High School
at Calvary
Calvary Schools’ approach to high school is different from a traditional school in that our greatest value remains on growth, engagement, and doing work with excellence. Class sizes are intentionally small, and students take responsibility for the mental and physical work set before them daily.
Calvary’s high school offers varied coursework, as is consistent with a Charlotte Mason approach. All students are working at growing in their relationship with all subjects. Coursework for high school students includes the humanities seminar (Bible, literature, poetry, history, and art/composer/nature studies), science, mathematics, choir, physical conditioning (PE), visual arts, language study, etc.
High school students read books in narrative form wherever possible, including many of the traditional literary greats.Textbooks are used in some courses, such as mathematics and science.
Worship is an important aspect of Calvary high school, including worship through music, service, prayer, and reflection times. Calvary students worship together weekly through our chapel and Service Practica programs.
Classes Nine & Ten
Ninth grade students will study ancient classics to the reformation period. In their humanities seminar, they will read C.S. Lewis, G.K. Chesterton, Joni Erickson Tada, the Old and New Testament, Shakespeare, Sophocles, Homer, Beowulf, Dante, and more. In science they will begin a fundamental understanding of physics with John Mays and will study geometry in mathematics.
Students receive vocal training, learn sight reading, and practice singing in harmony in Cantate Deo; weight training or various sports skills in physical education; and/or drawing with Drawing From the Right Side of the Brain from a trained Monart specialist. Students also complete language learning through Gouin Method Level 1 and 2.
Tenth grade students begin to develop a worldview in a study of modern Europe, China, Spain, and beyond. In their humanities seminar they will read C.S. Lewis, Don Richardson, the Old and New Testament, classic scripts (Shakespeare, Pygmalion, etc.), Jane Eyre, A Tale of Two Cities, Silas Marner, and Pride and Prejudice.
In science they study biology, and Algebra II in mathematics. Students continue to be trained in vocal development, sight reading, and harmony in Cantate Deo; weight training and various sports skills in physical education; and/or drawing with Drawing From the Right Side of the Brain with a trained Monart specialist. Students also complete language learning through Gouin Method Level 2.
Classes Eleven & Twelve
Classes 11 and 12 cover American and world citizenship and literature; basic economics; world government; chemistry and advanced anatomy; statistics/applied algebra, pre-calculus, personal finance, and/or business accounting. Students at these grade levels may continue with choir, physical conditioning, and art. Additional opportunities for upperclassmen include specialized enrichment courses, such as effective leadership, classic scripts and drama, advanced or studio art, dual enrollment courses for college credit, and courses at the Careerline Tech Center. Many upperclass students also participate in specialized internship opportunities.
Eleventh grade humanities seminar places emphasis on American history and literature. Students will read sermons from great preachers (Edwards, Tozer, etc.), Dallas Willard, William Wilberforce, the Old and New Testament, A History of the American People, The Scarlet Letter, The Red Badge of Courage, Hannah Coulter, The Great Gatsby, Huckleberry Finn, and more. Eleventh grade students study chemistry for science and usually take statistics (applied algebra) or pre-calculus. They also have a wide range of options for enrichment courses, dual enrollment, and internships.
Twelfth grade humanities seminar places emphasis on what it means to be a full fledged citizen of the world. They will examine disastrous consequences, courage in the face of peril, what it means to bond relationally, and what it is like to be ourselves in the world. Students read C.S. Lewis, William Wilberforce, the Old and New Testament, Twelve Angry Men, Basic Economics by Thomas Sewell, A History of the American People Part 2, selections from a constitutional reader, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, All the King’s Men, and Band of Brothers, among others.
Students study advanced anatomy in science and general study statistics (applied algebra), pre-calculus, personal finance, and/or business and accounting. Students who require higher level math as a requirement for specific college majors have access to college calculus and trigonometry. They also have a wide range of options for enrichment courses, dual enrollment, and internships.