Mission Statement: Riverstone Classical Academy partners with families in a collaborative academic model to offer an exceptional classically driven education that is unapologetically Christ-centered and family focused.

What is Classical Education?

Classical education is like a very large museum with many beautiful, wonder-filled rooms that could be studied over a lifetime. It is a long tradition of education that has emphasized the seeking after of truth, goodness, and beauty and the study of the liberal arts and the great books. This approach to education also includes the study of Latin. The classical approach teaches students how to learn and how to think.

What makes Classical Education so effective?

It is largely because of its approach to how and when students are taught. Regardless of their learning style, children learn in three phases or stages (grammar, logic or dialectic, and rhetoric), known as the trivium.

 In the grammar stage (K–6), students are naturally adept at memorizing through songs, chants, and rhymes. If you can get children in this stage to sing or chant something, they will remember it for a lifetime.

In the dialectic or logic stage (grades 7–9), teenaged students are naturally more argumentative and begin to question authority and facts. They want to know the “why” of something—the logic behind it. During this stage, students learn reasoning, informal and formal logic, and how to argue with wisdom and eloquence.

The rhetoric stage (grades 10–12) is naturally when students become independent thinkers and communicators. They study and practice rhetoric, which is the art of persuasive speaking and effective writing that pleases and delights the listener.

Again, it is this approach to teaching students based on their developmental stage that makes this approach so very effective. It is precisely this kind of education that has produced countless great leaders, inventors, scientists, writers, philosophers, theologians, physicians, lawyers, artists, and musicians over the centuries. 

Our Philosophy In Action

To be classically educated is to be able to think independently and creatively, to communicate clearly with people, to solve problems, and to know that which is true, good, and beautiful. This kind of education is built on several foundational pillars:

1. Great teachers are the key to inspiring students to seek out learning. We employ qualified, degreed teachers who share our passion in classical instruction.  
2. Classes are taught with classic literature in addition to Christian classical textbooks where hands on learning is strongly encouraged. We believe in nurturing a child’s natural development, not forcing it.
3. We should take pride in our efforts academically and in character development so we emphasize quality work and godly behavior based on scripture.
4. Students benefit from the value of a mentoring relationship in which both student, mentor and parents are continually challenging themselves to grow. Home study days and small class sizes make this possible.

What is a Collaborative or “Hybrid” model school? In our humble opinion, it’s the best of homeschooling and classical education. Who says you can’t have it all?!

Features:

• Drop Off Program – 2.5 days per week
• 2 home study days per week
• Small class sizes- 10 Students per class
• Combined Homeschool flexibility and Parent Involvement with Traditional classical instruction
• Optional Enrichment Classes
  {Art, STEM, Foreign Language, Music…}
• No Standardized Testing

Benefits:

• Family matters. We believe no one should have more influence in your child’s life than you and that includes their education. The school’s unique structure provides extra time for parents to instill the principles of virtue that form a person’s character, behavior, and beliefs. Parents are also given the time to provide enriching activities that are not possible in a traditional, five-day, classroom format.
• Students have more flexible schedules that allow time for them to participate in activities outside of school such as sports, gymnastics, music lessons, working part time, volunteering, etc.
• No lesson planning. Parents are responsible for purchasing course materials for their students and lead home study days, but not lesson planning or assessments.
• The unique schedule allows students to participate in dual enrollment classes in high school at the college level and mirrors the format of most collegiate class schedules.