Exploring the Winter Sports School (Park City, UT) with Head of School Tess Miner-Farra

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In this episode Nicole and Sarah talk with Tess Miner-Farra, the head of the Winter Sports School in Park City, Utah. This is a unique public charter school that serves 9th-12th grade students focused on winter sports.  

We loved learning about the Winter Sports School and what makes it such an amazing place for young student-athletes. The school has a non-traditional academic calendar, running from April to November, allowing students to focus on their athletic training and competition during the winter months. For a little history, the Winter Sports School was founded in 1994 as a partnership between the Park City ski team and local educators. In 2014, it transitioned to become a public charter school.

The school's unique model allows students to train and compete at a high level while maintaining a rigorous college prep curriculum. Teachers and staff are very supportive of the student-athletes.  The school serves around 150 students, with 30-40% being alpine ski racers, 30% freestyle/freeski, and the rest a variety of other winter and non-winter sports.

Academics follow a traditional high school model, with students earning about 7 credits per year. As a public charter, the school must meet state graduation requirements.  The application process is a lottery system for Utah residents, with a more selective process for out-of-state applicants.

Tess discusses the challenges and benefits of the school's April-November calendar, the support provided to students when they travel for training/competition, and the school's partnerships and fundraising efforts.

It’s clear that the Winter Sports School is a very special place that provides a unique and supportive environment for young athletes to pursue their dreams, while also receiving a strong academic foundation.

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