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Discover Your Potential. Empower Your Future.

Experience Real World Learning

Engaging projects make the natural world and city your classroom

Discover Your Strengths

Small classes and customized learning opportunities

Invent Your Future

Learn leadership, entrepreneurship, innovation and life design

Letter from our Principal

New Roots Charter School was designed to teach young people to be resilient, adaptable, and innovative in the face of large-scale changes anticipated in this century due to global climate change.  A global pandemic has given our school an opportunity to shine, demonstrating how we walk our talk!

At a time when high school education in many large districts has been reduced to weekly assignments with little opportunity for teacher-student contact, New Roots Charter School has pivoted gracefully, providing a schedule of weekly online instruction in all subject areas, including advanced math and science courses and courses for college credit as well as art, music, and other electives.

 

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Get to Know Us Better!

Real World Education

Real World Education

Field trips and projects exploring current issues and events make classroom learning relevant and meaningful.

Learn by Doing

Learn by Doing

Classes feature active learning, focusing on projects and presentations for real audiences, and internships for real-world career exploration and skills.

Invent a Sustainable Future

Invent a Sustainable Future

Our students develop systems thinking, leadership, and entrepreneurship skills to imagine and create innovative new ways of inventing opportunities.

Farm to School

Farm to School

All students enjoy a FREE breakfast and lunch featuring locally-sourced ingredients from our Farm to School meal program, every day!

Build Community

Build Community

Our school culture is inclusive and welcoming of every person. This student initiative is supported by team building, community development, and student participation in governance.

Breathe

Breathe

Our wellness program teaches practical techniques for focus and stress management rooted in neuroscience, mindfulness, healthy nutrition, and physical activity. Join our co-ed soccer team, our ultimate frisbee club or our cross country team! Or propose your own athletic club.

Environmental Stewardship

Environmental Stewardship

Restoring the natural world that sustains all life is essential to our well being. Our students learn how.

Earn College Credit Now

Earn College Credit Now

Upper school students (grades 11-12) earn college credit for required high school credits and electives.

Play! Create!

Play! Create!

Join a band, create a band, produce beats, and rhyme with your friends. Expand your imagination as you prepare for Rootstock, an annual youth music celebration at the Bernie Milton Pavilion.

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Don’t Just Take Our Word For It

“New Roots offers a whole different style of learning. I have been able to discover which environments I learn and work best and what my passions are.”

HANNAH W., ALUMNA

“I have never in my career as a parent been more profoundly impressed with an establishment founded on education. New Roots exceeds my expectations in every avenue.”   

JILL S., PARENT

“New Roots is like my second home. I enjoy the fact that I have such an amazing and close bond with my teachers!”

KAITLYN O. STUDENT

“The inspiration I received at New Roots has helped me to approach new challenges in creative ways, and helped me to feel at home at Babson College, which is the #1 entrepreneurship college in the US.”

KAI H. ALUM

 

“At New Roots we have found kind, bright teachers, and administrators who are working for the student.”

KAREN C. PARENT

“The community is a blast both in the classroom and out in the community, they are accepting of all people no matter who they are and nothing like my old school.”

INDIGO H. STUDENT

“New Roots helps students think more about their surroundings, and is very good at working with individual needs of students in order to help them learn the way that works for them.”

SAVAHHAH S. ALUM

“New Roots has developed an exceptional school culture designed to encourage students to pursue friendships across boundaries that typically divide students – gender, ethnicity, income, and geography.”

JONATHAN C. PARENT

“The teachers are very understanding and try to help in any way they can, both emotionally and academically.”

ALEXIS T. STUDENT

 “When I went to college I felt very prepared. The most important things I learned at New Roots, that served me well in college, were how to work in a group and how to pursue my own academic interests.”

EZRA D. ALUM

“The teachers are all very good at their jobs, and that includes being patient and kind with all students.”

JOSHUA G. STUDENT

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New Roots by the Numbers

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College acceptance rate for New Roots graduates

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Students feel New Roots encourages them to be their best

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Teachers received an A+ rating from their students

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Students earn college credit during high school

Powerful Outcomes

Sarajane RoenkeThe hands-on learning aspect of my New Roots education helped me be a lot more prepared for a variety of different projects – I’m ready to dive into any challenge or project that comes my way!

Sarajane Roenke, Alum

Environmental Engineering, PhD program, Notre Dame (Awarded the Schmidt Fellowship by Notre Dame University)

The inspiration I received at New Roots has helped me to approach new challenges in creative ways, and helped me to feel at home at Babson College, which is the #1 entrepreneurship college in the US.

Kai H., Alum

New Roots gave me the opportunity to learn about public policy. I learned how to get my voice heard.

HANNAH W., Alum

New Roots helped me explore my interests and think about where I want to go in life.

KELSIE T., Alum

New Roots encouraged me to step up and ask questions, and to volunteer for opportunities that I might otherwise have felt unqualified for.

KORIN C., Alum

My New Roots experience gave me a real understanding of how to work in college through the many college-level courses.

ROSALINA M., Alum

Read More About Our Graduates

Upcoming Events

april, 2021

Filter Events

thu22apr8:00 am5:20 pmEarth Day Celebration (Upper School)

thu22apr5:30 pm6:30 pmFamily Action Committe

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About New Roots

New Roots Charter School was founded in 2009. We are a regional, tuition-free public high school located in the heart of downtown Ithaca. Any student ages 13-21 who is eligible to attend public high school in New York State is welcome to attend, regardless of district of residency.

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School Address
116 North Cayuga Street
Ithaca, NY 14850
Mailing Address
PO Box 936
Ithaca, NY 14851

Phone: (607) 882-9220
Fax: (607) 697-0446

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