We take High Schoolers seriously!
ACADEMICS
Signature Schedule
The Signature Schedule operates on a university model schedule: Classes on site Monday, Wednesday, Thursday. Students follow teacher prepared syllabi at home two days per week.
Expanded Schedule
The Expanded Schedule includes a choice of a 4 or 5 day model. The students attend classes on-site Monday, Wednesday, Thursday. They come to campus for an additional day or two on Tuesday and/or Friday to participate in guided independent study session with professional oversight. The study days operate according to a regular schedule with breaks, lunch and intramural sport times.
Curriculum
We seek the best books for each subject, giving preference to primary source materials when possible. Curriculum sources will include the Omnibus, World History Series by Susan Wise Bauer, Apologia and other Sciences, Classic literature authors include C.S. Lewis, Homer, Plato, Tolstoy, and Shakespeare. Modern books include works by Peter Kreeft, John Stott, Stephen Covey, and Thomas Friedman.
Liberal Arts Courses
English I-IV Literature/Grammar/Composition
Writings will be entered into competitions
SAT Prep vocabulary
Senior Rhetoric
History
Ancient Civilizations
Romans, Reformers and Revolutionaries
US History
US Government
Western Civilization
Bible/Theology/Worldview
8th Grade: Bible and Theology Overview
9th Grade: The Exodus, Who is God? and Who is Jesus?
10th Grade: Church History and Practical Theology
11th Grade: The Bible, Film and Worldview. How to evaluate culture and develop a Biblical Worldview
12th Grade: Revelation, Spiritual Formation and Leadership
Foreign Languages
Spanish 1, 2 and 3
Math & Science Courses
Sciences
Physical Science
Biology
Chemistry
Anatomy
Anatomy with Pre-Med focus
Physics
Math
Pre-Algebra
Algebra 1
Algebra 2
Geometry
Pre Calculus
Calculus
(Course offerings dependent on enrollment and student needs each year)
Electives
School Year 2023-2024:
Fine Art,
Intro to Engineering
Logic and Critical Thinking I and II
Class Sizes
We are committed to the socratic method of teaching utlizing discussion in small groups. Our class sizes will not exceed 12-14 students per class. This will allow every student to have a hands-on learning experience and time to ask the questions in each subject.
For Incoming Students:
How does a day at Hope Scholars actually work?
Classes start at 8:30 am. This gives you time to sleep, eat a healthy breakfast and fully wake up before rolling into school. We understand that teenagers struggle to get to bed early (circadian rhythms and all that) so we want to help you come to school awake and refreshed to begin the day!
School ends at 3:20. You can beat the traffic home and have time for sports, music, rest and friends. There will rarely be homework on at-school days so you can study hard at school and play hard at home.
Classes are 55 minutes each. This gives the teacher time to explain the new concepts and gives you time to interact with the material and get your questions answered before you leave for the next class. In math, this means time to actually do the problems and get help when you are stuck. In Bible and Worldview, this means time for discussion and debate on the important topics.
There is breathing space between some class periods. This allows time for personal business, catching up with friends, asking the teacher a question, grabbing some fresh air or just letting your brain transition from one class to the next.
Lunch is 50 minutes long. We want lunch to be not only a time of feeding your body but also feeding your spirit. This means time to chat with friends, time to blow off steam on the Gaga ball pit or basketball court, or time to have a one-on-one talk with a teacher. We know you are here for the learning but also the friendships. We value the time for both.
Interactive Classes – We want to do things differently. We want you to get your hands dirty playing with the materials you are learning about. In Chemistry class you will create your own Hydrogen gas to simulate the Hindenburg explosion. In Pre-Calculus you will invest in the stock market as you learn the trigonometry behind the charts and trends. In Humanities class you will interact with history through choosing projects and experiences that interest you—topics that you want to learn more about.
What about the “school at home days”? The teachers for the classes will give you detailed work for those school at-home days. You will gain experience in managing your time and workload as you decide which assignments to do first, and which to save for after lunch. You will not be alone—your parents will partner with your teachers as coaches for you. Also, Math and Science teachers will offer Zoom open office hours to help answer questions when you get stuck.
Hmm, it sounds a bit like a college schedule…Yes, that is why we are called a University-Model® school. We are gently preparing you for the independence of college life – or for the freedom of a career job. You will learn how you learn best, how to manage your time, and how to ask for help when you need it. Consider Hope Scholars Academy your “Pre-Adulting” 101.
Ok, I get the academics, but what about fun? Glad you asked! Check out the Community page to see how we will be having fun both in and out of school!