PRIDE. PURPOSE. PREPARATION.
We are 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.
New Opportunities.
Ready for Anything.
NORA.
The Nora School
Grades 9-12
Downtown Silver Spring, MD
Metro- and ADA-accessible
301-495-6672
Our Diamond Jubilee!
The amazing school community that started as The Eberhard School in 1964 is still thriving, 60 years later! Come celebrate our Diamond Jubilee on April 20, and discover just how much one small school community can change its students’ lives forever!
Small Classes are more important than ever.
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.
Journeys for Justice
Our annual travel tradition punctuates what has become a new mission at Nora - walk in the footsteps of history, in order to continue the fight for equal rights. This goal of Social Consciousness informs even the day-to-day at Nora, where we have created new rules for an equitable future:
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
The 21st Annual Nora School Photography Festival is returning IN PERSON in April 2024!
Submissions are welcome from students throughout the region, with several awards given for different categories & types of photography. See your Arts teacher for help getting your photographs submitted, and contact Events@nora-school.org if you have questions. We look forward to seeing your photographic art this year!
A Socially Supportive Community
Our community is a kind, emotionally-forgiving place to rebuild confidence. At Nora you are cared for and known for what you have done. You can find the social support you need with your teachers and friends, our Class Advisors, College Counselor or Consulting Social Worker, or in Peer Mediation. Together we are building a culture of kindness.
Academic success hinges on mindset and perspective, so we’re always looking for room to breathe. Whether it’s at our class retreats or in our daily moments of silence, we know that taking even a moment to think gives our students a head start in the game of life.
We’re in this together; time with our Parents matters.
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.
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 pro-level 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 ‘16 & Grinnell College ‘20
Freedoms like Open-Campus Lunches are balanced with support periods, in-person office hours, peer mediation and more, in order to maximize personal and social growth during these important years.
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:
