New Harmony provides its students with hands-on learning experiences that extend far beyond the classroom. The school’s partnerships fuel this dynamic approach, as staff members engage students to address local challenges by designing and co-conducting research alongside educators and experts. Their projects also immerse students in local history and landscapes.
New Harmony’s “leaving to learn” program provides meaningful experiences to students outside of the traditional classroom to address local challenges to natural habitats. Working with community organizations, researchers, scientists, and engineers, students investigate topics such as coastal erosion, land loss, sea-level rise, community displacement, and ecosystem damage. In collaboration with a local youth writing organization, New Harmony students wrote dystopian flash fiction stories that imagined a world where New Orleans no longer existed because these issues weren’t properly addressed.
Students also partner with a local organization for their capstone projects, focusing on improving their surroundings or contributing in other ways. New Harmony’s partners include Junior Achievement, which provides guest speakers for high-wage, high-impact career exploration; Youth Voice NOLA, which offers paid summer internships; and federally-approved fifth-year bridge programs through the career preparation programs LAUNCH and Next Level NOLA.
New Harmony’s commitment to personal growth and agency is reflected in its education advisors, who develop deep relationships with students and understand their strengths, interests, and growth areas. With work-based learning experiences, New Harmony prepares its students for postsecondary education and equips them with skills to meet future challenges. The school also offers Industry Based Certification (IBC) programs and internships to students, preparing them for their professional futures.
