The Classical Academy (Colorado)

The Classical Academy (TCA) is a kindergarten through twelfth grade public charter school located in northern Colorado Springs, Colorado, United States. It is chartered through Academy School District 20.

The Classical Academy
Location
975 Stout Road
Colorado Springs, Colorado

United States
Coordinates39°00′59″N 104°49′00″W
Information
TypePublic Charter
MottoExcellence with Honor
Established1997
School districtAcademy School District 20
Head of schoolDr. Russ Sojourner, President
GradesK-12
Number of studentsHigh School: 618
Jr High: 469
Elementary: 2,152
Campus typeSuburban
Color(s)Navy blue, maroon, and silver
   
Athletics3A/4A
MascotTitan
Websitehttp://www.tcatitans.org/

The school is known for having an extensive waiting list, with over 5,400 students on the current waiting list for all grades combined.

Rankings

The Classical Academy High School is ranked 10th within Colorado by U.S. News & World Report with a college readiness score of 61.0/100. The Classical Academy High School is ranked #368 in the National Rankings and earned a gold medal.[1] Schools are ranked based on their performance on state-required tests and how well they prepare students for college.

The Colorado School Grades methodology ranks TCA "6 of 345 High Schools."[2]

Awards

In 2012, 2013, and 2014 the Colorado Department of Education awarded every TCA (elementary, junior high, and high school) as well as College Pathways the John Irwin Award for Academic Excellence. The John Irwin awards are given to schools that demonstrate excellent academic achievement.[3]

Mission

The Classical Academy exists to assist parents in their mission to develop exemplary citizens equipped with analytical thinking skills, virtuous character, and a passion for learning, all built upon a solid foundation of knowledge.[4]

Philosophy

The Classical Academy blends classical education (including the Trivium and the Socratic method) with the educational philosophy of Charlotte Mason.[5][6][7]

Position on Common Core

In January 2014, TCA's Board of Directors released a resolution expressing opposition to imposition of the Common Core Standards Initiative.[8] The School has detailed their position in a letter to the TCA Community.

Campuses

The Classical Academy currently has three campuses in Northern Colorado Springs:

North Campus

The Classical Academy High School, The Classical Academy Junior High School and The Classical Academy North Elementary are located at 975 Stout Road. The North Campus is considered the main campus and is the location of the school administration offices.

Central Campus

The Classical Academy Central Elementary is located at 1655 Springcrest Road. This facility, formerly known as Mountain View School, was purchased by the TCA Building Corporation in 2004 for $1.9 million. Monthly payments will continue until November 1, 2019 when the note is paid in full.[9]

East Campus

The Classical Academy East Elementary is located at 12201 Cross Peak View (just west of Pikes Peak Community College, Rampart Range Campus).

East Campus is also the location of the school's homeschool programs:

School uniforms

The school has a uniform policy for all grade levels.

Admission and enrollment

The Classical Academy does not have open enrollment for students, nor is it an Academy School District 20 Choice option. The Classical Academy is a wait list school. Students are offered seats and admitted to the school based on their wait list position. Parents can apply from any of the surrounding fifteen school districts in and around Colorado Springs. Priority is given to students of administration, faculty, current enrolled siblings, and residents of Academy School District 20.

Board of directors

The Classical Academy is governed by a seven-member Board that is elected by the parents of students. The Board members volunteer their time and serve without compensation. Board members are elected through ballot for a three-year maximum term.[10]

Athletics and activities

Athletics

High School sports include Baseball, Cross Country, football, Men’s Basketball, Men’s Golf, Men’s Soccer, Softball, Spirit/Cheer, Track, Volleyball, Women’s Basketball, Women’s Golf, Women’s Soccer, and Wrestling.

Junior High sports include Boys’ Basketball, Cross Country, football, Girls’ Basketball, Softball, Track, Volleyball, and Wrestling.

All of the main sports compete in Colorado's 3A athletic conference, except cross country, which competes at the 4A level as of 2012. The TCA Titans have won state championships in various sports. This includes nine consecutive years in girls' cross country and two consecutive in men's; also a state championship in women's soccer and two runners-up in men's soccer.

Performing arts

The Classical Academy has performance arts in band, choir, and theatre. The Classical Academy Marching Band has won the CBA state championship in the 2A class twice, in 2017 and 2018.

Chess

The Classical Academy chess club competes in the annual Colorado State Scholastic Team Championship tournament. The Classical Academy chess team has won the CSCA state 4A championship title three times, in 2010, 2011 and 2012.[11]

Community

The Classical Academy uses community service as an integral part of the TCA mission of “exemplary citizens.” The school holds yearly service runs with predetermined organizations within the community receiving full donations, food, clothing, and book drives, and collections for the Springs Rescue Mission and the Care and Share Food Bank.

The Classical Academy requires 40 hours of community service in high school to fulfill the requirements for graduation.

The school has a majority conservative and Christian population, and the students see themselves as accepting of others.[12]

Criticisms

Previous students have reported a lack of culture and diversity within the school system. At the High School level, students have had discontent for the lack of extracurricular activities compared with similar schools in the area.

Current and previous parents have noted the heavier workload on the students, in addition to the “militaristic” atmosphere, as negative and not fostering a nurturing school environment. Other parents have rebutted this.[13]

In 2009, the school was reported to the Colorado Department of Education for possible conflicts of interest with administrators who run a charter-school consulting business on the side and said the school failed to properly respond to allegations of sexual and physical assaults and bullying. Then TCA President Mark Hyatt said he welcomed the scrutiny and new guidelines and additional training was being put in place.[14]

In the Spring of 2019 a group of parents came forward through local media and social media with accusations that the school had serious health risks due to mold toxicity. Families began announcing through the social media group "Friends of TCA" that they were also having their children tested for mold toxicity. By early summer of 2019 several people had announced through the Facebook groups that their children had reported similar symptoms to the family that had engaged the local media and further reported that medical tests came back positive for their children as well. The superintendent, through public responses to those accusations, denied that the school had any issues with mold toxicity due to airborne testing and made further claims that the school had been completely remodeled. The superintendent refused to do any further testing at that time.

See also

References
  1. "The Classical Academy High School in Colorado Springs| US News Best High Schools". 2015. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
  2. "Report Card – Colorado School Grades – The Classical Academy". Colorado School Grades. Archived from the original on 26 October 2017. Retrieved 11 Aug 2018.
  3. "Colorado John Irwin Schools of Excellence Awards | CDE". www.cde.state.co.us. Retrieved 2016-09-19.
  4. "Introducing TCA". Retrieved 19 September 2016.
  5. "Classical Approach" (PDF). The Classical Academy. Retrieved 6 May 2017.
  6. "Classical Education" (PDF). The Classical Academy. Retrieved 6 May 2017.
  7. "Charlotte Mason" (PDF). The Classical Academy. Retrieved 6 May 2017.
  8. "Resolution Concerning Common Core and Assessments" (PDF). The Classical Academy. Archived from the original on March 30, 2014. Retrieved 30 March 2014.CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  9. "COMPREHENSIVE ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT" (PDF). ACADEMY SCHOOL DISTRICT TWENTY. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
  10. "Bylaws of the Classical Academy" (PDF). 2016-01-11. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
  11. "Colorado State Chess Association Scholastic Team Champions".
  12. "The Classical Academy High School in Colorado Springs, CO - Niche". K-12 School Rankings and Reviews at Niche.com. Retrieved 2016-09-19.
  13. "The Classical Academy Charter - Colorado Springs, Colorado - CO - School reviews". www.greatschools.org. Retrieved 2016-09-19.
  14. "The Dirty and Dangerous Secrets of The Classical Academy of Colorado Springs". www.schoolsmatter.info. Retrieved 2016-09-19.
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