New Opportunities.
Ready For Anything.
NORA.
SMALL CLASSES • INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY• SOCIAL JUSTICE TRAVEL • INTELLECTUAL INDEPENDENCE
Metro & ADA-accessible 301-495-6672
“For the first time in her life, my child looked forward to going to school each day and felt academically challenged and confident.”
— Lee Graeff, Parent from the class of 2025
Intentionally Small Classes
Who wants to share a classroom with 30 other teenagers? Not us.
We pride ourselves on our classes of 8-12 students, which give everyone a chance to participate however they need. Our amazing team of eclectic teachers uses discussion- and experience-based lessons on a daily basis in order to harness every student’s strengths.
Civic Engagement
Walk in the footsteps of history, & continue the fight for equal rights. Our Social Justice Travel Program pays for Juniors & Seniors to experience history firsthand, to walk where heroes walked and inspire a new generation. Whether we go to the South to learn about the battles of the 1960s, or to South Dakota to discover rights abuses that still occur today, we aim to instill a passion for equity and inclusion in our students.
A Socially Supportive Community
Our community is a kind, patient place to grow in confidence. At Nora you are cared for and known for what you have done. You can find the social support you need through close relationships with teachers & peers, our Class Advisors, College Counselor or Consulting Social Worker, or in Peer Mediation. Together, we’re building a culture of kindness, forgiveness, and mutual success.
Every decision is shaped by a clear sense of purpose.
OUR MISSION
The Nora School is a progressive, socially conscious, college preparatory high school that is small by design, academically and emotionally supportive, and community-oriented. We provide an inspiring space for a diverse group of students and teachers to grow. Together, we:
Foster intellectual and inquiring learners
Discover our unique identity and place in the world
Develop social awareness that impels us to action
Prepare for college and for life
A wide range of creative, athletic and leadership opportunities allow all kinds of talents to flourish. Different types of small group settings (classroom, advisory, one-on-one) and an optimistic, welcoming academic environment help everyone succeed in our tight-knit community, where we celebrate our uniqueness and embrace new challenges.
Inclusive Sports & Extracurriculars
Teamwork and poise under pressure are invaluable habits for the fast-paced future we inhabit. Our “Inclusive Athletics” make soccer, softball, basketball and more available to all genders, regardless of experience (or skill) level, so all-state athletes and rookies alike learn from each other on the field!
“There’s a level of independence that came with Nora that replicates much of what you do at college, that made me feel more secure in myself.”
— Katie H, Nora School & Grinnell College Graduate
Freedom (with Accountability)
Freedoms like Open-Campus Lunches are balanced by supervised support periods, in-person office hours, peer mediation and more, in order to maximize personal and social growth during these important years.
While we do travel far in order to learn from experience, our goal of Social Consciousness doesn’t stop in Selma - it fills every day at Nora, where we strive to:
Commit to each person’s unique identity with affirming language and policies that respect race, ethnicity, gender, learning difference, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, and more.
Recognize that different points of view are valuable and that it is important to learn to speak and listen respectfully.
Teach civic education & engagement across all disciplines.
Support self-awareness, mindfulness, and opportunities for reflection.
Recognize that the health of our bodies, our planet, our economy, and justice are all connected.
Parents Can Learn, Too
We don’t just SAY that learning is a lifelong endeavor, we live it! Our public Parent Education Series is geared toward helping families through the tumult of teenage life, helping families adapt to new habits & learning styles, guiding them through the inner workings of teenage minds, and much more.
Since 1991, The Nora School has been independently accredited by the Middle States Association of Schools & Colleges.
Nora has renewed our accreditation several times since then, each time a year-long process of renewal and rediscovery. Peer-reviewed accreditations such as this signify that our institution has met specific quality standards and is committed to continuous improvement.
60+ Years of Alumni!
The amazing school community that started as The Eberhard School in 1964 is still thriving, more than 60 years later! We celebrated our Diamond Jubilee on April 20, 2024, and discovered just how much one small school community can change its students’ lives forever.
Reconnect with our community, or take a trip down memory lane:
Post-Secondary
Success
Many Nora School students join the school without a plan for what comes next; by graduation, they’ve learned much more of what they want to do, and what they have to say. Strong bonds with diverse teachers and a dynamic College Advising program expose students to a wide range of options and opportunities, and support every student’s quest for positive next steps.
Our full list of alumni colleges has over 50 years of history! Here are some recent acceptances:
