Nueva is an independent PreK–12 school where gifted learners discover and develop their passions, and learn to make choices that positively and profoundly impact the world.

Learn More

Nueva News

Finding Joy in the Groove
Finding Joy in the Groove

As I finish my 23rd year at Nueva, I have been reflecting on how this all started and how our music program has grown in the past two decades.

Building Pilina
Building Pilina

For our inaugural 10th grade trip to West Kauai, “‘Reddish Water’: Narratives of Erosion,” our focus was ostensibly on considering Kauai’s eroding landscapes.

When Learning is a Verb
When Learning is a Verb

I spent the past week co-chaperoning a group of eleventh graders in a remote stretch of the Alaskan wilderness, where learning felt immediate, shared, and deeply alive. We stayed at the Tidelines Institute in southeast Alaska, learning about homesteading, indigenous history, renewable energy and technology, and developing newfound respect and appreciation for the nature and environment around us.

It’s the Day of the Show, Y’all
It’s the Day of the Show, Y’all

“It’s the day of the show, y’all!” Parker Posey's quote from Waiting for Guffman applied Wednesday morning to over 35 Upper School faculty and staff as we donned 70s garb and makeup to bring to life a vision of Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing that encompassed the era of disco, feminism, and anti-Vietnam War protests. In the offices of “Ms. Sina” magazine and then in the riotous Studio 54, we tried to show how the play’s language and comedy transcend time and space. We brought these 400-year-old words alive for our colleagues and students through music, costumes, and even a choreographed dance break!

Finding Time for Curiosity and Joy
Finding Time for Curiosity and Joy

Back in 2017, it was my first year at Nueva, and I had no idea what Quest was. I remember my surprise and delight as my ninth grade advisory brought in all of the projects that they’d been working on during the year: a computer built from scratch, travel journals brimming with beautiful artwork and reflections, 30 pies made just for Quest, as well as a full recipe book of what they’d learned to make over the course of the year. Someone even trained an algorithm (back in 2018!) to detect whether an object was recyclable, compostable, or trash. “Wow,” I remember thinking, “I didn’t realize my advisees were all so cool!” 

Lee Fertig

Head of School

"Nueva is more than just a school for gifted learners. It’s more than just a place where students focus on design thinking and social emotional learning. It’s a beloved community, inclusive and compassionate, collectively embracing diverse perspectives and empowering everyone to make choices that benefit the world."
 

          

Social Media

The Nueva School is a member of many professional organizations and associations. We believe we become better because of our connections to and within these groups. The Nueva School is jointly accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and the California Association of Independent Schools (CAIS). We are also members of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), the National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC), the Association of Independent Schools for Gifted Students (AISGS)*, the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CAIS), the Independent School Data Exchange (INDEX),  the California Independent Schools Business Officers Association (CAL-ISBOA), and the Association of Technology Leaders in Independent Schools (ATLIS).


*Nueva is proud to be a founding member of the Association of Independent Schools for Gifted Students (AISGS).

The Nueva School admits students of any race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or national or ethnic origin to all rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school and does not discriminate on the basis of these factors in the administration of its educational policies, financial award programs, or athletic and other school programs.