The students move quietly through the hallways, walking in line. In class, the elementary students sit in rows and focus on the teacher’s instruction. On a school tour in 2019, we observed a third grade math lesson, based on Dimensions Math, a version of Singapore Math adapted for the United States. Students worked on word problems about grouping, moving from concrete pictures to more abstract notation. The teacher used a document camera to display her work.
English language arts lessons include a heavy dose of phonics. Students learn cursive handwriting in second grade. For one teacher to manage a class of that size requires skillful classroom management, but the educators we saw were able to hold the students’ attention through energetic presentations and no wasted time.
On our tour, we also visited a sciences curriculum lesson. Students were being asked to classify animals based on their characteristics. The lesson made students stretch their minds by suggesting features like scales, feathers, etc. The teacher waited until the students provided the answers—not stepping in to rescue them, but showing respect for their abilities by letting them be the heroes and meet the challenge.
In every classroom, a set of nine frames displays images representing the virtues that are woven into the curriculum. The graphics might come from classic storybooks, portraits of historical figures, or great works of art, depending on the teacher’s discretion. Each section has a lead teacher and each grade level has an aide who assists the lead teachers.
Students in grades K–2 have recess three times a day, and students in grades 3-5 have recess twice a day. Older students still have one recess period daily. In many grades, the students have PE every day.
Founders Classical Academy of Schertz offers a variety of extracurricular activities, including athletics and clubs. In sports, the flag football, girls volleyball, softball, and girls basketball teams have been especially successful. The mascot is the Hoplite, a citizen-soldier of Ancient Greek city-states, armed with spear and shield—the hoplon. To express school spirit, students will chant “shields up,” representing soldiers standing together in a phalanx. The school colors are navy blue and yellow. The very active parent organization is known as the Hoplite Council.
Upper School students are organized in a house system based on Ancient Greek city states. Younger siblings know that they will be assigned to the same house, which keeps current families together. They also participate in student government, using it as an opportunity to apply what they have learned about American government and federalism in becoming virtuous citizens.
Founders Classical Academy of Schertz offers students a free public education in the classical, traditional liberal arts. We hope this guide helps families determine whether Founders Schertz, with its focus on teaching U.S. History and offering a wide range of sports and activities, would be a good fit for their children.