NOVA HIGH SCHOOL OPENED IN SEPTEMBER 1963 AS A UNIT OF THE SOUTH FLORIDA EDUCATIONAL CENTER. IT IS EXPERIMENTAL IN CONCEPT, BUT NOT IN CURRICULUM. ITS CONSTRUCTION, FEATURES, EQUIPMENT, TEACHING AIDS, AND INSTRUCTIONAL METHODS HAVE BEEN TESTED AND PROVED IN OTHER SCHOOL SYSTEMS. ITS PHILOSOPHY REPRESENTS A RETURN TO FUNDAMENTAL EDUCATION, BUT ITS PURPOSE IS TO UTILIZE SCIENTIFIC METHODS OF LEARNING IN A SCIENTIFIC AGE, WITH THE GOAL OF PROVIDING THE BEST POSSIBLE EDUCATION AT THE LOWEST PRACTICAL COST. ALL STUDENTS ARE REQUIRED TO TAKE ENGLISH, PHYSICAL EDUCATION, MATHEMATICS, SCIENCE, FOREIGN LANGUAGE, SOCIAL SCIENCE AND TECHNICAL SCIENCE EACH SCHOOL YEAR. INDEPENDENT RESEARCH IS ENCOURAGED. AN HOUR IS PROVIDED EACH DAY FOR RESEARCH OR ACTIVITIES. AS EACH SUBJECT IS MASTERED, THE STUDENT PROCEEDS TO THE NEXT LEVEL. SPEED OF ADVANCEMENT DEPENDS ON CAPABILITY AND INTEREST. NO STUDENT CAN FAIL, AND OUTSTANDING STUDENTS MAY BE GRADUATED AFTER 2 1/3 YEARS ABOVE THE NINTH-GRADE LEVEL. A TRIMESTER SYSTEM IS IN OPERATION WITH 220 DAYS IN A SCHOOL YEAR, AND WITH 70-MINUTE CLASS PERIODS. PARENT AND STUDENT REACTIONS TO THE NOVA PROGRAM ARE FAVORABLE. STUDENTS ARE ACCEPTED ON A VOLUNTARY BASIS. TEACHER AIDES RELIEVE TEACHERS OF NONTEACHING CHORES TEAM TEACHING IS UTILIZED IN SELECTED AREAS. SUCH INNOVATIONS AS MULTIPURPOSE CLASSROOMS, CLOSED-CIRCUIT TELEVISION, RESOURCE CENTERS, AND AIR-CONDITIONING ARE FINANCED BY THE OMISSION OF SUCH TRADITIONAL AND EXPENSIVE FACILITIES AS A LARGE AUDITORIUM, A CAFETERIA WITH KITCHEN, AND A SPECTATOR-SIZED GYMNASIUM.