Frequently Asked Questions
What do you mean by a Christian education?
The acknowledgment and acceptance of God and His truth as revealed in the biblical revelation, to be the critical reality around which all truth, beauty and goodness may be organized and understood.
What do you mean by classical or trivium-based education?
Next to Scripture, the trivium is at the core of a classical education. Simply put, the trivium refers to the three ways of learning. These are the stages of a child’s education that encompass grades K-12. The stages correspond to a child’s development and also build upon one another. At each stage, tools of learning are introduced with the goal of mastering each tool. The trivium was introduced by the Greeks, adopted by the Romans, and formalized by Christendom in the Middle Ages. It was the Church during the Middle Ages that coined the term trivium to refer to these stages of education. It is in this sense that the Church can be said to have plundered the Egyptians again. The classical approach was the most prominent for over one thousand years. It is only in the last fifty to one hundred years that the current progressive model of education has become prominent. Our grandparents likely received an education that still contained some elements of the classical approach. Thus, We are going ad fontes – back to the fountain to reclaim our Western heritage of a classical education. The first stage which encompasses grades K-6 is referred to as the grammar stage. During this stage the grammar or foundation of each subject or discipline is mastered. The tool introduced is memorization. The grammar stage parallels the biblical descriptions of knowledge. This stage utilizes a child’s natural inclination for rote memory, chanting, singing, and repetition. How many times have we marveled at our children’s ability to ask the same question in staccato manner or to repeat the same game long beyond our own fatiguing point? The second stage is formally called the dialectic or logic stage. The primary tools introduced during this stage are informal and formal logic. This stage corresponds to grades 7-9. The biblical conception of understanding best describes this stage. St. Paul admonishes us to be mature in our understanding (1 Cor. 14:20). Therefore, the objective in this stage is for students to grow to maturity in their understanding of each discipline and the interrelation between disciplines. The inquisitive nature of children continues to evolve during this time. Combining their curiosity with the internalization of knowledge gained from the grammar stage, students develop a natural inclination toward argumentation. This tendency requires guidance and discipline to harness its positive aspects. The study of logic and the biblical injunction toward humility provide this direction. The study of logic introduces students to the common fallacies put forth in arguments and furnishes the analytical skills necessary for the development of their own arguments and the defense of the faith (1 Peter 3:15). The final stage of the trivium is the rhetoric stage in which tools of persuasion in speech and writing are fully developed. As the knowledge of the grammar stage became internalized during the dialectic, the literature-rich composition of a classical education becomes internalized after much imitation of the great speeches and writing of Western Civilization. Dorothy Sayers rightly referred to this as the poetic stage. Students’ appreciation of beauty comes into more full fruition during this time. The biblical teaching on wisdom is paramount in this stage as students continue to seek to cast down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ (2 Cor. 10:5). This stage culminates the trivium-based education in which, we believe, God has granted our students ears to hear, hearts and minds to understand, and wisdom to do His will. The other aspect to a classical education is to teach children their Western heritage through reading the great works of the West. These books provide the classical content. Such books are necessary to appreciate the arguments that have formed the way we think. This is so that our children can adequately provide the Christian antithesis to the humanistic arguments of our heritage that are still being advocated by our godless culture today. There are approximately 200 schools in the US that subscribe to this definition of classical Christian education as members of the Association of Classical and Christian Schools.
What curriculum is used?
Oak Hill offers its students a robust curriculum that integrates the study of literature and the arts with the study of history and geography. Students will obtain a grasp of the present and a perspective of the future through rigorous study of the past. See our Scope and Sequence for a current snapshot of our curriculum. Our Literature Lists (K-6) are available here. They will be warned of evil and error and challenged to live virtuously and nobly through the example of those who have gone before. Students will be challenged to ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk in it (Jer. 6:16). They will learn to think critically and biblically by evaluating the writings of outstanding thinkers of the past and present. They will be encouraged to express themselves creatively in written and artistic media through exposure to great literature and art. They will learn that creative stirrings are rooted in the fact we are created in the image of God. A mathematics and science program is offered that enables them to participate knowledgeably in the scientific and technological discussions of the modern world. From the early grades, the mathematics curriculum makes use of a hands-on approach which enables the students to acquire a solid understanding of the world in which they live through a direct encounter with the wonders and laws of God’s creation. Students will rightly learn that modern science was born out of a Christian worldview. As the world was created by a reasonable God, we can discover something true about nature and the universe based on reason. Oak Hill offers a physical education program that involves students in a variety of physical activities and sports designed to develop their physical fitness, athletic skills, and character.
How much is tuition?
Oak Hill is substantially more cost effective than the typical private classical Christian school. However, our desire to hire excellent teachers for our students will be taken into consideration when determining tuition. Please visit our tuition page.
Where is the school located?
Oak Hill Classical School is located at 2955 Old Fountain Road, Dacula, GA 30019.
When did the school open and what grades are taught? What are the school hours?
Oak Hill opened in the Fall of 2006 as Dominion Classical Christian Academy with grades K4-6. After several years of maintaining the K4-6 program, Oak Hill expanded to include Logic School (grades 6-8) in 2010, adding Rhetoric (9-12) in 2013. Oak Hill’s first Seniors graduated in May 2017. There are informational meetings and daytime tours for interested families held several times a year and more regularly during the enrollment season (January - April). Logic and Rhetoric (6th-12th grade) students begin class at 8:00 am while Grammar School (K4-5th grade) students begin class at 9:00 am. All students are dismissed at 3:00 pm.
Is the school accredited?
Oak Hill Classical School is accredited by the Georgia Association of Christian Schools (GACS), and is a member school of the Association of Classical and Christian Schools (ACCS). Our students may transfer school credits, our program fulfills the requirements of the Georgia Board of Regents, and are eligible for the HOPE and Zell Miller scholarships.
Why are students required to take Latin?
The study of Latin is an integral part of a classical education. From antiquity through the nineteenth century, Western educators understood its power to sharpen one’s grasp of language and to teach clear thinking and speaking. Today, moreover, Latin is of inestimable value in conveying an appreciation for Western culture and history. In sum, Latin contributes beautifully to accomplishing all of the goals of the trivium. The study of Latin greatly enhances the young child’s grasp of the English language. Since most English words are derived from Latin, an understanding of these roots increases the range and depth of a student’s vocabulary. Mastering the subtleties and nuances of Latin grammar also aids in the comprehension of complex English sentences. Latin study, therefore, contributes enormously to the grammar stage of classical education. Latin is a complex but very systematic language. Reading it requires more than just memorization. It entails the comparison and analysis of subtle forms and differences. It involves the practical application of rules and principles. We see, therefore, that it teaches logical thinking. The study of Latin also involves the study of Latin authors. Experiencing these authors means encountering the greatest writers and thinkers of two thousand years of Western culture. In teaching Latin, we are exposing our students to the best of the rhetorical tradition. What better way to learn the art of skillful communication than from the masters of our own intellectual history? Finally, we note that Latin is the linguistic soul of our culture. Most of the languages of Western Europe evolved, to some extent, from Latin. Over fifty percent of our own English vocabulary is derived from Latin and students studying Latin typically increase their English vocabulary by 500-1,000 words.
Is the School governed by a church?
No, Oak Hill Classical School is governed by a board of trustees and is not affiliated with any church. Students from nearly 20 churches attend Oak Hill, and several churches are represented on our Board of Trustees. Please see our Statement of Faith.
Is Oak Hill Classical School a non-profit organization?
Yes, Oak Hill is incorporated as a non-profit organization in the state of Georgia and is a registered 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization with the IRS. We are a Guidestar Gold organization.
What is the significance of the name Oak Hill?
Originally named Dominion Classical Christian Academy, the school's name was changed to Oak Hill Classical School in 2016. This name continues to meet our original criteria of clarity and effectively communicates our commitments, however, it’s also more concrete and a natural symbol. Oak Hill carries some powerful freight.
In addition to having oaks, the school‘s future location is hilly. But oaks are also symbols of strength, a hope more important, the “hill” alludes to Jesus’ call for His disciples to be “the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden” (Matthew 5.14). We hope this for our students–-that their growth in wisdom, joy, and love would influence our community both here and more broadly.
Who founded Oak Hill Classical School?
Oak Hill Classical School was founded thanks to the vision of two families who desired to fulfill the biblical mandate to raise and educate their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4) that they may live a life of glory to God. The vision of Oak Hill has been realized by God's grace and the partnership of many other Christian families.
What is Oak Hill’s non-discrimination policy?
Oak Hill Classical School admits students of any race, color, national, or ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to the students at the school.