When Hanchen arrived at North Cross School from China, he didn’t know what to expect. This would be his first experience learning and playing sports in a new country.
But he quickly discovered a support system that helped him excel at both. “My teachers are always willing to answer my questions and provide support,” says the senior student-athlete. “This has always helped me to have a better understanding of the material and to do better on assessments.”
For Hanchen and other students at North Cross School, success in both the classroom and on the field is the standard. One out of four students go on to play sports in college.
Its strong academic programme is key to making this possible. Advanced courses in mathematics, science, literature, and the arts challenge them while building a foundation for college success. And as an accredited independent school, North Cross has the flexibility to design a curriculum that prioritises depth and inquiry. Instead of focusing solely on the “right answers,” they nurture students to ask the right questions and to ask them often.
Small class sizes encourage deeper engagement. With an average class size of 14 and a student-to-teacher ratio of 8:1, attention can be personalised and pace can be flexed as needed. And with over 80% of teachers holding advanced degrees, students have no shortage of highly qualified educators to mentor them as they complete a demanding, creative, and innovative curriculum. There’s no rote memorisation in classes here. Only the development of skills, hard and soft, that will serve students well beyond high school.
North Cross School is an independent, non-sectarian school for students from early childhood through 12th grade. Source: North Cross School
Athletics play an equally important role in a North Cross education. Whether on the courts, fields, or in the pool, students are encouraged to try new sports, push themselves beyond their comfort zones, and form lasting friendships. Top-notch facilities and a wide variety of athletic programmes ensure every student gets to participate and discover their potential.
Since it began competing in 1974, the school has claimed 184 conference titles and 34 state championships. Nationally, an average 6% of a high school’s students commit to playing sports at the collegiate level. North Cross School’s average was 24% for the class of 2025. Notable recent commitments include Kerrigan ’25, who signed to run cross country and track at the University of Virginia; Vivian ’24, who signed to swim at Washington & Lee University; and Hanchen, who plans to pursue baseball at the collegiate level.
Behind these wins are experienced coaches and state-of-the-art facilities. The 63,000-square-foot Carter Athletic Centre (CAC) features the Muscaro Game Gym with a basketball/volleyball court, a Practice Gym with two courts, a 1/9-mile indoor track, two racquetball courts, a six-lane, 25-yard heated indoor pool, and more. That’s a comprehensive range of resource for any student-athlete who wants to go far.
North Cross School is a member of the Virginia Independent School Athletic Association (VISAA), which governs independent school athletics and oversees all varsity state playoffs. Source: North Cross School
But podium finishes aren’t everything. The school emphasises that there is value in participation whether it ends with a medal or not. Whether it’s lacrosse for boys, field hockey and volleyball for girls, the focus is on strengthening teamwork while encouraging personal growth. Through athletics, North Cross students learn to take responsibility for their actions, strive for excellence, and view setbacks as opportunities, lessons that translate directly to success in the classroom and in life.
“The baseball team at North Cross is getting better every year under Coach Spradlin’s lead,” Hanchen says. “As a member and captain of the team, I noticed the change in my teammates’ mindsets, from initially fearing our strong opponents to now having the determination to defeat them.”
Just as important to any athlete is rest and recovery. To this end, boarders here have an edge: the tranquillity of a stunning rural setting. Located in the Roanoke Valley, 250 miles southwest of Washington, DC, this is a campus where boarders can relax and rejuvenate after a full day in class or on the field. There’s always something going on all week, from weekend brunches to city-wide scavenger hunts. “We have different events every weekend, and we can participate in lots of activities on and off dorm, ” Hanchen says. “It makes me feel like I live in a big family.”
Tina, a senior from Zimbabwe set to play college basketball, agrees. “Living in the dorm means having people around who understand your determination and grit,” she says. “We motivate each other every day on and off the court/field. We feel more like a family than a group of students, and it benefits us all.”
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