CLT is proud to feature Classical Charter Schools of America as our second CLT School Spotlight.
Classical Charter Schools of America is a network of four, tuition-free charter schools located in Leland, Whiteville, Southport, and Wilmington, North Carolina. They offer a traditional curriculum plus a robust classical program: grammar starts in kindergarten, cursive in first grade, Latin begins in fourth grade, and leveled literature studies from first through eighth grades. They serve students of every background and ability, grounded in a commitment to educational choice. Their schools maximize effectiveness for students, parents, teachers, and staff using modern technology and verified educational research.
Mission:
- To teach the rules and techniques for effective expression and communication in the arts and sciences,
- To communicate, by these arts and sciences, our understandings of the universe and our role in it, and
- To instill a love of learning and discovery, justifying a life-long dedication to health, truth, and virtue.
We asked representatives at Classical Charter Schools of America what makes them unique and how CLT, specifically the CLT8 exam, has impacted their students and staff. Keep reading to see what they had to say.
What makes Classical Charter Schools of America unique?
Classical Charter Schools of America are tuition-free, open enrollment K-8 schools in southeastern North Carolina. Since 1999, Classical Charter Schools of America has focused on quality education and is a premier performance-driven year-round school.
Widely recognized as a compelling choice to conventional public education, we have built a reputation for dedicated and highly qualified teachers who give students a traditional, strong, and proven academic foundation.
Classical Charter Schools of America are the only public schools in their region which offer a classical education. Our classical education creates independent learners discerning Truth, Goodness, and Beauty so that civilization can flourish. Our students read the great works of literature, study western civilization, learn Latin, and memorize poetry amongst many other rigorous facets of our robust curricula.
Classical education is extraordinarily successful in our schools due in large part to our instructional model, direct instruction, a highly structured and research-based teaching method that ensures mastery of core skills. Lessons are explicit, systematic, and carefully sequenced, allowing students to achieve clarity and confidence in subjects like reading, writing, and mathematics. Teachers provide clear explanations, guided practice, and immediate feedback, creating an environment where every student can succeed.
This combination of classical content and direct instruction methodology gives our schools a unique balance: timeless wisdom paired with proven strategies, resulting in an education that is both rigorous and accessible.
Classical Charter Schools of America and CLT
As a charter school, we are bound to the North Carolina End-of-Grade tests. The passages and comprehension questions the state deems as appropriate for grades 3-8 are rarely classical.
The CLT8 has allowed our students and staff to be assessed on classical literature and historical, philosophical passages in which our students are accustomed to reading. The math portion of the CLT8 appropriately assesses our students on the math concepts in the ways they are taught using algorithms with a mixture of direct computation and real-world application rather than through common core.
“The CLT8 is more appropriate for us to use as a classical school because it assesses our students on what they are learning instead of common core. We can truly see where our students stand through the CLT8 data.” stated Dean of Classical Humanities, Jessica Lopez.
Another area the state seldom evaluates, is grammar. The CLT8 contains a grammar portion assessing students’ writing abilities, as well as their grammar knowledge. Writing and grammar are often ignored by state departments of education and are an invaluable skill that should be considered just as important as a student’s reading and math skills. Without the CLT8 our school would not be able to accurately assess our writing curriculum.
The CLT8 has provided our staff and students with a tool to readily assess our curricula to ensure that our students are being held to the highest standards and learning at the greatest level. The test fosters a sense of pride among teachers, validating their effort and their students’ academic progress.
We are grateful to partner with Classical Charter Schools of America. You can learn more about their mission, campuses, and classical model by visiting their website:
https://ccsam.net/
Also, be sure to check out the recent conversation we had with Dean of Classical Humanities Jessica Lopez and Dean of Math and Science Alison Cause‑Nance on our podcast, “Anchored,” where they share more about classical education, direct instruction, and the principles that guide their classrooms, on our official YouTube channel, or wherever you find your podcasts.