening, Entrepreneur, Music, Mountain Biking, Cross Fit, Martial Arts, Ski and Snowboarding, Trail Running, Basketball, Weight Lifting, Anime, and Multimedia. SAEL staff and students will be developing and shifting SAEL Clubs and Student Government opportunities based on student interest and teacher expertise.

SAEL is located in the historic NCE (Nevada City Elementary) building on 505 Main Street in downtown Nevada City.

We push students to work hard when they are here with us at SAEL. We have one hour and twenty minute block classes which allow students and teachers to dig into the work together. We also offer Office Hours at the end of each school day Monday - Thursday. This allows students to work on Homework, to seek out extra help, or to take their learning further with a teacher of their choice. So, yes, we have homework at SAEL, but it is not assigned for the sake of doing work at home. Work is meaningful and allows students to dig in deeper. All students are working toward mastery and there may be projects that take extra work at home or reflection between classes to make sure students are digesting and discussing their learning. Often students get work done in Office Hours and other times they need to take it home or collaborate with peers after school. Our students and families will tell you that the work they do see come home is not busy work and students are always allowed to bring it back in the next day for support in class or Office Hours if they are struggling.

Go to our Enrollment page! Download then submit an application via email or in person. We also have paper applications at school.

We will grow to have about 250 students total in grades 9 - 12. We will have about 60 students per grade, 30 students per class, and about 15 students per Crew.

Expeditionary Learning is our school partner and way of approaching teaching and learning at SAEL. It is a whole-school model that includes a national network of schools. Please go to our Expeditionary Learning page for more information or visit ELschools.org to access EL's website. On our website, you can see EL's Design Principle's here as well as an overview video about EL here.

We believe, along with the creators of the Common Core State Standards, that students must learn how to strategically use technology in order to be tech literate and capable of wielding tech tools effectively. Each student will receive a Chromebook for use at school and at home. We will have a Technology Education class where students can plan, make, and create using the latest technology. Teachers will use engaging instructional strategies that push all students to think critically and computers, projected interactive media, Elmos, and online resources will act as tools to support some of these strategies. Students will use innovative technology to support learning, present, organize resources, and as academic reference tools. Although students will have access to a variety of technology resources, these will be introduced and manipulated with care and only to enhance student learning when appropriate. Our students create e-portfolios and present them twice a year at Student Led Conferences. They also reflect on their goals with their family and Crew Advisor.

In Expeditionary Learning, students are actively engaged in real investigations while in the field. Students are expected to do actual academic and adventure work by being researchers of topics they are studying. Fieldwork is a privilege that can be affected by character performance at SAEL, but all students have access to gear and fieldwork regardless of ability to donate to fieldwork at SAEL. A "field trip" can often be seen as a passive experience for the students who are asked to receive, instead of construct, knowledge. At SAEL, students will be expected to go on fieldwork regularly as a part of their semester-long Expeditions. This fieldwork will be connected to what students are studying and will be an essential part of their academic achievement. Students are continually asked to be CREW, not passengers, and fieldwork is one example of how that idea comes to life at SAEL.

Intensives are courses lasting two weeks at the end of each semester at SAEL. Students who are passing all courses required for graduation (and therefore have demonstrated mastery in all courses required for graduation) can select from a menu of enrichment intensive opportunities. If a student is failing one or more class, he or she will be enrolled in an academic support intensive where the same learning targets or goals will be approached using a different array of instructional strategies.

Below are some of the Intensives we have offered at SAEL so far:

• Local Watersheds
• Climbing
• The Science of Art
• Backpacking the American River
• Latin Dance
• Coding and Gaming
• BioCultural Leadership in Panama with Experience Mamoní
• The California College Road Trip
• Music: The Soul of SAEL Band
• Cars and Mechanical Systems
• Culinary
• Sci Fi Filmmaking
• Drama Performance
• Planning Your Own Adventures
• Gardening
• Textiles and Fashion Creation
• Backpacking the Yuba River
• The Tahoe Rim Trail 100 Mile Challenge
• SAEL Ambassadors to our new home in Nevada City
• Strength and Conditioning

You can read our Charter to learn more about the vision and mission of the school. Our latest Charter was approved unanimously by the NJUHSD Board in the 15-16 school year and is up for renewal in the 2020-2021 school year. The original petition was written by SAEL community members in order to gain funding and support for the creation of our school. As the teachers, staff, students, and community engage in the dynamic, difficult, and joyous work of creating a school, some of the elements of this petition can change. The soul of the petition and the spirit of the vision and mission of the school will remain.

The NJUHSD is the authorizing district for our charter school. NJUHSD holds SAEL accountable to fulfilling the promises made in SAEL's charter. The NJUHSD also oversees our Special Education program as we are a school of the district for Special Education. There is also a representative from NJUHSD on our Board of Directors. We work closely with NJUHSD to be considered another solid choice for students in the community.

When local parents, community members, and educators decided they wanted to create a new Expeditionary Learning high school option in the area, they came together to form the SAEL Board of Directors. These trailblazers wanted to offer another choice for high schoolers, especially one that believes in supporting 100% college acceptance for all students. All of the founding and current board members have a connection to Grass Valley Charter School, a successful, K-8 EL mentor school. Similarly to how GVCS works within the public school system to be seen as another solid option for students within the district, SAEL works closely with the Nevada Joint Union High School District. You can read about the founding board members and their backgrounds on our Board Archive page here. You can also see bios and pictures of current board members here.

CCSA: New Public Charter School Shows Power of Hands On Learning!

The Union: Sierra Academy of Expeditionary Learning Open for Enrollment

If you have connections to local media outlets, please let us know!

If you would like to help us share information and spread word to families and young people about SAEL, please call us with ideas at 530-268-2200 or reach out to Principal Erica Crane at Ecrane@sierraacademy.net. We always welcome SAEL ambassadors and appreciate the creation of partnerships in our community. Liking our Facebook page, sharing our posts, and encouraging other folks to spread the word through social media is also very helpful.