academics
Preparing students academically, socially, and spiritually. Equipping them to discern truth, articulate their faith and serve others for the glory of Jesus Christ.
Embark on a journey that cultivates both mind and heart, shaped by truth and guided by Scripture. Students experience a curriculum where faith and learning are intertwined, discovering that every lesson has both a purpose and a place in God’s story. Students learn to discern what is good and true, articulate their ideas with clarity and conviction, and serve others faithfully, developing habits of thought and heart that will last a lifetime.
Early grammar (k4-2nd)
In the Grammar years, students cultivate the art of knowledge by building the foundational language of learning. Through hands-on exploration in mathematics, reading, writing, history, science, and Scripture, they learn to observe, identify, classify, and understand the world around them. As students discover patterns, develop vocabulary, and make meaningful connections across subjects, they gain the knowledge and understanding that form the basis for future learning. Through active engagement and sensory-rich experiences, Grammar students develop a love of learning, an appreciation for truth, and a growing understanding of God's orderly and purposeful world.
As they begin their educational journey, early grammar students learn the art of knowledge by establishing the foundational building blocks of language. In mathematics, they discover that mathematical language is consistent, orderly, and knowable. Using manipulatives, students build numbers, identify patterns, recognize place value, and understand how numbers relate to one another. This strong number sense opens the world of mathematical operations and problem-solving.
In phonics, students establish the relationship between letters and sounds—the essential building blocks of reading. Through songs, sky-writing, tracing sandpaper letters, listening to stories, and building words with magnetic letters, they learn and apply phonetic rules in engaging and meaningful ways.
Quality literature broadens students' understanding of God's world and the people within it. It expands vocabulary, introduces new knowledge and experiences, and fosters a lifelong appreciation for the beauty of language. Handwriting instruction cultivates precision, attention to detail, and muscle memory, enabling students to communicate effectively and beautifully.
Because young learners are concrete thinkers, instruction in history, science, and grammar emphasizes gathering, organizing, sorting, classifying, reciting, creating, and experimenting with facts and ideas. As students learn to identify and categorize information, they gain the language and understanding needed to make sense of the world around them.
By engaging the senses across all learning activities, our youngest students develop language skills and participate in the art of knowledge through tangible, meaningful experiences.
upper grammar (3rd-6th)
As students enter the Upper Grammar years, they mature in their application of the art of knowledge by moving beyond foundational facts to deeper understanding and meaningful connections. Language remains at the heart of learning as students analyze literature, explore the structure of English and Latin, and strengthen their ability to communicate clearly and effectively. Through mathematics, literature, and biblical studies, they learn to apply knowledge to real-world situations, recognize truth and virtue, and connect ideas across disciplines. Active learning, thoughtful exploration, and a growing understanding of God's Word help students develop wisdom as they continue building a rich foundation of knowledge.
Upper grammar students begin to develop a capacity for more abstract thought, allowing them to mature in their application of the art of knowledge. Language is still the heart of knowledge; thus they begin to analyze and utilize language in a more advanced way. Exploration of mathematical language allows students to apply concepts and operations to real world problems. A strong emphasis on understanding the conceptual foundations of mathematical algorithms allows students to apply them to different types of questions, revealing that a deep consideration of the language used allows real-life application.
Students dive into classic literature, experiencing novels that reveal virtue (or lack thereof) and the nature of man, teach about history, encourage connections to the wide array of knowledge learned across topics at school, and grow an appreciation for the power of the written word. These novels also provide model writing for students to imitate. A formal study of the grammar of the English language is reinforced by the study of Latin, which begins in 3rd grade. Understanding the structure and rules of language provides a sturdy foundation for excellent writing and the ability to effectively communicate knowledge.
A rich study of God’s Word is the essential underpinning of all that we do. Upper grammar students build on the Bible stories learned in early grammar, maturing to inductive studies of books of the Bible and journaling personal application. Upper grammar students continue to enjoy active learning and hands-on experiences as they soak in the knowledge to which they are exposed.
dialectic (7th-9th)
In the Dialectic years, students cultivate the art of investigation by learning to think critically, evaluate ideas, and reason clearly. Through subjects such as logic, mathematics, science, literature, history, and the arts, they learn to ask thoughtful questions, analyze differing perspectives, and construct well-supported conclusions. As students examine truth through the lens of Scripture, they develop the ability to discern, defend, and articulate their beliefs with wisdom and conviction. By engaging ideas across disciplines, Dialectic students grow in intellectual maturity and gain confidence in their pursuit of truth.
Dialectic students experience the art of investigation in every course they encounter. In classical subjects like logic and debate, they are taught to recognize fallacies, evaluate evidence, ask thoughtful questions, and pursue truth through careful reasoning, but the art of investigation extends well beyond these two courses.
In algebra and geometry, dialectic students are reminded that there is often more than one way to solve a problem and are encouraged to consider the reasons why one approach might be more effective than another. In earth science, students examine what it means to be a good steward of God’s creation, while those in physics investigate truths revealed through both general and special revelation. In civics, students explore the ideas and principles that shaped the founding of our nation as they create their own Declaration of Independence. In art class, they are given the opportunity to compare two paintings and determine which one more effectively uses lines to create texture and space. In Latin, students investigate the actions and motivations of characters from The Aeneid, considering which most effectively displayed the cardinal virtue of justice. In English, students use Aristotle’s Five Common Topics to explore ideas and develop persuasive essays.
Regardless of the course or the content, the art of investigation is an integral thread woven through every dialectic subject. Through inquiry, analysis, and thoughtful discussion, students learn to pursue truth with wisdom, discernment, and intellectual humility.
Rhetoric (10th-12th)
In the Rhetoric years, students develop the art of persuasion by learning to communicate truth with wisdom, clarity, and conviction. Through literature, history, science, mathematics, the arts, and biblical studies, they evaluate ideas, defend conclusions, and articulate their beliefs in both written and spoken forms. As students engage thoughtfully with complex questions and diverse perspectives, they develop the confidence to influence others through reasoned argument and effective communication. By integrating knowledge, discernment, and eloquence, Rhetoric students prepare to lead, serve, and advocate for truth in the world around them.
When reading The Iliad, students persuasively consider whether or not Achilles was a sympathetic character. In advanced art, they are tasked with analyzing a variety of art and then persuading their peers as to which shapes are positive and which are negative. In history, students use primary sources to determine for themselves why the early American settlers needed rules of law. In Spanish, when reading a novel, students take a stand about how Christians should respond to suffering. In statistics, students solve problems in front of their class and then defend their solution by responding to questions from classmates. In chemistry, the art of persuasion is on full display when students consider how the specific ways in which electron orbitals are filled provide evidence that God is a God of order.
In every course and in every department, the art of persuasion weaves through the rhetoric years, culminating in their final persuasive presentation at Summit, the Senior Thesis.
Ready to learn more about our academics?
learn more about the journey from the Art of Knowledge to the Art of Persuasion as students grow in wisdom, virtue, and a love for truth as they discover what is true, beautiful and good.