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About

Personal and professional growth, unlike any other high school, through real-life immersion in the study of environmental topics and issues for grades 11 and 12.

For students interested in attending for the 2025-2026 school year, our application will open on October 7, 2024, and you will be able to find it on our website. The priority application deadline is December 20, 2024. We will conduct a lottery to fill the 200 spots for incoming juniors (and any open spots for interested incoming seniors) on January 6, 2025. Families will be notified if they secured a spot or have been placed on a waitlist by January 8, 2025. Students are welcome to apply after that date and will be placed in a class or on a waitlist, as space allows.

What a typical school day at SES looks like...

Great Smoky Moutains

Students at SES spend half their day in an environmental-themed, interdisciplinary class we call House. Through this course, they earn their Social Studies, English Language Arts, and Environmental Science credits.

Learn more about our House courses

The other half of their day is filled with a variety of other courses, depending on their needs and interests (such as Math, Lab Science, Art, Career Development courses, and other unique electives).

Learn more about our other courses

 

Photo: Students on a 10-day intensive
theme class in the Great Smoky Moutains

Intensive week-long theme classes...

Australia

At the end of each trimester, we pause all our courses and students have an opportunity to take one class, which lasts all day, for seven school days. We call these unique learning opportunities Intensive Theme classes. This is also when some students choose to travel. Click here to see the Intensive Theme classes we offer.

Learn more about our Intensive Theme Classes

 

PHOTO: Students on a 10-day intensive Theme class in Australia

What students are saying about their experience at SES...

SES Graduate

We know changing schools is a big decision for students and families, but the return on investment can be huge!

What some recent graduates had to say about their experiences at SES

Superior Hiking Trail

PHOTO: Students on a 10-day intensive theme class on the Superior Hiking Trail in northern Minnesota

Scotland

Photo: Students on a 10-day Intensive Theme Class in Scotland

Galapagos Islands

Photo: Students on a 10-day intensive theme class in the Galapagos Islands