Distinctives
VERITAS
As Christ is the Truth (Veritas in Latin), all education rightly leads to knowledge of Him. So, more than a tacked-on Bible class at the end of a school day, ACA is committed to exalting Christ as the One by Whom, through Whom, and for Whom all Creation exists. God, the Creator of heaven and earth, cannot be separated from history, literature, mathematics, science, or any other academic discipline. Rather, every subject is taught as part of an integrated whole, as seen through the prism of Christ.
Our faith statement is The Apostles’ Creed, the most ancient and widely accepted expression of the essential beliefs of the Christian faith. Auburn Classical Academy teaches and upholds traditional Christian virtues and the Holy Scriptures as the divinely inspired word of God. This does not mean, however, that we will only study Christian viewpoints, thereby narrowing our students’ education. On the contrary, our tools of learning and our faith in Jesus Christ help us to confidently seek truth wherever it is found. For we know that all truth ultimately comes to us from God; therefore, we wholeheartedly seek a complete liberal arts education.
In partnership with parents, and guided by the Word of God, we seek to educate students to the highest standards of the classical tradition. We are committed to their growth in the knowledge, wisdom and the love of Our Lord, so that they may more ably use their gifts in service of others for the glory of Christ and His church. We welcome families of other faiths, but we ask that you respect our Christian identity.
FAMILIA
We believe the family is a cherished institution given us by God. We offer a shortened school week, helping to slow down the hectic pace of modern life and leaving time for quality family life. Our December break is longer than most schools in order to encourage time with extended family and to allow parents time to pass along and cultivate their own family traditions and beliefs.
We believe it is the parents’ privilege to train their children at home, to teach them their beliefs, and to assist them academically. Our school is truly a partnership.
SCHOLA
An ACA education aims at far more than practical benefits. We are based on classical method of the Trivium, providing students the tools for life-long learning. The Trivium works through a child’s natural stages of development. It consists of the first three of the seven great Liberal Arts–Grammar, Logic and Rhetoric.
During the Grammar Stage (elementary school), children study the fundamentals of subjects in order to build a foundation of knowledge on which all future subjects can be further built. In the Logic Stage (middle school), the fundamentals learned during the Grammar Stage years are brought into relationships. The goal is to equip students with the thinking skills necessary to recognize sound ideas and detect false ones. When students mature to the Rhetoric Stage (high school), they can then learn to effectively use oral and written language to express thoughts eloquently and persuasively. The primary goal of the Trivium is not to train students what to think, but how to think, logically, deeply and wisely.
This classical philosophy of education is the tradition passed down to us from the ancient scholars Greece and Rome, to the monasteries of the Middle Ages to the European and American schools of the 18th and 19th centuries. It is the philosophy of education that shaped our country’s founding fathers. It includes the study of Latin and Greek which produces practical, cultural and formative benefits. Practically, it provides a foundation for English and all other modern languages and helps increase standardized test scores due to its strong vocabulary and grammar emphasis. The intensive study of Latin develops the minds of students unlike any other subject. Students who have discovered how to learn with Latin become better-equipped to study all other subjects. Too, the study of classical languages increases cultural literacy and develops knowledge of our own historical heritage which becomes increasingly significant in this age of relativism. Formatively, the study of Latin imparts exceptional academic discipline, moral insight and aesthetic judgment. In light of western civilization, education and classical education have always been synonymous. Based on this time-tested philosophy, we encourage students to develop a strong academic work ethic, developing their potential, as well as, a life-long love of learning.
The classical model perfectly suits modern children, and the unique challenges and distractions they face. Our goal is to provide a knowledgeable, enthusiastic teacher who carefully leads students into an understanding of each subject. Lessons are incremental, content is age-appropriate, and students learn the important skill of quality written work completed in a timely manner. Homework is moderate and is for the purpose of practicing or preparing for a lesson. We do not believe in busywork. We aspire to create an atmosphere and discipline among our students that creates a love of learning and expect parents to partner with us to do the same at home.