As students move through the Rhetoric School, our goal is to form a graduate who is wise, eloquent, and of godly character: a person of virtue. We realize that education and sanctification are lifelong endeavors and that every graduate has unique gifts, but our goal as a school is to work alongside our students’ parents in supporting the students’ growth. In the Rhetoric School, our students are taught both formal and informal logic alongside rhetoric, debate, and composition, where they learn to express themselves with “fluency, grace, elegance, and persuasiveness.” (Bauer, The Well-Trained Mind)
GCA students are taught to take the facts they have been learning since the grammar stage, organize them into logical statements and arguments, and then express them both confidently and winsomely. We recognize that simply expressing thoughts and arguments well does not make for a wise and eloquent students; these skills must be guided by the Spirit of God to express the truth of a given subject.
building the foundation of knowledge
In the Rhetoric School, much of students’ learning revolves around in-class guided discussions, where they will discuss and debate the great themes of human history and literature from a Biblical perspective.
Mathematics follows a progression through algebra I and II, geometry, pre-calculus and caluculus, with science classes complementing: physical science, biology, chemistry, physics, and anatomy & physiology.
Senior students complete a capstone project, writing and defending their thesis before friends and faculty as a way of demonstrating their classical, Christian education at GCA. Participating in this “Great Conversation” with wisdom and eloquence uniquely prepares our students to go out into the world and represent Christ and His kingdom in all endeavors.
Algebra I Honors
Geometry Honors
Algebra II CP or Honors
Pre-Calculus Honors
Calculus Honors
Physical Science Honors
Biology Honors
Chemistry CP or Honors
Physics Honors
Marine Biology CP
Anatomy & Physiology Honors
Ancient History Honors
Medieval History Honors
American History Honors
Government Honors
Economics Honors
Ancient Literature & Composition Honors
Medieval Literature & Composition CP or Honors
American Literature & Composition Honors
British Literature & Composition Honors
Spanish III Honors
Hermeneutics CP or Honors
Rhetoric – Public Speaking / Debate
Rhetoric – Composition
Senior Capstone Honors
Latin II
Choir, Theatre: Performing Arts, or Mock Trial
Our choice for a Christian education was never about isolating our kids from the world or creating an echo chamber of beliefs. Quite the contrary, we firmly believe that being in the world and engaging with diverse perspectives is crucial. However, when it comes to their formal education, we wanted our children to encounter Truth presented without compromise. The classical approach, which focuses on logic and rhetoric, holds immense significance in shaping their ability to make wise decisions in the future. When you combine a Christian foundation with a classical education, you provide students with both the knowledge and the tools they need to navigate life effectively. It’s this holistic approach that resonates with us the most and underscores the value of classical, Christian education.
Skip & Kristen
