FAQs | Cedar Classical Academy | Est. 2019 Lansing, MI

General

We hold to this definition from the Education Department of Hillsdale College:

Classical education is the pursuit of human happiness through the cultivation of moral and intellectual virtue by means of a rich and rigorous course of study in the arts, sciences, and humanities, yielding informed self-government and a well-ordered understanding of the world and human nature.

You can also watch this cartoon from Classical Academic Press.

Will Cedar be open for in-person schooling in 2020?

Yes! Our goal is to be in school, face-to-face, all year long. We believe the best education is in person and, to fulfill our mission, students must participate in the daily culture of the school by physically attending school. The school will therefore make every effort to remain open during a pandemic if it can be done safely and legally. We are uniquely suited to operate in this pandemic because of our small class sizes and large acreage and building. In order to fulfill our mission in compliance the provision in the laws of the State of Michigan pertaining to private
and parochial schools (MCL 388.551-558 and associated) and with guidance from Michigan’s Return to School Roadmap, we are implementing these safety procedures.

How do I apply?

What grades does Cedar offer?

What cities are represented at Cedar?

What are class sizes like at Cedar?

Everyday Life at Cedar

Do students get daily recess?

Yes! We think that outdoor recess is important for children and carve out time for it every day. Grades K-6 get an extra morning outdoor recess three days per week.

Is classical education only for "gifted" students?

Is classical education the same as...?

Montessori?

No, Montessori is a specific schooling method that focuses on encouraging a child's natural interests and intelligence by allowing the child to guide his own education. Classical education is a philosophy of education, rather than a specific method, which focuses on calling a child to a higher, external, objective standard of what it means to be human. Classical education places more emphasis on direct instruction, teacher-led curriculum, and habit formation.

Classical Conversations?

No, Classical Conversations is a specific homeschool curriculum drawing on the broader classical philosophy of education. They have ideas in common, but are not the same.

Charlotte Mason?

No, Charlotte Mason was a British educator who rejected elements of the classical tradition which she wisely perceived had gone awry during the Industrial Revolution, incorporating Reformed Christian ideals from thinkers like John Amos Comenius but also Romantic ideals from thinkers like John Ruskin into her specific method of education. Because of the influence of Romanticism, Charlotte Mason as a schooling approach is similar in its philosophical foundations to Montessori, though not necessarily in method. Some aspects are very compatible with classical education. We incorporate minor Charlotte Mason elements like "narrating a text" and conducting out-of-doors "nature study" into our own Grammar School education.

Why doesn't Cedar offer part-time courses for homeschoolers?

School culture is important. We want to protect ours with a committed community of teachers, student and families who are on a mission together learning what it means to be humans.

A rigorous education requires a full school week. This is a serious endeavor, and we want to treat it as such.

We believe that, by offering a full-time schedule, we will have a greater impact on our culture.

We may consider part-time courses for Rhetoric School (Grades 9-12) in the future.

Is Cedar tied to a specific denomination of Christianity?

Cedar is nondenominational in its Christian worldview and acceptance of the Apostles' Creed. Our theology classes use the Westminster Catechism and a Reformed theology curriculum from the Rafiki Foundation. Cedar was the first non-African school to pilot the theology curriculum from The Rafiki Foundation in 2019. Our teachers sign the broadly Christian Statement of Faith posted on our website. Our parents do not have to confess the Statement of Faith, but instead sign on that they accept that their children will be taught in accordance with it.

What extracurriculars does Cedar offer?

Because human beings are comprised of body, mind, and soul, we want to train and educate all of those facets of each child. We will offer sports, music, and other extracurriculars. We will not, however, spend as much time and money on these programs as the local public school, nor will we pursue the type of sports program that eliminates all family time. We may not produce elite athletes, but we will graduate self-controlled men and women.

Currently, we offer "specials" - art, music, and physical education classes - twice a week for Grades 1-7 and music and physical education classes once a week for Kindergarten.

Tuition

Can I afford tuition?

Our 2020-2021 tuition rates are $2200 for K, $6500 for Grades 1-6, and $6800 for Grade 7.

Most schools in our state, public or private, spend around $13,000 per student per year. As a private school, we receive no public funding, but count on private charitable donations and tuition to cover all our expenses. We are working hard to make tuition affordable for parents by 1) seeking to operate as economically as possible while not compromising our mission, and 2) raising funds from outside individuals and organizations who are eager see our mission go forward.

We think that this education is worth great cost and financial sacrifice, and see tuition money as an expression of solidarity in choosing something different for our children.

While we view the financial commitment of tuition as something that will strengthen our school community, our hope is that tuition will never be a barrier that prevents like-minded families from joining us. Discounts are offered for early enrollment, paying in full, and enrolling multiple children. Additionally, parents may apply to be considered for tuition assistance through a third-party company for a small fee. The third-party assessment takes into account the household's whole financial picture, and returns a tuition level that the family can reasonably afford to pay. When the assessment is completed, we will do our best to provide financial assistance (through private donors) bringing tuition down to the affordable figure. Our families are also encouraged to ask their own personal contacts to consider donating to the school's tuition assistance fund or directly toward their child's tuition costs. For more about our financial plan, see https://cedarclassicalacademy.org/give/.