Enrollment FAQ

Is there room for more students this year?

Yes, we have limited openings for students in the 9th-12th grades.  If you are considering enrolling your student in one of these grades in the current or next academic year, we encourage you to contact the school as soon as possible. Once a grade is at full capacity, a waiting list will be formed.

How long is the school day roughly?

The school day is about 6 ½ hours long on Monday and Friday (9-3:30), and 7 ½ hours long on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday (9-4:30). 

How would you go about registering after filling out the online form?

You will receive an email confirming that we have received your online enrollment form that gives you more information about next steps in the process of becoming part of our school community.

Is the parent responsible for transferring records from previous school or do you do that?

Parents and caregivers must complete a variety of forms to complete the enrollment process, including a release of records form.  Our registrar will take it from there!

Do you offer advanced Regents courses?

Yes, we offer students the opportunity to earn a Regents Diploma with Distinction by taking advanced coursework.  We are happy to talk with you about your student's interests and needs in this area.

How would the bus work from our school? We live within 15 miles from Ithaca.

Students who live within 15 miles of Ithaca are entitled to transportation from their school district of origin.  We will make arrangements for you once you complete the transportation form we provide you.

Do you have to attend the information sessions or can you have information sent to you?

Attending an information session is not required, but is strongly encouraged so that we can ensure that we've answered all of your questions.  You may also call the school to set up an appointment to speak with our Dean of Students.

Are there any electives, clubs or after school activities?

Because of our longer school day on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, we have integrated electives and "supercurricular" activities such as Cycling, Urban Hiking, Knitting, Basketball, Soccer, Ultimate Frisbee, video club, service activities, Chorus and Jazz Band into our regular school day. 

At our school, there are a lot of cliques...are there a lot of them at your school?

One of the benefits teenagers enjoy at New Roots is a very open, inclusive social network.  Our students have created a social climate that values and accepts people for who they are as individuals, and we do not have exclusive "cliques" of students or other forms of social stratification.  This is to our students' credit!

How much homework is involved?

Because New Roots students have a longer school day, more work is accomplished during school hours, and students have a proportionately smaller amount of work to complete at home.  New Roots teachers aim at offering work that averages about 1 hour per day.  Research does not show a correlation between the amount of homework and student achievement.  We seek to support students in finding balance in their lives, with time for family, community involvement, and outside interests in addition to schoolwork by limiting their obligations beyond the school day.  At the same time, we provide opportunities for students to extend their classroom learning on a regular basis.