LCS Questions & Answers
Structure and Organization
What grades does LCS offer? LCS currently offers 6th-12th grades.
What is a “collegiate-style” school? LCS follows a similar schedule to college classes. We meet on campus three days a week (Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday), and students work at home under the supervision of their parents on the off-campus days. All student studies for a comprehensive curriculum are assigned and assessed by LCS teachers.
Is LCS a private school? LCS partners with parents to provide a full curriculum. At the end of their senior year, students who have met all graduation requirements receive a high school diploma from LCS. Enrollment at LCS does not meet the Virginia Compulsory Education Law requirements. Therefore every student is required to file for an applicable exemption such as homeschooling or religious, etc. Every enrolled family is required to register with the state as a homeschooler. In addition, every family is required to be an HSLDA member if enrolled at LCS (group discounts may be offered). On request, LCS will provide an evaluation letter for your student each year that fulfills all requirements for homeschooling assessment and reporting for the state of Virginia.
Why did you choose to start with the upper grades? The LCS board, consisting largely of parents and higher education experts, felt the need was greatest for starting with the upper grades given how much increased time commitment and focus must be employed in the upper grades through additional online courses and co-operative groups. For the high school years, we especially see the benefits of having teachers with specialized skills in particular subject areas, as well as increased peer interaction and group discussions with those who are most like-minded, namely, those within the covenant community of the wider church of Jesus Christ.
Will you be adding a K-5 School down the road? Yes, we have a future vision to create a K-5 School and would begin once we have both sufficient interest and space accommodation for the lower school.
Who oversees the school? A. LCS is governed by a Board of Directors, made up of higher education experts, classical education experts, former Christian school administrators, pastors/theologians, and parents. The board has hire/fire authority over the Headmaster, Dean of Academics, and Registrar as well determining policy (i.e. Handbook), overall theological foundation, and vision/mission of the school.
What is the school’s theological basis? The education provided by LCS is from a reformed perspective. This is particularly evident in the theology curriculum, but all teachers and administrators affirm their commitment to give instruction that is consistent with the Westminster Confession of Faith (WCoF). Christian families from other theological traditions are warmly welcomed at LCS, and the diverse perspectives within orthodox Christianity are treated with respect.
Who is required to subscribe to the statement of faith? All staff and teachers are required to sign/subscribe to the Statement of Faith (SoF). In addition, at least one parent or the student must sign the SoF. Regarding the WCoF, which is a more detailed/prescriptive document: students and parents, while not required to sign/subscribe personally to the WCoF, will, as part of the enrollment process, sign a statement that they have read the WCoF and acknowledge the WCoF as the theological basis for what is taught at LCS, including the basis for the code of conduct. Teachers acknowledge the same role of the WCoF. Only the Headmaster, Theologian, and Dean of Academics are required to subscribe to the WCoF.
Academics, Curriculum and Classes
What does it take to be a teacher at LCS? We expect teachers to have mastery of and love for their discipline. We expect our teachers to be committed to a classical pedagogy. We expect our teachers to be enthusiastic “lead learners” in the classroom, modeling for students the life-long process of education which requires humility and diligence. We recognize and appreciate the great value of credentials in a particular discipline, but we believe that in many cases self-education in a particular discipline may be equally valuable.
What is the role of parents? Parents agree to have students participate fully in each class and complete all assignments given by the teachers. Extenuating circumstances will be considered on a case-by-case basis. On home days, there are some read-alouds required (generally, poetry and literature), but these are brief. Parents make sure that students have time and structure to complete all assignments. If parental assistance is needed with a particular lesson, complete instructions will be given by the teacher. We may also make suggestions for enrichment reading and other options for families who wish to dig deeper. In general, parents should expect younger students to need more assistance and older students to work more independently at home, but this is dependent on the diligence and organizational skills of the student.
What is the student expected to do on off-campus days? Off-campus days are focused on reading and writing, along with math and science problems/projects, and other assignments.
Who assigns grades (parent or LCS teacher)? Grades are assigned by teachers. LCS issues transcripts for students.
What are class sizes and are there class size limits? It depends on the class, but most classes are capped at 12-15 students.
Are there honors classes available? We do offer an honors track in our high school courses, by invitation of the teacher. Both levels are together in the same class with the same teacher at the same time, but homework expectations and graded work are more demanding at the honors level.
Is there an emphasis on classroom discussion of ideas? Discussion of ideas is a pillar of classical education, so we build this time into our classes to enable students to enter into the “Great Conversation,” particularly in our Arts & Letters, English Studies, and Science classes. Discussion is also encouraged in other classes as an aid in understanding of concepts.
Are students required to enroll full-time, or will they be able to enroll in individual classes, “a la carte”? Class sizes are limited, so first priority will be given to students who enroll as full-time students. If there is space in a particular class, we will consider opening up our classes to other students.
Does the school have plans to develop the social side of a school environment for students – e.g. Team sports, Student Council, yearbook, theatrical club, dance/prom, etc.? Yes, we have an active Parent-Teacher Organization that coordinates after-school activities and social events, and this side of things will continue to expand in the years ahead as our school grows and matures.
Often people associate classical education as having a strong literature and language program but a weak math and science program. How is the quadrivium being taught and what sciences and math opportunities are provided? This is a popular misconception regarding classical education. A classical liberal arts education includes both the trivium (the language arts) and the quadrivium (the mathematical arts); these are explained at length in our Distinctives document “Christian Classical Liberal Arts,” which we encourage all prospective parents and students to read. LCS will provide an authentically classical and challenging course of studies in both math and science, with all requisite college-prep classes offered to students.
Are there any options for electives and computer classes? At this time, we are not offering electives or computer classes. It is possible that we will offer electives in the future, but our main emphasis is the core liberal arts program, including Great Books, English Studies, Theology, Latin, Mathematics, and Science. Through our parent-teacher organization, we have some wonderful clubs; coding, running, and chess are some of the clubs we have offered in the past.
Do students have enough time to pursue another language? If students wish to pursue a foreign language via another venue (online or community college) at their own expense, we suggest that they do that concurrent with Latin III and IV, and choose the standard level instead of the honors level to make extra time.
What if they have not yet studied Latin? High school students who have no Latin experience will begin in Latin I, and complete as many levels as they are able before graduation.
Does this program allow for dual enrollment for college credits during the Junior and Senior year? Not specifically. However, students who go beyond Pre-Calculus in math may be able to pursue outside courses in higher levels at their own expense.
Is this an accredited program? LCS is a member of the Society for Classical Learning. After we have been operating for a few years, we can begin seeking accreditation, but for now being a member of the organization provides us with support, resources, and training for our teachers and staff members.
Funding and Cost
What is the cost of the program/tuition including materials? Full year tuition for 2023-2024 school year is $7,900, exclusive of books and application & registration fees. We fervently desire to make LCS affordable for any family that wishes to be a part, and so are seeking to keep tuition comparatively low. For further details and for associated fees, please see Tuition and Fees page.
Are books included in the tuition? What is the approximate cost? Parents will need to purchase books for classes. A listing of books and prices will be released later this summer (2023). High school book costs-if you buy everything brand new-will be in the $400-500 range; junior high school book costs will be in the $350-400 range. However, consider the following: (1) This is a good faith estimate, based on current Amazon Prime prices. Some texts will be chosen in concert with our teachers once they are hired, so prices may vary (particularly in Math & Science). Also, prices for books may vary from year to year. Although particular versions (ISBN identified) will be required, you may be able to find these used on Amazon for a fraction of the list price, so this total could be reduced by half or more by shopping around! (2) Literature and Primary Sources for Western Civ, Intro to Great Books and English Studies are real books, not text books – an investment in your students’ lifetime library. (3) Wheelock’s text will be used for all four years of high school Latin as well.
Is your funding all dependent on tuition or is there outside funding as well? The LCS board is committed to energetically fundraising from the local community to keep tuition costs low for our families. We anticipate that fundraising will comprise 10-25% of our operating budget from year-to-year.
Discipline and Policies
Do you have a student handbook that will dictate behavior, academics? Yes. LCS has a comprehensive handbook of school policies and expectations for students. An updated handbook for the 2023-2024 school year will be available by the summer of 2023 and made available at that time to registered students. It will address admissions, academics policies and procedures, such as code of conduct, disciplinary actions, technology rules, as well as on campus school life, weather policy, and general contact information.
Are uniforms required? Yes, we have uniforms available from Lands’ End which our students will be required to purchase. There are several uniform options for students to choose from.
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