Frequently Asked Questions
WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE PARENT WHEN TEACHING AT HOME?
Parents assume the role of "co-teacher." The on-campus teacher introduces new concepts in class, and prepares detailed lesson plans and a checklist for each subject that parents use at home with their student. As students begin to work more independently in upper elementary school and beyond, parents transition to the role of guide, and then course monitor during the high school years. We do not expect parents to master and teach the more advanced material in the upper grades. Parent involvement progresses as follows:
- Jr.K - 4th grade; private tutor
- 5th-8th grade; guide
- 9th-12th grade; course mentor
How much time is spent on lessons during the at-home days?
The amount of time spent on lessons at home depends on many factors, including family size, your student's age and maturity, learning style and speed, and family dynamics. For the two days at-home course load, we provide the following as a rough estimate. The third day is a lighter academic day and is usually completed in about less than half the time of a regular full home day. The majority of our families pull the Friday work into Thursday's home day and have therefore have a 4-day school week. (PreK home day work is optional).
Pre-Kindergarten: about 1/2 hour to 1 hour per at-home day
Kindergarten: 1.5 to 3.0 hours per at-home day
First Grade: 2.5 to 4.0 hours per at-home day
Second Grade: 3.0 to 4.5 hours per at-home day
Third Grade: 3.5 to to 5.0 hours per at-home day
Fourth Grade: 4.0 to 5.0 hours per at-home day
Fifth and Sixth Grade: 4.0 to 6.0 hours per at-home day
7th-8th Grade: 5.0-6.0 hours per at-home day
Pre-Kindergarten: about 1/2 hour to 1 hour per at-home day
Kindergarten: 1.5 to 3.0 hours per at-home day
First Grade: 2.5 to 4.0 hours per at-home day
Second Grade: 3.0 to 4.5 hours per at-home day
Third Grade: 3.5 to to 5.0 hours per at-home day
Fourth Grade: 4.0 to 5.0 hours per at-home day
Fifth and Sixth Grade: 4.0 to 6.0 hours per at-home day
7th-8th Grade: 5.0-6.0 hours per at-home day
How do I teach multiple children in the older grades?
Lessons can be staggered so that the parent can teach one child while another is working independently. As students get older they are able to work on more portions of their lessons independently which allows the parent to work with other children. By third or fourth grade, portions of assignments can be completed without the parent needing to be directly involved. This allows flexibility for working with multiple children. In Logic School (7th-9th grade) the students will begin to transition to taking full responsibility for their assignments. There is no at-home teaching by the parent once students reach the upper logic school. By Rhetoric school (10th-12th), our expectation is that students will handle their own assignments and referencing syllabi, similar to what they will experience at a college campus. It is our expectation that parents will provide a facilitating role in high school.
Are your teachers trained in classical education?
Yes, all teachers receive classical training. Sessions are held before school resumes in the fall and several times throughout the school year. In addition, we receive teacher and administrative training from the Association of Classical Christian Schools (ACCS) as well as our mentor school within ACCS.
What is the maximum class size?
As the school grows, maximum class size will vary by grade. Currently, Pre-Kindergarten is capped at 16 students with a full-time aid; all other grades cap at 16. Once a class fills, additional students will be placed on a waiting list for admission. Order of preference is determined by the school through a holistic admissions process, including factors such as enabling sibling attendance and a family's long-term commitment to the school. Class sizes may flex +/- two students to accommodate siblings.
Are books included as part of the tuition?
Books are purchased separately by each family. A detailed book list with an ISBN code for each book will be provided upon acceptance to the Academy. Some books and resources are purchased once and then used for several years, and with additional siblings. Parents may purchase the books locally, online, new, used, from other parents, or in any combination they wish. We have a private school Facebook group of Academy families where parents can buy and swap their used curriculum and uniforms from year to year. Depending on these factors, the cost of books can range between $150 and $400 per student depending on grade level.
Will my student who has never been classically educated be able to keep up?
Students from all academic backgrounds will benefit from the time-tested methods of the classical approach. Exposure to a classical education can enrich the student on many levels. Most students transition successfully to the classical approach in the upper grades.
Do you have uniforms and a dress code?
Yes. Neat and professional attire helps to promote a learning environment where students are more focused on academics rather than status and clothing. Uniforms also ease the financial burden on families of buying school clothes. To read more about our uniform policy, click here.
Is there assigned homework?
There is no evening homework assigned on campus days. All material is covered between the on-campus school days and at-home school days, freeing the evening for families. However, families can complete their at-home school work at any time they wish.
Is this a co-op?
The Classical Academy is a private school, not a co-op. In a co-op, parents join together and utilize their gifts, talents, and abilities in the instruction of the children of that group. For example, if a family is part of a co-op and one of the parents of that group is particularly gifted in the subject of science, then that parent might teach science to other children in the group. These cooperatives can be wonderful educational venues for families, but The Classical Academy is not a co-op; it is a private school. We hire professional teachers and provide families many of the services they might expect from a traditional educational institution, such as high quality teaching, in-class projects, assignments, transcripts, lesson planning and other benefits parents would expect from a school.
Our families tend to be heavily involved in community, church and family activities throughout the week. Since students do not have evening homework this frees our families' time in order to do many other things. We believe our approach is a "golden mean" for many families who wish to maintain primary influence over their child's education but feel that they may lack sufficient time to homeschool to a high academic standard. By offloading much of the planning and teaching to professional teachers and staff, we save families time and money from having to "reinvent the wheel" to execute an academically rigorous, classical, Christian, education.
Our families tend to be heavily involved in community, church and family activities throughout the week. Since students do not have evening homework this frees our families' time in order to do many other things. We believe our approach is a "golden mean" for many families who wish to maintain primary influence over their child's education but feel that they may lack sufficient time to homeschool to a high academic standard. By offloading much of the planning and teaching to professional teachers and staff, we save families time and money from having to "reinvent the wheel" to execute an academically rigorous, classical, Christian, education.
