Classical Education Learning Models at San Antonio Schools

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Would a school of choice with a classical education learning model be the right fit for your children? In this guide for parents and caregivers, we will explain more about what it means for a school to have a classical education learning model and give examples of schools in San Antonio that offer this model. Our goal is to help you understand the range of learning models that are available in schools of choice and enroll your children in high-quality schools that are the right fit for their needs.

What Is Classical Education?

Classical education is an approach that looks back to time-tested methods like Latin grammar and cursive handwriting. Students receive a well-rounded liberal arts education by reading whole works of literature and holding discussions with their peers. Structure, discipline, and high expectations are hallmarks of this type of education, and a dress code or uniform is often the standard. By the time they enter high school, students have well-worn books filled with annotations and highlighted passages. They interact with one another in a Socratic seminar-type setting and are skilled in citing textual evidence to support theories and discussions. By the time they graduate, students are poised, independent, and creative-thinking individuals.

There is a real philosophy behind this style of education, but families must buy into it and support it at home as well.

Great Hearts Northern Oaks classroom in October 2019

San Antonio Public Schools That Offer Classical Education

In San Antonio, families can choose classical education at several open enrollment public charter schools. These are tuition-free, public schools that are open to all students in a wide enrollment area, as we explain in our guide to school models.

Founders Classical Academy of Schertz is an open enrollment charter school located on the Northeast Side of the San Antonio region.

Great Hearts Texas is a network of open enrollment charter schools with six locations in San Antonio and more in North Texas.

Valor Education has one campus, Valor San Antonio, on the near Northwest Side of San Antonio, and more in the Austin region.

Although not defined as classical education, Legacy Traditional Schools—Texas offers what they call “traditional education” at campuses in central San Antonio, Alamo Ranch, and Cibolo.

Great Hearts Online girl with teepee

Classical Education in Other Settings

In Texas, families can choose from among full-time online schools that offer classical education learning models: Great Hearts Online—Texas and Founders Classical Academy Online.

There are private Christian schools in the San Antonio area that offer classical education learning models. These include the Atonement Catholic Academy, a school on the Northwest Side of San Antonio that is part of the Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter; the Geneva School, located in Boerne; Gloria Deo Academy, a university-model school on the Far North Side; and Regina Caeli San Antonio, a Catholic homeschool hybrid.

Classical education has deep roots in the world of homeschooling. For example, Classical Conversations is a longstanding classical education homeschool model with multiple learning communities located in San Antonio. Also, Pathways Home Education and Beyond Education can assist families with setting up their homeschool environments.

Founders Classical Academy of Schertz house flags Socrates, Leonidas, Pericles, Themistocles

Identifying classical education as a desired learning model is an important step in your school search. As a parent or caregiver who is researching schools for your children, the range of options can be overwhelming. Remember that you know your children better than anyone else. As you develop an understanding of different learning models, you can narrow the field to the ones where your child will likely be their happiest and most successful. Visiting School Discovery Day events is a great way for parents to meet with representatives from multiple schools in one day, ask questions, and get a feel for the school’s climate and culture. The San Antonio Charter Moms team wants to make it as easy as possible to find the right school for your child as easy as possible. We have a wealth of resources, including our Facebook discussion group, interviews with schools, and a weekly newsletter, to help you make the best choice.

Learning Models Handout

Download or print our learning models information as a one-page handout. The text is in English on one side and in Spanish on the other.

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Read More About Classical Education Learning Models

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