Private Middle School & High School in Portland ME area

North Yarmouth Academy, Portland:
Located just 15 miles north of Portland in Yarmouth, Cumberland County, part of the Portland–South Portland–Biddeford Metropolitan Area in Maine, North Yarmouth Academy is an independent, college preparatory, coeducational day school serving students in grades five through twelve. We offer a college preparatory curriculum with advanced placment courses, college prep PSAT, SAT and ACT as well as an experiential education program, afternoon enrichment programs and summer camps.

Co-Educational Day School Programs from Grades 5-12: 

English:
NYA's English courses prepare students to write effectively in a range of modes, from the narrative essay to the analytical essay. Teachers respond to their students' writing with extensive commentary and suggestions. Middle School courses emphasize the fundamentals of good writing, including grammar, vocabulary, sentence structure, and paragraphing skills. In addition, they offer students a variety of writing opportunities, including expository essays and the research paper.

In the ninth grade, students begin to think and write with greater independence, and there is a greater emphasis on analytical work. In the upper grades, students write longer essays on increasingly complex subjects; they may, for example, analyze the main components of an argument, synthesize different points of view, or imitate a literary technique. In the junior and senior years, some students may choose to take AP Language and Composition and AP Literature and Composition.

Math:
This course of study stresses increased problem-solving strategies (particularly with word problems) and accurate computational skills. In addition to a thorough review of basic arithmetic operations and concepts, topics include: whole numbers, decimals, fractions, percentages, statistics, positive/negative numbers, place value and ratios.

Early American History:
The colonization and development of North America, with a strong emphasis on Maine and New England, will be examined through the Constitutional Convention. At this juncture, the focus will shift to a study of how each level and branch of government works and how it impacts our daily lives. Local history and local government will be covered by hands-on research and role-playing. Local and state issues will be examined through projects, position papers and essay exams. The Internet will be used for gathering political information.

Science:
This course touches on some of the major divisions in science including biology, chemistry and physics. During the year students will learn about the topics each division covers and how they are all related. An emphasis will be on learning the skills of science; the metric system, scientific method, lab skills, and report writing. Inquiry-based and hands-on activities will help to reinforce concepts learned in class. A variety of evaluations are used to assess student learning including projects and traditional tests. There are also interdisciplinary connections made with geography and other subjects.

Technology / Computer Graphics:
This course provides students with a good working knowledge of Adobe Photoshop 7.0, a powerful 2D graphic editing program used to change and colorize images, retouch proofs, and create original and composite artwork. Students will learn each of Photoshop's tools and then apply them to self-designed projects.

Modern and Classical Languages:
We offer a range of language coures including Spanish, French and Latin.

Advanced Placement Courses:
We offer a wide range of AP courses including Language and Composition, Literature and Composition, French Language, Spanish Language, Calculus and Statistics.

College Prep Courses:
We offer PSAT, SAT and ACT prep courses.

Experiential Education Program:
The mission of the North Yarmouth Academy Experiential Education Program is to help students through active participation in adventure-based learning experiences to cultivate self-reliance, leadership, responsibility and a greater concern for both their own and the larger surrounding communities. This philosophy is implemented through class trips, smaller group trips and community service projects. The program offers a flexible variety of options in order to appeal to a wide range of students’ interests.