Christ-Centered

What is the difference between a good education and a great education? We believe that a GREAT education inspires students to pursue the Truth and understand the world around them. At Oak Grove we recognize that the pursuit of Truth is not a subjective venture. Rather, all truth belongs to and stems from God. Pointing students to their compass, the Word of God, is the only way they will discern truth from error, right from wrong, and good from evil. Because all learning is premised on a defined world view, Oak Grove seeks to present language, history, science and the arts as tools through which we learn more of God’s character and His design of our world.

Classical Approach

For centuries, a classical philosophy of education has informed the education of children and inspired them to think and learn for themselves. The founders of this Republic and its great thinkers were educated under the influence of classical education. Only in the past century did the mainstream of educators in Western civilization depart from this vision. By structuring the curriculum around the Trivium, classical education focuses on critical thinking skills, the classic languages, Latin and Greek, and a defined body of content knowledge. The Trivium capitalizes on age appropriate strengths of students at each of three primary stages of development:

- Grammar/Knowledge Stage (K-5th grade): Students grasp the basic building blocks foundational to life-long learning by applying meaningful memorization and mastery of content knowledge. Focus is placed on delivery of factual information through poetry, vocabulary, mathematics, literature, geography and historical narrative.

- Logic/Understanding Stage (6-9th grade): Students critically analyze more complex issues applying the difficult “why” and “how” questions to each subject area. Studying formal logic, they develop reasoning skills, recognize and avoid invalid conclusions, and construct persuasive arguments.

- Rhetoric/Wisdom Phase (10-12th grade): Students emphasize the integration of academic content by understanding the connections between bodies of knowledge and building the power of persuasion within the world of ideas. Based on the knowledge and reasoning skills developed through the grammar and logic stages, students culminate their academic experience by applying the art of both written and spoken presentation.

Partnership

Premised on a biblical foundation, we believe parents to be the child’s first and most influential teachers (Deuteronomy 6 and Ephesians 6:4). Because parents are the single most influential factor in a child’s emotional, social, and spiritual development, Oak Grove seeks to become partners with parents in their God-given task to teach their children spiritually, academically, and physically. The University-Model provides parents the tools of time, curricular flexibility and academic expertise in order for them to be confident and effective co-teachers.

Cultivation of Delight and Wonder

At Oak Grove, our goal is to challenge our students without exasperating them. While we will maintain rigorous academic standards for our students, we will foster joy in learning through connecting their classroom efforts with hands-on activities, real-life experiences, field trips, and special academic events. A classical education should not be rigid or dull, but full of life! We want our children to not only learn, but to love learning.