Saved Schools

New Roads

New Roads, nominated by an anonymous organization, is an elementary/middle/high school in Santa Monica, California, that describes itself as an independent (private) school serving learners from a primarily urban area.

Location Santa Monica, California

Governance Independent (Private) School

Grades Elementary, Middle, High

Students 550

Locale Urban

K-12 Director of Curriculum, Pedagogy, & Assessment Tara Treiber

Demographics

Percentage of students*

1%

English Learners

6%

Free/Reduced Lunch

35%

Students with Disabilities

African American or Black

American Indian/Alaska Native

Asian

Hawaiian or Pacific Islander

Hispanic or Latino

White

2+ Races

Why New Roads was nominated

New Roads is a progressive school that enrolls a diverse population of learners. Students learn by doing and take a rigorous set of courses that are strategically planned to work with young people's developmental stages (e.g. Human Development courses focus on themes that young people are experiencing socially and emotionally in particular grades). Pedagogy is informed by research and brain science and is in fact an approach being codified by researchers. Students learn to have social awareness, a moral compass, and intellectual resourcefulness to lead meaningful lives to invent the future, and to fulfill their responsibilities as democratic citizens in a global community. Many courses and projects focus on promoting democracy, making a difference in the local community, and knowing oneself.

Student experience design

*Constructivist and Relational Learning Approach *Project-based learning woven throughout the school

Core Practices

Core Practices Length of Use

Culturally Responsive Practices

5+ years

Performance Based Assessment

5+ years

SEL Integration School-wide

5+ years

Students Develop Projects

5+ years

All Practices

Student Advisories

Anti-racist Practices

Assessments For Deeper Learning

Assessments For Social-emotional Skills

Co-leadership

Disaggregated Data On Student Participation

Mental Health Services

Multi-tiered System Of Support (MTSS) In Academics

Project-based Learning

Restorative Practices

SEL Curriculum

Student-led Conferences

Tutoring

key reasons for innovating

Address systemic inequities

Improve academic achievement

Increase student agency

Date Updated: 4/1/2025

*Canopy profile data is self-reported or sourced from NCES data, then verified by school leaders.