Our Courses

Our course catalog through the years is a wide and varied one, which changes based on student interest, faculty specialties, available resources, and more.

We offer traditional & advanced Mathematics, Science & English tracks, which mirror much of what other schools tend to do, but our focus on student-centered learning allows us to be more flexible (and interesting!) when it comes to specifics.

English and Science have a mix of familiar and unique courses - how does Dystopian Fiction sound? Would you take Anatomy & Physiology or Psychology?

If you need more specific
information on a particular
course, please contact us at
info@noraschool.org!

Graduation Requirements

English: 4 credits
Social Studies: 3 credits
Math: 3 credits
Science: 3 credits
World Language: 2 credits

1 credit = 1 year (2 semesters)

Other requirements:
Humanities, Arts & other Electives (1/year)
Community Service (32 hours/year)
Sports (1 season’s participation)

Senior Portfolio:
Before graduation, Seniors must present and defend a portfolio of their best work from their high school career, especially in these four categories:

  • Written language expression

  • Oral language expression

  • Data Analysis

  • Research

Intersession

Each Spring, Nora takes a one-week break from the regular routine to learn new things: skills, hobbies, athletics, travel, and more. These offerings change from year to year, depending on student interest.

Here are some of our recent Intersessions:

The Birds & the Tree

Canoeing and hiking to find exciting species of birds & trees and how they influence our environment

Zines, Zines, Zines!

Writing, designing, & crafting handmade mini-magazines that inspire “Awe!”

Hardware isn’t Hard

Dissecting and rebuilding complex electronics, including computers

The Nora School offers its students many ways to break out of their routine, to shake things up by getting out of their comfort zones and creating new experiences. Innumerable field trips, class retreats, and community service groups give our students a new perspective on life. But there’s nothing quite like our Social Justice Travel.

Thanks to our many generous donors, our school funds 9-10 days of travel each year for our Juniors & Seniors as they start to explore the wider world, ask the hardest of questions, and learn the hardest of answers.

Social Justice Travel Program

  • Day 1: Atlanta, GA

    • Dr. Martin Luther King Visitor Center

    • Carter Center

    Days 2-3: Montgomery, AL

    • Tuskegee University

    • Peace and Justice Memorial, Montgomery AL

    • Rosa Parks Museum

    • Greyhound Freedom Riders Bus Station

    • The Legacy Museum

    • Sculpture Park on the Alabama River

    Days 4-5: Selma, AL

    • Edmund Pettus Bridge walk

    • COFO offices at University of MS, Jackson

    • Medgar Evars home

    • Emmitt Till Museum

    • Money and Sumner MS

    Day 6: Clarksdale, MS to Memphis, TN

    • Mound Bayou Civil Rights Museum

    • Blue Museum

    • National Civil Rights Museum

    Day 7: Little Rock, AR

    • Little Rock High School

    • Clinton Library

    Day 8: Tulsa, OK

    • Greenwood Rising Museum

    Day 9: Travel Home

There’s nothing simple about Social Justice. When your student stands in the footsteps of those who fought & died for it, they come back a changed person. A person more willing to stand up for what’s right. A person more willing to believe in a beautiful and peaceful future. An adult - perhaps for the first time - with wisdom earned not from books but from buildings, not from say-so but from the actual streets and soil where heroes walked.

  • Day 1: Rapid City, SD

    • Mount Rushmore Nat’l Monument

    Day 2: Wyoming

    • Bear Lodge (Devil’s Tower)

    • Lead & Deadwood mining towns

    Day 3: Black Hills, SD

    • Crazy Horse Memorial

    • Custer State Park

    • Wall Drug

    Day 4: Badlands, SD

    • Badlands National Park

    Day 5-9: Pine Ridge Reservation

    • Orientation

    • Site of Massacre of Wounded Knee

    • Work Days on Reservation

    • Guest Speakers from local tribes

    • Sightseeing on tribal land

    Day 10: Travel Home

Beyond the Classroom

During School

School isn’t all academics! Every now and then we venture beyond our walls, and just as often, students bring their unique interests, talents, and hobbies into our community.

  • Students have many opportunities to take charge of their learning and to lead with purpose within our school. At The Nora School, leadership outside of the classroom takes shape through the Student Government Association, National Honor Society, and Peer Mediation as part of our SEL offerings.

    • Our Student Government Association (SGA) has school officers, class representatives, and members who are passionate about making high school exciting and memorable. They help to maintain a sense of school spirit, while promoting the well-being of the school and our surrounding community. The SGA hones in their leadership skills by coordinating and participating in Homecoming, community service projects, spirit events, and Prom.

    • The National Honor Society (NHS) is an invite-only organization founded on academic excellence and community service. NHS officers and members are committed to giving back—organizing pet food and coat drives, leading peer tutoring sessions, and supporting other school and neighborhood initiatives that meet community needs. Through leadership, scholarship, service, and character, our chapter works to make a positive, lasting impact.

    • At The Nora School, Peer Mediation empowers students to resolve conflicts respectfully and constructively. Our program trains selected students in active listening, neutral facilitation, problem-solving, and confidentiality. This practice helps build leadership and empathy amongst mediators. Peer mediation creates a safer, more supportive school climate by equipping students with the tools to handle disagreements constructively and independently.

  • Mindfulness and meditation are important pillars of life at The Nora School. Nearly every school day begins with a moment of mindfulness during our Morning Meeting, giving students and staff an opportunity to pause, reflect, and start the day with intention. On Fridays, we take this practice a step further with a five-minute guided group meditation. Our goal is to introduce students to techniques that help them stay grounded, manage stress, and remain present in the moment—skills that can support their well-being both in and out of the classroom.

  • At Nora, we believe in trust until proven otherwise. That means students can head off campus during lunch to enjoy the freedom and responsibility that comes with being part of our community. Whether they're picnicking on the lawn or trying a favorite spot in Downtown Silver Spring, there are plenty of options just steps away.

  • The Nora School is committed to active community engagement. Each month, students in grades 9-11 participate in field service with local organizations to distribute food, clothing, and other essential supports to people in need, while Grade 12 students get time off for their own community service projects. These experiences allow students to earn Student Service Learning hours while developing empathy, civic responsibility, and a practical understanding that everyone can contribute to helping others.

  • Lab is a 30-minute block built into the school day that is similar to after school social clubs. Students get to choose their labs based on their personal interest.  Some Labs are more fun and social—like games or group activities—while others are intended to give time to study, relax, or catch up on work. Past Lab offerings have included karaoke, Dungeons & Dragons, quiet study hall, book-club, Fiber Arts (knitting and crocheting), theater, chess, and many others.

  • At The Nora School, we believe some of the best learning happens through experience. That's why field trips are an important part of our educational program, and they begin during the very first week of school!

    Nora students participate in at least two school-wide field trips each year, and many classes take additional trips throughout the school year to extend learning beyond the classroom. We also offer class retreats and a Social Justice Travel Program, providing students with meaningful opportunities to explore new places, engage with diverse perspectives, and connect their learning to the world around them.

After Hours

Our focus on our community doesn’t stop when the bell rings! We’re passionate about giving space and time for anything that brings joy and growth to our students.

  • Overtime is at the end of the school day from 2:45-3:15 pm (except Wednesdays)! It is either optional or assigned depending on what you need. But basically:

    It’s built-in support time where you can get help from teachers, finish assignments, or do independent work in a familiar space. Students can also use this time to meet with additional support like personal tutors or executive function coaches.  

  • Exercise is a necessity in life, and high school is where we learn to love — or hate — it. At The Nora School, we require every student to participate in at least one sport during their time here. This policy is about more than a graduation requirement. It also helps to build lifelong habits of movement, to discover athletic interests, and to develop resilience and confidence! Regular physical activity supports healthy living, promotes emotional well-being such as teamwork and goal-setting, and the routine of practice can reduce anxiety and boost mood.

    Our aim is not to produce athletes, but to help young people discover healthy habits, confidence, and belonging that can last a lifetime.

  • Even small schools deserve celebrations! We cherish social connection and host several warm, inclusive get-togethers each year—on campus and around our community. We also offer off‑site outings for special occasions like Homecoming and Prom for students who wish to participate. Many of our students and families also come out to cheer at sporting events, showing strong support from the sidelines. At our school, social life sparks belonging, celebration, and growth.

  • Every fall, Advisory Groups take time to get to know each other better and to face the challenge of the year ahead.

    Freshpeople are orienting to High School for the first time.  They spend two days doing team building activities inside and outside the building together, often spending some time traveling and seeing parts of Downtown DC!

    Sophomores spend the days further afield in some deeper studies.  They travel to Cambridge, Maryland to study Harriet Tubman and to go kayaking.

    Juniors are preparing for the challenging of an intense academic preparation for college.  So a high ropes course and camping overnight meet the challenge.

    Seniors are readying to enter the college application process and visit college campuses and discuss the significance of their personal essay.