Hood River New School empowers middle school students with the skills they need to become resourceful learners, preparing them to take on future challenges. In a responsive and caring environment, students mature into confident, compassionate citizens inspired to meaningfully contribute to their community.
Our Mission
Resourceful Learners
At New School, teachers integrate projects across disciplines, preparing students to tackle real-world challenges and enhance problem-solving abilities. By embracing challenges and learning from mistakes, New School students build resiliency and confidence. Classes are tailored to the individual student.
Compassionate Citizens
Our teachers are not just educators but mentors who forge deep connections with students over three transformative years. In this nurturing, positive community culture with high standards for behavior and kindness, accountability, risk-taking, and personal growth become second nature.
Future Focused
At New School, there is explicit development of essential life skills that will serve students throughout their lifetime. From unlocking the secrets of grammar to mastering executive function skills, students become effective learners, and gain techniques unique to their own learning style.
School Facts
Hood River New School is a sixth-through-eighth-grade middle school that embraces interdisciplinary learning in a multi-age classroom. New School was founded in 2021 by a community of parents and educators excited to create a school that honors the critical growth and development window that occurs during adolescence — the transition between childhood and adulthood. We invite you to learn more about the curriculum, staff, and campus locations, and why mixed-age grouping and looping foster a thriving community and promote self-awareness, community responsibility, and integrity.
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New School students are taught by 12 highly qualified, passionate staff members who aim to make positive and meaningful connections with all students.
2 x core teachers
4 x math teachers
5 x elective and outdoor educators
1 x reading and writing specialist
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2024 - 49 students
2023 - 49 students
2022 - 49 students
2021 - 33 studentsHood River Middle School: 57%
Wyeast Middle School: 18%
Washington State Schools: 18%
North Wasco County Middle Schools: 6%There has been a 97% student re-enrollment rate, creating a stable and secure peer environment.
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All math, electives, and outdoor classes have a 12:1 student-to-teacher ratio.
Average math class has a 9:1 ratio.
Core classes have a variable ratio. 50% of classes are 12:1 and 50% are 24:1 including supported independent work periods.
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Students benefit from many hours of in-school supported homework and project time including:
Monday morning 1.5 hours
Wednesday afternoon 1.5 hours
Friday morning 2.5 hoursAs well as 11 hours a week of differentiated curriculum support by a Reading and Writing Specialist for individual students. Our reading and writing specialist works in small groups and 1-1 with students.
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New School Students are eligible to participate in their local public middle school sports teams and activities. Students have joined the following HRCSD teams: Cross Country, Volleyball, Basketball, Wrestling, and Track and Field. Students have also enjoyed local club sports teams and movement-based activities that keep them connected to the broader community.
With the support of parent volunteers, New School fields four extracurricular competition teams:
First Lego League Robotics
Oregon Battle of the Books
Project Invent
Destination Imagination.
All participated in state-level competitions and brought back top-place trophies last year! -
Learning to become compassionate citizens who serve their local community is a core tenant of the New School mission achieved through service hours each year.
Students in grades 6 and 7 volunteer between 15-30 hours each school year.
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In a typical year, students embark upon two to three overnight trips and many field trips. Generally, 1-3 all-school field trips happen per trimester. Weekly off-campus educational experiences happen in small groups during electives and outdoor leadership classes.
Ready for More?
Sign up for an initial phone call with the Head of School Claire Gilchrist, register your child for a student visit day, and learn about the admission process!
