Academics Overview

At Rochester Classical Academy, our academics reflect our mission—to cultivate in our students a spirit of inquiry into God and His creation, so that they can engage the world with wisdom and eloquence for Christ. As our school verse shows, we put our mission into action by focusing on that which is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and praiseworthy (Philippians 4:8).

“At Rochester Classical Academy, we believe that the children of Christians need to be both spiritually and academically equipped throughout childhood. By giving them the tools for taking on any new field, RCA aims to raise up lifelong, joyful learners who celebrate and steward the gifts they have been given and appreciate the feast of knowledge God has put in front of them. Our aim is clear thinking, compelling communication, and students who lead lives of godly character and purpose for Christ and his kingdom.” – Daniel David Black, Founding Board Chairman & Head of the School

Academic Highlights

RCA students are encouraged to find joy in discovery and embrace the lifelong pursuit of learning.

Pre-Kindergarten students begin reading instruction with phonograms, the basic building blocks of the English language. Watch a one-minute video explaining phonograms here.

Kindergarten students learn how to take the phonograms they know and decode words, unlocking the building blocks of reading and language.

We use Singapore Math for our mathematics curriculum, which emphasizes concepts prior to procedures, problem-solving rather than just memorization, and builds strong mental math skills. Read more about Singapore Math here.

Class and individual recitations (scripture, poetry, famous prose) are a part of every grade. This time-tested practice challenges students to memorize and reflect on great works of words, and gives them ample opportunities for public speaking from the beginning of their time in school.

Our students will learn grammar starting in third grade, followed by Latin, the time-tested method for mastering the concepts behind every language.

Art and music are an essential part of our curriculum and are taught several times a week for every class.

Our class sizes are deliberately small (fifteen students or fewer) so that our teachers know every student well and give them the attention they need to thrive.

RCA’s Trajectory

The design of RCA since its beginning has been to start with a limited number grades and expand by one grade each year until it offers PreK through 12th. When RCA began in 2019, its highest grade was First. In each successive year, the school has and will continue to grow by one grade until fall 2030, with the first graduating class being 2031. Below is the sequence we will offer grades:

Fall 2023: Fifth Grade
Fall 2024: Sixth Grade
Fall 2025: Seventh Grade
Fall 2026: Eighth Grade
Fall 2027: Ninth Grade
Fall 2028: Tenth Grade
Fall 2029: Eleventh Grade
Fall 2030: Twelfth Grade (first graduating class!)

We started our education journey at home and were excited to pursue Classical curriculum. While the Classical aspect was very successful for our kids, we noticed that home education may not be the best option for their needs. RCA came along at the perfect time for our children to get the classroom atmosphere they clearly needed without sacrificing the Classical educational model we desperately wanted to hold onto.

As parents we still get to be readily involved in our kid’s schooling, but now they are getting so much more than we were able to do ourselves. That, paired with the Biblical foundation that now exists at home, at church and at their school, makes Rochester Classical Academy the best place for our children to learn and grow.

As parents we still get to be readily involved in our kid’s schooling, but now they are getting so much more than we were able to do ourselves.