When someone mentions Northwest Academy, what comes to mind? Because of our school’s small size and arts focus, the community is one of the most unique at any Portland school. Because of this uniqueness, as well as the school’s insularity, stereotypes of all sorts have developed about the student body. The emphasis on the arts paired with a focus on college prep create misconceptions about what the student body is actually like. Many people think that we’re socially awkward and don’t care about sports, while others believe we’re open-minded and left-wing. In this list we take a look at five false stereotypes that surround the NWA student body as well as five that are true.
Too liberal
As to be expected of a small private school in Portland, Oregon, NWA’s student body leans heavily left. This partly comes down to geography: Portland as a city remains a liberal bastion within the state of Oregon. An example of this political tendency can be found in the BLM protests that took place in downtown Portland about two years ago. These protests were so large that they were featured on national television. NWA’s political inclination is not only due to geography, however, but also the students enrolled. NWA has a large population of LGBTQ students, a demographic that, in the majority, supports the Democratic Party. (More than 80% of LGBTQ people voted for their district’s Democratic House Candidate according to the NBC News Exit Poll). The classes at NWA also reflect a liberal perspective, such as America Under the Microscope, an elective that grapples with America’s past regarding slavery and the present struggle with racism and racial violence. The History of Feminism elective being taught in the spring and the Biology of Global Climate Change class are both prominent examples of NWA’s left-leaning ideology.
Geeks
NWA students can come off to some people as nerds. An NWA student may talk your ear off about a classic 1980s album or a Studio Ghibli film. Another may have an extreme obsession with calculus or chess. The truth is that the students here are nerds, just not in a derogatory way (we still have a great sense of style). NWA is different from most other schools because it’s self-selective. Nearly everyone who attends has a passion for something that they’re trying to pursue at NWA, whether it’s art, theater or birdwatching. Students here relish the opportunity to hone their skills among their fellow nerds in a nonjudgmental environment. So wear your nerd badge proudly fellow NWA students, because this stereotype is 100% true.
We Can’t STEM The Flow of Art
A common stereotype about NWA is that none of the students are into Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). Although NWA does not have a reputation for being a STEM-focused school, it offers courses that allow individuals who are interested in related fields to dive deeper into those subjects. It’s not hard to find students who are intent on pursuing science or technology-related careers. Onyx Brisbois, a sophomore, wants to study marine biology. They said Molly Sultany’s biology and elective classes have helped them follow their curiosity and further their understanding of the subject. Nolan Hu, a senior, aspires to study aerospace engineering and physics. Hu has benefited from NWA’s dual enrollment program with Portland State University, taking higher level courses in math. Other students lead STEM-oriented clubs, such as Cosmo Somerset’s birding club and Max Orton’s math club. Many students at NWA who are interested in science, technology and math pursue their various interests by utilizing the school’s courses and opportunities.
What’s with All the Goths?
In recent years, monotone clothing and heavy jewelry have come to make up a noticeable portion of the NWA clothing wardrobe. However, a common misconception about the student body at NWA is that “they’re all artsy goth/emo kids,” which isn’t entirely true. Even though far less than half of the student population falls under the description of emo/goth clothing, the fact that many people hold this misconception may stem from the fact that the style itself is more popular than others. When surrounded by more standard clothing styles, people who wear black clothes and flashy jewelry stand out. This most likely leads to perception bias, where a relatively small portion of the clothing style is perceived as larger than it is. There’s also a distinction to be made between the goth and emo styles. Despite their similarities, the origins and inspirations of gothic and emo aesthetics are very different. Emo belongs to the post-hardcore and pop punk movement, whereas goth is more associated with punk rock and glam rock. In modern times, goth styles are influenced by Victorian and punk clothing, whereas emo is more accessible and pedestrian.
It’s a College Prep School
It is entirely true that NWA is an arts-integrated college prep school. With a strong academic and artistic education, students are given a wide range of experiences that prepare them for higher education. An old saying goes “a jack of all trades is a master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one.” NWA’s philosophy pushes students to step outside their comfort zone to experience the wide world of art and culture. NWA has strong theater, dance and art programs, but this does not restrict the number of rigorous math and science programs. Northwest Academy also has an extensive college advisory program led by Julia Cain, that allows students to explore a variety of colleges. NWA has alumni pursuing STEM topics like microbiology, as well as artistic ones like acting or journalism. The school has a long standing relationship with prestigious universities, and over 50 college representatives come to visit the campus each year.
Well, This is Awkward
Since NWA has established itself as an arts school, a stigma has formed surrounding its students’ social abilities. The NWA faculty has set up picnics, dances, meet and greets and many other social events for students to attend. There are several clubs as well, which serve as a great way for students to socialize with each other using activities such as chess, Dungeons & Dragons, birding and movies. Some at NWA enjoy socializing outside of school and campus, engaging with students from nearby schools such as St. Mary’s Academy and Lincoln High School. Being in the downtown area makes for many places for friends to meet up for food like the South Park Blocks. Many outside of the school tend to assume NWA’s students are all introverted, artsy and socially awkward. In reality, our students are just as diverse as many other public and private schools.
No Interest in Sports
NWA is commonly known as a very arts-centric school. From film and theater, vocals and dance to drawing and photography, our community is particularly interested in students expressing themselves through visuals, voice and movement. A frequent misconception about the school is that there’s a complete lack of interest in sports because sports and the arts are mutually exclusive. Now, it’s also difficult to blame the stereotype. NWA has no sports team–students occasionally have to play for other schools–and our school spirit generally orbits around the arts. We take significant pride in events like theater, dance performances and a yearly showcase of all movies students have made. But there are also, however, several overlooked communities involved in sports. Many students compete in rowing at clubs like ORU and Rose City Rowing. Additionally, a group of students play tennis for Grant. Major sporting events like the World Cup never fail to create waves within the student body. Team sports may not be the school’s forte, but there’s a clear balance between academics, arts and sports that is too often underappreciated.
Know Thy Classmate
NWA is known for its small student body where everybody knows everybody. This stereotype is mostly based in truth. Walking down the hallways, you notice the same people’s faces over and over again. Roaming around the school between classes, people greet each other cheerfully, or just give passerby high-fives. While it isn’t true that everybody here knows everyone else on a first name basis, it is true that NWA has a strong community with an aggressively welcoming atmosphere. Different graduating classes at NWA have smaller communities contained inside their class. This is largely due to separate cohorts, who take their core classes together and only exist within grade levels. There is a communal feeling at NWA, and even if everybody does not know everyone, people make a consistent habit to look out for each other.
“Some Students Don’t Choose an Arts School to Do Art”
A common first impression of NWA is that all students excel at art. Many assume that all students come for the arts-focused classes. This isn’t entirely true, as some students want to go to NWA because of the academics and focus on college prep. While art makes up a large portion of NWA’s curriculum through artistic responses and arts requirements, it also allows students to choose how much they participate. Because of the structure of the curriculum, doing art at some point is unavoidable. Some believe that art electives are all NWA has to offer. In reality, NWA offers a range of academic electives. The small size and community is another reason why people pick NWA. Students choose to go to NWA for a multitude of reasons, and the art is not the deciding factor for many people.
Open Community, Open Mind
At NWA, one of the most common stereotypes is that the student body is very open-minded, which is true. The faculty and student body consistently makes conscious efforts to support members of the LGBTQ+ community. The school has several affinity groups that aim to create safe spaces for minorities. These spaces are for people to talk with and relate to other marginalized community members about issues they face. The faculty makes an effort to find media from minorities to make class curriculum more inclusive. The school also supports local artists from marginalized communities and gives voice to their stories. The visiting speakers include a diverse group of people who are able to speak from a wide range of experiences. Because the school encourages self-expression in both class and the required work, students feel much more comfortable.
