About

World Class Climbing Academy is a college-preparatory 9th through 12th grade high school built around students’ passion for rock climbing. Each school year our teachers, coaches, and students travel to four of the world’s top climbing destinations, where they alternate between school and climbing days throughout each quarter.

The Climbing Academy is grounded in academic progression, mentorship, teamwork, and life experience through the lens of sport and travel. Our experienced faculty, who double as coaches and mentors, are strong climbers and bring a passion for learning and progression to the classroom, the rock, and the world around them. Classes engage in experiential, place-based learning, and the school seeks out authentic cultural experiences in each destination.

Our athletic program develops well-rounded climbers. The Climbing Academy runs on a schedule of four full days of school and three climbing days per week, with rest days used for training strength, core, and mobility work designed to promote growth and prevent injury. Students arrive at the Climbing Academy with a range of skills and experiences; they leave prepared for the next chapter of life, on and off the rock.

The Climbing Academy is one of five programs within World Class Academy, a 501(c)(3) private high school founded in 2001. Our academies (Kayak, Kiteboarding, Climbing, Surfing, and Mountain Biking) share a belief that the best education happens when learning and passion go hand in hand.

Applying to the Climbing Academy

The Climbing Academy has a rolling admissions process. Applications for the following school year open in September, and our team reviews them in the order they are received. Students apply through TADS, our tuition management platform. The Climb Academy application includes several short-answer questions, an athletic resume, and a request for athletic references. Students may submit a financial aid application at the same time, which will require additional materials, including a tax form reflecting the applicant’s family’s combined income.

Once we receive your application, your Head of School, Drew Lefkowith, will reach out to arrange an interview. Our team delivers acceptance decisions within two to three weeks of applying, while financial aid decisions will come in waves, typically in January and May.

When evaluating applicants, WCA considers each student’s academic record, athletic accomplishments, character, and demonstrated motivation to excel as a student, athlete, and respectful global citizen. World Class Academy seeks students who make responsible choices, bring a strong work ethic, and are genuinely excited to be part of a team.

World Class Academy does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, or ethnic origin in its admissions policies, educational programs, athletic programs, or any other school-administered activities.

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Destinations & Schedule

Destinations

  • Australia

    Climber on a sandstone cliff in warm golden light in the Blue Mountains, Australia

    Australia

    Aug. 23rd - Oct. 3rd

    August 23rd

    Students arrive in Sydney, Australia (SYD)

    August 24th - October 2nd

    Quarter One in Blue Mountains, Australia

    October 3rd

    Students depart from Sydney, Australia (SYD)

    October 4th - 24th

    Fall Break

  • France

    Weathered sandstone boulders rising from the pine forest at Fontainebleau, France's iconic bouldering destination.

    France

    Oct. 25th - Dec. 12th

    October 25th

    Students arrive in Paris, France (CDG)

    October 26th - December 11th

    Quarter Two in Fontainbleau, France

    December 12th

    Students depart from Paris, France (CDG)

    December 13th - January 23rd

    Winter Break

  • Turkey

    Ancient amphitheater ruins with a rocky mountain backdrop at Termessos, Turkey

    Turkey

    Jan. 24th - Mar. 13th

    January 24th

    Students arrive in Antalya, Turkey (AYT)

    January 25th - March 12th

    Quarter Three in Geyikbayiri, Turkey

    March 13th

    Students depart from Antalya, Turkey (AYT)

    March 14th - April 3rd

    Spring Break

  • Brazil

    Long-exposure waterfall cascading over orange cliffs into a still pool in Brazil

    Brazil

    Apr. 4th - May. 15th

    April 4th

    Students arrive in Belo Horizonte, Brazil (CNF)

    April 5th - May 14th

    Quarter Four in Serra do Cipó, Brazil

    May 15th

    Graduation

    May 16th

    Students depart from Belo Horizonte, Brazil (CNF)

brown cave with light during daytime

Schedule

Semester 1

  • Quarter 1: August 23rd- October 3rd

    August 23rd

    Students arrive in Sydney, Australia (SYD)

    August 24th - 26th

    Student Orientation and Start of Classes

    August 24th - October 2nd

    Students will spend the first 6 weeks back where they finished, climbing on the sandstone cliffs of the Blue Mountains, an UNESCO World Heritage Site. Touted as a combination of the Red River Gorge and the New River Gorge, the Blueys emphasize strong fingers and good crimping technique, power for challenging boulder problems, and endurance to hang on to the chains. The team will stay at 14 Lovel St. Hostel in Katoomba, exploring the local culture and renowned biodiversity of the area between their classes.

    October 3rd

    Students and faculty depart Sydney, Australia (SYD)

    October 4th - 24th

    Fall Break

  • Quarter 2: October 25th - December 12th

    October 25th

    Students and faculty arrive in Paris, France (CDG)

    October 26th - December 11th

    Students will spend 7 weeks exploring the sandstone boulders of world-renowned Fontainebleau. Known for being home to almost every type of boulder problem – crimps, roofs, dynos, slopers, aretes, slabs, compression – with mantle topouts, Font has endless opportunities for students to build power and technique. Being only an hour and a half from Paris, students will also be able to explore French culture, all while taking classes in picturesque gites in small-town France.

    December 7th - December 11th

    Finals Week

    December 12th

    Students and faculty depart Paris, France (CDG)

    December 13th - January 16th

    Winter Break

Semester 2

  • Quarter 3: January 24th - March 12th

    January 24th

    Students and faculty arrive in Antalya, Turkey (AYT)

    January 25th

    Student Orientation and start of Spring semester

    January 25th - March 12th

    Students will spend 7 weeks wrangling tufas in the climber’s winter destination paradise of Geyikbayiri. Geyikbayiri is limestone, with long routes and endless tufas in varying shapes and sizes. Students get to apply their bouldering power and technique while rebuilding endurance and learning a new style of sport climbing. There are also crimpy, vertical, overhanging, and slabby routes in the area. Students will visit ruins around Antalya and create a home with our host family at Peak Guesthouse.

    March 13th

    Students and faculty depart from Antalya, Turkey (AYT)

    March 14th - April 4th

    Spring Break

  • Quarter 4: April 4th - May 15th

    April 4th

    Students and faculty arrive in Belo Horizonte, Brazil (CNF)

    April 5th - May 15th

    A new destination for WCCA, students will spend the final 6 weeks climbing on some of the most unique limestone in the world. Comprised of swirling features creating crimps, slopers, and jugs, Serra do Cipó is quickly becoming a bucket list destination for climbers around the world. Set in the beautiful natural park in the state of Minas Gerais, students will combine all the skills they’ve learned throughout the year in this final destination, while also experiencing Brazilian culture and cuisine.

    May 10th - 14th

    Finals Week

    May 14th

    Parent Appreciation Dinner

    May 15th

    Graduation Ceremony in Serra de Cipó, Brazil

    May 16th

    Students, parents, and faculty depart from Belo Horizonte, Brazil (CNF)

Ready to start your adventure?

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Climb Faculty

Coaching & Equipment

Climbing at World Class

World Class Climbing Academy is committed to developing the next generation of climbers, aiding in their pursuit of their goals. In turn, WCCA helps students in their journey to be the best climber they can be and, through sport, the best version of themselves. Students at World Class enter our program with a range of experience and skill in the realms of bouldering and sport, indoors and outdoors. All students will be pushed and supported to reach their personal goals through each day on the rock, workouts, training journal meetings with the Head Coach, and individualized work with coaches. At the Climbing Academy, being an athlete means training hard, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, showing up for teammates, and continuously refocusing on individual and team goals. Our coaches and teachers do not just support our students from the sidelines; they share in the journey and experience as well.

While climbing is an individual sport, at World Class Academy we are first and foremost a team. Students push each other physically and mentally, building an atmosphere of safety, cooperation, and excellence that defines life at WCA. This helps students learn to fail, push their comfort zone, and take risks to pursue their goals, on and off the rock, at the Climbing Academy and beyond. This helps each student become the best climber, and person, they can be.

Safety is a fundamental part of everything we do at World Class. Staff and students work together to uphold our safety and risk management procedures, maintaining an environment where training, learning, and growing can all happen with confidence. Gear checks are completed every quarter; coaches also go over safety procedures at the boulders and out sport climbing, ensuring these become internalized habits.

Training

World Class Climbing Academy training focuses on each student as an individual, helping them develop skills on rock, set and pursue their goals, and become a member of our global climbing community within the arc of our athletic plan. Using each world-class climbing destination as a backdrop, the group develops skills, tactics, strength, and technique in the disciplines of sport climbing and bouldering.

Functioning on a day-on, day-off basis, where one day is a climbing day followed by a rest day, the school adheres to various focuses depending on the climbing medium and period in the year. Training bolsters this focus on rock to support overall performance. A quarter focus, for bouldering or sport climbing, may be:

  1. Mileage/volume and exploration of the crag/boulders, the style of climbing, the rock, etc.
  2. Learning different mental and physical tactics for climbing and projecting
  3. Establishing good habits as a climber, belayer, and partner
  4. Establishment of projects and goal setting
  5. Projecting/red-pointing

With three full days of climbing, most weeks have three off-rock workouts, allowing for one full day of rest for minds and bodies. Off-rock, students may focus on:

  • Strength
  • Core
  • Cardio
  • Mobility and flexibility

These workouts take various formats from hangboarding to yoga to runs to TRX and weighted push/pull exercises. We utilize our environment to help students make physical and mental gains, aid recovery, and promote longevity within the sport.

Equipment

Students must arrive at World Class Academy with everything they need for school, daily life, and climbing. A commitment to staying organized and taking care of gear and equipment is essential, as only some locations have robust climbing shops.

World Class Academy does not provide any individual climbing equipment. Each student will be expected to provide their own climbing gear including items such as rope with bag, harness, climbing shoes, chalk bag or bucket, chalk, chalk brush, belay glasses, quickdraws, GriGri, locking carabiners, belay gloves, helmet, and a crag pack. A detailed list will be sent to enrolled students in the fall and spring pre-course packets so students can ensure they have all required items for the semester. Each year, Climb students are eligible for different discounts and pro deals with companies. This information will also be emailed to students and their families to help purchase gear for the year.

Each student is responsible for bringing all school supplies necessary for their success throughout the semester. This includes school materials such as a laptop or tablet, textbooks, binders, pencils, calculators, and notebooks. Each quarter, students will bring a personal copy of their literature text. Additionally, students are encouraged to bring items that aid their organization in the classroom and on homework assignments in order to aid the efficiency of the team. A detailed list will be provided in the semester pre-course packets.

World Class Academy is responsible for providing group gear and equipment such as safety equipment (SAT phone, first-aid supplies, etc.) and general academic supplies. If there are specific first aid items preferred by a student, they are encouraged to bring their own simple kit. The school will have a printer as well as paper, markers, and writing utensils for general use, but specific items for classes or preferred by each student are their individual responsibility. WCCA aims to use the environment and place-based learning whenever possible to limit the amount of academic supplies students travel with.

Coaching

The unique model of the Climbing Academy allows our student athletes to form a distinct bond with their coaches, who are also their teachers and mentors. The Head Coach leads the athletic program, outlining the athletic arc for the year as well as the detailed picture, on and off the rock, in each world-class destination. Students are supported by all coaching faculty in setting and pursuing their individualized climbing goals within this athletic program.

Each week, students meet with the Head Coach to go over their training journal and discuss their goals. The Head Coach guides students towards these ends, helping them adjust the approach throughout the quarter and semester. Meetings are also tailored to the needs of each student, helping them become the best climbers they can be.

On the rock, each coach supports students in the daily pursuit of their goals within the athletic plan. This comes in the form of technical feedback, guidance, questions, supporting daily athletic assignments, and role modeling. Coaches are not always there to give the answer but help each student discover their answer so that they are able to problem solve on and off the rock, at the Climbing Academy and in their climbing beyond.

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