About New Community

New Community Academy is a private Christian high school in Pomona, California engaged in transforming the academic experience of students, making educational success more accessible and achievable.

History of New Community

In 2012, Kimberly Gunderson felt called to design a school focused on equipping youth with the skills and education they would need to be competitive in today’s economy. With this goal in mind, New Community Academy (formerly NewCova) was founded in the heart of in Pomona, California. Along with solid academic instruction, her vision was that students would also receive training and discipleship in the Christian faith in a small community environment. NCA has always kept its student-to-teacher ratio low, while tailoring each student’s education to their individual academic level, as well as their career interests. It’s because of this commitment to a new way of learning that the school continues to graduate students who are successful and competitive in today’s marketplace.

The philosophy of New Community Academy is simple: “Everyone can learn to love learning again, when education is made accessible and achievable.”

photo-kimberly

How New Community Works

Academics

Four days a week, Monday – Thursday, 9:00am – 3:00pm, students attend small-sized classes with an individualized learning approach, under the supervision of our trained teaching staff. They will spend part of every day studying the basic academic subjects, including: Applied Math, Language Arts, Science, Social Studies, as well as classes in Post-Secondary Preparation, or what we call, “Foundational Career Skills”, including: listening skills, workplace observation and communication, personal finance, and teamwork. Also, every semester, each student researches, designs, prepares, and presents his or her own “Individual Learning Project”. This New Community Academy distinctive incorporates academic, personal, professional, and life skills, as well as developing the student’s technology-based abilities.

Vocational Training

As a part of their New Community experience, we require our students to attend vocational training, specifically at CTEC – Career and Technical Education Center at Fairplex. Classes are offered on a semester basis, generally two times a week, after school and/or during evening hours, in a variety of subjects: landscaping and horticulture, customer service, ceramics, fine arts, water technology, hospitality, automotive training, etc. Students receive a “Certificate of Vocational Studies” from CTEC.

Learning Through Internship (LTI)

Each student is matched with a professional Vocational Mentor in his or her chosen area of vocational training. The student will interview their mentor, observe workplace skills, job shadow, prepare reports on their findings, and assist at the job site, as opportunities allow.

What People are Saying

  • New Community Academy graduates are exactly the kind of employees that are desperately needed in the modern workforce: competent and trained, with a strong moral compass.

    Kenneth C. Schwarz, JD Lawyer; New Community Academy donor

  • The directors and instructors at New Community Academy are passionate leaders, resulting in a highly successful academic environment. They have thoroughly researched, designed, and produced a quality program and have successfully developed a scalable, sustainable Christian model.

    Talithia Williams, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Mathematics, Harvey Mudd College

  • I have been impressed with the commitment to provide whatever a student needs to be successful. This team of educators is not shy with taking on students who need a more personalized educational plan, to meet the high standards of their school. They do not lower standards based on a student’s ability, but meet the student’s needs so they can achieve to the best of their ability.

    Tina Harte New Community parent; Speech and Language Pathologist

  • My son came into the school with low self-esteem regarding his reading, math, and other course studies; however, by the time he finished, he was willing to try a community college and to work toward a degree. [New Community], with their high educational and Christian standards, helped him accomplish this . . .the staff is so loving and supportive for not only the student, but their family also. With the low student/teacher ratio, the staff is able to show each student that they are valued as a person, and a Child of God. I have recommended this school to other families in the community.

    J. Castro New Community Academy parent

  • This school was a God-send for my family. With low student/teacher ratios and individual student plans, we were able to plan on a high school graduation and going into higher education. Their partners have a career training school, which helps the students plan for a career, when higher education is not in their goals.

    J. Castro New Community Academy parent