Saved Schools

NuVu High School

NuVu High School, nominated by an anonymous organization, is a middle/high school in Cambridge, Massachusetts, that describes itself as an independent (private) school serving learners from a primarily urban/suburban area.

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Location Cambridge, Massachusetts

Governance Independent (Private) School

Grades Middle, High

Students 30

Locale Suburban, Urban

chief of staff karen sutton

Demographics

Percentage of students*

—

English Learners

—

Free/Reduced Lunch

—

Students with Disabilities

African American or Black 15%

American Indian/Alaska Native —

Asian 10%

Hawaiian or Pacific Islander —

Hispanic or Latino 10%

White 45%

2+ Races —

Why NuVu High School was nominated

NuVu High School takes forward our innovative curriculum and creates a pathway for students whose needs can be better served in a hands-on environment with global connections. The high school program expands on NuVuís rigorous studio-based curriculum, and builds on partnerships with companies, non-profits, academic institutions, and researchers situated in the innovation hub of Boston-Cambridge. The is also a NUVU virtual school, claiming to be the first virtual studio-based school in the world for students ages 13-18 years.

Student experience design

At NuVu, students spend most of their time in hands-on, collaborative studios—three to four week deep dives into a specific theme or challenge designed by our team of expert coaches. Within each studio, students develop their own unique projects through an iterative design process, guided by coaches with deep expertise in technology, design, and the arts. At the end of each trimester, students tackle Open Innovation. Here, students go one step further: they define the problem themselves. This helps build independence, creativity, and the ability to notice and respond to real challenges in the world around them. By senior year, this all builds up to a Capstone Project—similar to a thesis. This major, self-directed piece of work will reflect who they are and what they care about.

Core Practices

Core Practices Length of Use

Assessments For Agency And Self-directed Learning
5+ years

Assessments For Deeper Learning
5+ years

Client Projects
5+ years

Individual Learning Paths
5+ years

Project-based Learning
5+ years

All Practices

Advancement On Mastery

Student Advisories

AI Literacy

Anti-racist Practices

Assessments For Career Readiness

Assessments For Social-emotional Skills

Blended Learning

Co-leadership

College Advising & Support

Community And Workforce Partnerships

Competency/mastery-based Education

Culturally Responsive Practices

Early College High School

Flexible Staffing & Alternative Teaching Roles

Higher Education Partnerships

All Courses Designed For Inclusion

Industry-recognized Credentials

Educators Have Industry Experience

Industry-aligned Learning Pathways

Internships

Individual Learner Profiles

Multi-age Classrooms

Industry Networking

No Tracked Classes

Peer To Peer Support

Performance Based Assessment

High Quality Instructional Materials

Reallocation Of Resources For Students Most In Need

Restorative Practices

Student-led Conferences

Students Access Their Own Data

Student-led Goal Setting

Self-paced Learning

Students Develop Projects

Tutoring

Universal Design For Learning

Career Prep

key reasons for innovating

Demonstrate what’s possible for other schools

Improve academic achievement

Increase student agency

Date Updated: 4/1/2026

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