Academy for Science and Design

"The Academy for Science and Design" (ASDNH or just ASD) is a charter school located in Merrimack, New Hampshire. ASD opened in September 2007 with a mission to provide the best possible introduction and immersion in the sciences and math for motivated students in New Hampshire. Studies indicate US students tend to fall behind their global counterparts in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM fields) starting in middle school. To address this issue effectively New Hampshire has pooled its resources to offer its first statewide chartered public school for grades 7-12.

ASD’s unique and innovative curriculum exceeds New Hampshire State standards and strives to be internationally competitive. Algebra, physics, chemistry, and biology are taught beginning in 7th grade, technology is integrated throughout the curriculum, student projects emphasize research skills and engineering, and Mandarin Chinese is offered as the initial foreign language. For 2008-9, 62 students, primarily 7th-9th graders, are attending from 23 New Hampshire communities, ranging from small rural towns to urban cities, with 20% of students from international backgrounds and approximately 40% of students female.

The school is chartered for 450 students, and the expectation is that each year the incoming 7th grade class size will increase until it reaches 75 students, along with smaller numbers of students entering in higher grades.

In the initial year, school teams have competed and placed in two international academic competitions, placed sixth in the New Hampshire state Mathcounts competition and won second and first place in the International Fire Fighting Home Robot contest's Olympiad Robot competition( [http://www.trincoll.edu/events/robot/] ).

Core Classes

*Physics
*IBC (Integrated Biology Chemistry)
*English
*World History
*Algebra I
*Algebra II
*Geometry
*Chinese

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Most classes are high-school level. This allows students to earn high-school credits in 7th and 8th grade. As students reach upper grades, they can take classes at Daniel Webster College or the Nashua Community College nearby.

Electives

*Computer Programming
*Chorus
*Drama
*Student Council
*Intro to Hardware Design

Competitive groups

*Mathcounts
**first in regional competition
**sixth in state competition
*Future Problem Solving Program International
**first in Massachusetts
**third in international alternates competition
*Lego League
**third in state
*Destination Imagination
**second in state
**52nd international
*robotics team
**first and second in Trinity college International Fire Fighting Home Contest olympiad

External Links

*http://www.asdnh.org/home.htm Official website.
*http://www.wcwells2.com/ unofficial student website.