FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

WHAT IS ACA’S MISSION STATEMENT?

By partnering with families, we exist to provide an education that is both classical and Christian; to equip students to know, love, and practice what is true, virtuous, and beautiful; and to challenge them to strive for excellence as they live for the glory of God and for the good of all people.

WHY A FOUR-DAY ACADEMIC WEEK?

We’re glad you asked. Many of our families tell us that they love the four-day week, though not everyone knows why ACA has a slightly pared-down schedule.

The primary reason is partnership with parents. We believe parents are their children’s first and best teachers, no matter the child’s age (or the parents’ mastery of Latin nouns). Our schedule allows parents to support and supplement classroom instruction by giving students time at home, and it gives families time to do additional things together, such as spend a day hiking, take a long weekend trip, visit a museum in the city together, work on a service project, develop new skills or hobbies, and much more.

The second reason behind our four-day week is ACA’s emphasis on time well spent: Wise use of time coupled with diligent, age-appropriate focus on a task develops in our students the ability to tackle the work at hand and to learn diligence. From diligence comes joy! You work hard on a task; you see the fruit of your labor; you feel good about it! So often the world flips this order. It says: If you feel good about something, do it. ACA says: Work hard on this task for 10 minutes (if you’re in kindergarten) or an hour (if you’re in ninth-grade) and then see what you’ve accomplished, and then praise God for it! Genesis 1-3 shows us that work is rooted in God’s design for human life and flourishing, and it shows us that the fruit of that work is beautiful and the response to it is delight and joy. 

Of course, there are myriad other benefits to our academic schedule: We see fewer mid-day absences or late arrivals with a four-day schedule because parents can schedule appointments (such as routine doctor visits and dental check-ups) on Fridays. Students get some well-deserved rest and play time (and extra sleep!), even as we accomplish our curricular goals each week. Teachers attend professional development and staff meetings on Fridays, which keeps ACA from having a smattering of days off during the year that interrupts the regular rhythm of the academic week.

Bottom line: Education is not merely the development of knowledge and skills. It’s also the formation of affections and daily practices; it teaches students how to orient their lives. Our four-day schedule enables us to teach the curriculum, shape godly practices, and also to leave room for other good things in our students’ lives.

WHEN WAS ACA FOUNDED?

Augustine Classical Academy was founded in 2010 with a small handful of early childhood families. Since that time, ACA has grown into a full preschool-12th classical Christian school.

HOW MANY STUDENTS ARE CURRENTLY ENROLLED?

For the 2024-25 academic year, ACA's enrollment was approximately 250 students.

WHAT IS THE MAXIMUM CLASS SIZE?

Preschool and pre-k classes have a maximum class size of 16 students with a student-teacher ratio of 1:8 in preschool classes and 1:10 in pre-k classes. K-8th classes are capped at 18 students with the ability to flex up to 20 to allow for short-term growth. All 9th-12th classes are capped at 24 students.

WHAT GRADES DO YOU OFFER?

ACA enrolls students from preschool through 12th grade.

WHAT ARE SCHOOL HOURS?

MORNING DROP-OFF: 7:45 AM - 8:00 AM

Preschool & Pre-K hours: 8:15 AM - 12:30 PM

Preschool & pre-k AFTERNOON EXTENSION: 12:30 PM - 3:30 PM

KINDERGARTEN HALF DAYS PROGRAM:

M/W: 8:15 AM - 12:30 PM

T/R: 8:15 AM - 3:30 PM

GRADES 1-12/KINDERGARTEN FULL DAYS PROGRAM: 7:45 AM - 3:30 PM

AFTERNOON PICK-UP: 3:30 - 3:45 PM

AFTER-SCHOOL CARE: 3:45 PM - 5:15 PM

WHAT IS THE CUT-OFF DATE FOR KINDERGARTEN ENROLLEES?

Students must be 5 by October 1 to enroll in kindergarten. All students must meet with the kindergarten teacher for a readiness assessment in the spring prior to the start of kindergarten.

DO STUDENTS WEAR UNIFORMS?

Yes, see our uniform policy here.

DO YOU OFFER P.E., MUSIC, ART, AND LIBRARY?

Yes, beginning in kindergarten, our students have P.E., music, art, and library each once a week.

WHY DO ACA STUDENTS TAKE LATIN?

Two Reasons.

First, Latin is still very much alive in languages today. More than half of English words come from Latin, and studying Latin gives an excellent foundation not only for expansive English vocabulary, but also for learning the many Latin-based foreign languages being spoken around the world today, such as Spanish, French, and Italian.

Second, studying a foreign language gives students the tools of verbal expression in their own language. Students learn English grammar more effectively by rigorously studying Latin; that is, they learn the reasons for, and the uses of, the parts of speech learned in their English classes.

All students take Latin beginning in kindergarten with a fun introduction to vocabulary through song. Students in 3rd Grade begin a formal study of Latin, which continues through 9th Grade.

For a closer look at the Latin texts we use, see Lingua Latina and Wheelock's Latin.

WHAT IS THE BEST WAY FOR MY CHILD TO SUCCEED AT ACA?

Each child is different, and there is not a specific strategy that fits all students. However, three things remain essential for every student:

1) Read every day consistently from an early age. Read quality books, even if they are basic. Learn to engage with new vocabulary, and with the meaning of the story.

2) Develop and keep good study habits. Be diligent, focused, and organized every day. In early grades, parents should ensure this happens daily. In later grades, parents should help their students take ownership of their own work, and to require that good habits remain.

3) Limit or eliminate regular video games, TV time, or isolated smartphone screen-time. All of these things are enemies of academic success, unless taken in very small doses with parental oversight.

WILL ACA BE TOO DIFFICULT FOR MY CHILD?

No, provided each student works hard with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength (Col. 3:23), and provided parents are willing to consistently support their students at home with love. However, work at ACA is rigorous even with diligence, and students should not expect that “success” necessarily means getting A’s or B’s in their classes. We expect all students to do their best with joy, recognizing that regular difficulty and frustration is from the Lord. We do not expect all students to receive high grades, but rather to learn to do their own best for God’s glory. We believe students’ worth comes from their image in Christ, not from the grades they receive.

IS ACA AFFILIATED WITH DOUGLAS WILSON IN ANY WAY?

No. ACA uses certain curricular materials written or edited in part by Douglas Wilson, among many others, and ACA is grateful for his extensive foundational work, with the Association of Classical and Christian Schools, in the modern classical Christian educational resurgence. However, ACA uses its own unique mission, vision, and values to develop programs and teach students.

IS ACA ACCREDITED?

ACA is at a point in its development where accreditation is appropriate. A subset of the Board is in the beginning stages of pursuing accreditation through the Association of Classical Christian Schools (ACCS), of which ACA is a member, and the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI). In order to accredit ACA with ACCS, the school has to have graduated one 12th-grade class.

DO I HAVE TO BE A CHRISTIAN TO ATTEND ACA?

No. However, parents should be aware that ACA is a Christian community that provides an education in which its Christian beliefs are taught, expressed, nurtured, developed and integrated into all aspects of the school. Parents should also understand that ACA requires all students and parents to respect ACA’s Christian beliefs and community standards.

IS ACA LINKED TO A SPECIFIC CHURCH?

No. ACA is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization run by a Board of Directors with full independence over its own policies and procedures.