Frequently Asked Questions

In our formative stages, we are slowly developing what has not been attempted in Greenwood, SC. As educators, we are aware of the many pitfalls and unfortunate educational disappointments in this community. We are also sure you have many questions about classical education. What is it? Where did it come from? Isn't Latin a "dead language?" It all sounds nice, but isn't it a step backwards? Scroll down below and we will attempt to answer some common misconceptions about education, classical education and our own infant Heritage Classical Academy. Check back, the list is developing!

How did the name “Heritage Classical Academy” develop?
What's in a name? We chose Heritage because as a culture we are quickly loosing our sense of identity as Westerners, Christians and Americans. One of the aspects to our school is emphasizing these identity markers as a means of remembering the great works of God in His Providence in directing the history of western civilization through the spread of the Christian faith through faithful men and women. In addition, we are a classical school to distinguish our educational method from state and Montessori schools. To aid in the distance from the typical school, we chose the name "academy."
How is classical education different from “regular” education?

The question is wrong-headed. The question should be “Why is modern education different from traditional education?” That can be answered easily. Modern educational methods and models have strayed from the time-tested strength of the classical curriculum and paradigm. Yes, classical education is rigorous and demanding, but this approach empowers the student of any learning style with what Oxford scholar Dorothy Sayers called the “Lost Tools of Learning.” Contrary to modern developmental psychology, most classical schools will attest to the observations Miss Sayers has made: children are “wired” developmentally to learn in this fashion. Follow this link, Classical Education, for a breakdown of the classical educational philosophy.

Modern education has produced what C.S. Lewis called “men without chests.” We have lost our boundaries and “character education” will not help. Without God, there is no character. Progressive education despises the fact that it is the Christian religion that forged a successful educational method. As Lewis observed, “Education without values, as useful as it is, seems rather to make man a more clever devil.” Deuteronomy 6.4-9 makes it clear that it is the duty of parents to teach children and to teach them the commands of Jehovah. Hence, we have no education without morality and wisdom (Ps. 34.11; Prov. 1.7).

For each division of the Trivium, there are specific teaching methods that enable the student to remember a large body of information (grammar), process that information and discover Truth (dialectic/ logic) and apply that information persuasively through methods of proper speech and writing ability (rhetoric).

Finally, a classical education integrates the academic disciplines so that they are learned in relation to each other. For instance, as a child learns literature, he is learning it in congruence with his history class chronologically. This format is taught in a three year cycle: ancient, medieval and modern. In addition, he is also learning western philosophy as well as “church history” demonstrating that Western history has been formed by the efforts of Christian writers and thinkers such as Augustine, Anselm, Abelard, Aquinas, Scotus, Erasmus, Luther, Calvin, Copernicus, Newton, Paschal, Galileo and others. The effect on the student is that they begin to see that there is no separation between “secular” and “sacred.” God controls all history, persons, cultures, events and places; His purpose gives meaning and direction in history, math, the natural sciences, etc.

In a classical education, do students learn the “basics” and modern classes?
Yes, students do learn the “basics.” In fact, the classical curriculum defined the basics for several hundred years! In Douglas Wilson's Recovering the Lost Tools of Learning, he and others have “tweaked” the classical curriculum to include modern scientific and technological advances. See our academic pages and the school curriculum for a breakdown of the courses. One can easily gauge that phonics, writing, spelling, literature, history, math, music and art are all part of the planned curriculum, as well as latin, greek, logic, philosophy, theology and rhetoric. Our classical curriculum is provided by Veritas Press.
How do you know Classical Christian education works?
We have seen it work and are committed to making it work equally well at HCA. There are many Classical Christian schools in the nation that are highly successful in graduating virtuous scholars. Even more significantly, the classical method of education was used successfully for centuries before “progressive” education's beginnings in the mid-19th century. It was the method used to educate the great reformers of the church and our U.S. founding fathers. The methodology we will use has been proven to be successful over history and in our present time (modified from www.thepaideiaschool.org).
Does Heritage require uniforms?
Yes. While it is true that uniforms cannot change someone's heart to love modesty, anymore than the speed limit makes one love slower, safe speeds; they do provide dress boundaries. Uniforms provide several things for the students and the school and they also eliminate unnecessary problems:

  1. Uniforms provide "uniformity" that is, they provide a common school identity for all students.
  2. Uniforms support school spirit.
  3. Uniforms eliminate the temptation for self-exploitation. Because everyone is wearing the same type and style clothes, class and social distinctions are removed. No one is made to feel less than anyone else because of clothing styles or where their mothers shop.
  4. They eliminate the temptation to display the body in an immodest way.
  5. Our uniforms are provided by Hall Closet Uniforms (Moscow, ID), JC Penny's IZODwear and Educational Outfitters (Greenville, SC).
Is Heritage associated with a church?
No. As our homepage says, we are an inter-denominational school. HCA is specifically Protestant, though consciously catholic. Christianity teaches us that all Trinitarian baptized persons are members of Christ's church; we acknowledge our common catholicity with all believers in all denominations throughout the world. HCA emphasizes the sufficiency of Scripture for all people and saving faith as a gift from God. We recognize that the Christian faith is broader than any denomination.
Will Heritage have an athletic program?
Many people have inquired about HCA's athletic program. In our early stages of development, we recommend that local families invest their athletic energies into our local YMCA. That is not the popular answer, but it is our plan for now. Classical education is curriculum driven; it is rigorous and demanding.As educators, we prioritize education over athletics.
As a Christian academy, does Heritage require the King James Version (KJV) for Bible usage?

No. Heritage recommends ‘formally equivalent’ versions and translations of the Bible since they are by nature designed to be closer to the original languages' own essential meaning and linguistic syntax. Heritage recommends the English Standard Version (ESV), as an essentially literal translation; there is a study Bible that uses the ESV called the New Reformation Study Bible. Memory work at Heritage Classical Academy should be done in the ESV. Heritage also recognizes for Biblical study and devotional use:

  • The Revised Standard Version as well as the New American Standard Version.
  • For students and parents that want a most literal translation in terms of Greek syntax and stylistic superiority, we recommend the King James Version, which has been a major influence in the development of the English language and both English and American literature.
  • Heritage also recognizes the value of the 1599 Geneva Bible, with study notes from major Protestant Reformers. The Geneva Bible had a great influence on the American continent and the early country, since it was the Bible in use by Puritans and Pilgrim separatists.
Is Heritage accredited by any agency or organization?

Heritage will seek to be a member of the Association of Classical and Christian Schools and will pursue accreditation in both (ACCS) and the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI).

Does Heritage have a weekly chapel?

No. HCA is primarily an educational institution. However, as a Christian educational institution, we do recognize the place and value of spiritual formation as a necessary element to education of covenant children. We desire to see covenant faithfulness on the part of the children entrusted to our care, that is, we desire to see Christian children mature in their faith and in obedience to God. As an educational institution we do not have a weekly chapel service, however, we do have a corporate morning assembly for prayer and announcements at 7:45am. For further information, please see our statement on spiritual formation.

Why is Latin part of the curriculum?

Most public schools have long ago abandoned Latin. One public school principle recently retorted, "It's called a dead language, because, well, it's dead!" Why would students in the technology boom of computers, emails, internet and text messaging need to study a language so useless as Latin? Should one take time to examine the history of American eeducation, and what became known as "college preparatory schools" (not to mention the standard education in Roman Catholic schools), it becomes obvious that for centuries Latin was an integral part of those institutions of learning.

However, Latin (as well as Logic and Rhetoric) was lost to John Dewey's progressive education. Hence, like much history, it's worth and benefits have been lost. As Miss Sayers observed sixty years ago, "Latin is the key to the vocabulary and structure of the Romance languages and to the structure of all the Teutonic languages, as well as to the technical vocabulary of all the sciences and to the literature of the entire Mediterranean civilization, together with all its historical documents." We value Latin as an integral part of our curriculum at Heritage Classical Academy for several reasons:

  1. SAT Scores: Across the nation, studies have shown Latin to be effective in improving SAT scores. Studies conducted by the Educational Testing Service show that Latin students consistently out perform all other students on the verbal portion of the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT).
  2. College GPA: Since Latin aids in better understanding English, students typically perform better and comprehend more in all classes, thus, their GPA is typically higher than those who have not taken Latin.
  3. Reading: Students who studied Latin may develop reading skills ahead of those who studied no foreign language, since Latin grammar is similar to English.
  4. Vocabulary Skills: Since Latin aids in reading comprehension, students who have studied the language typically develop a stronger vocabulary than those who have not studied Latin.
  5. Math Problem Solving: Because of the relationship of language strength and Latin, students accel in their math problem solving abilities.
What is "covenantal" education?
To many people, the terms "covenant" and "covenantal" sound odd. They are biblical terms to connote a relationship of God to His people--the covenant is the relationship and the parameters of that relationship are defined by Holy Scripture. God's covenant with humanity began in the Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve, and was brought to renewal and completion through the Lord of the Covenant, Jesus Christ. At HCA, we believe covenantal education assumes:

  1. . . . that Christian parents must educate their children entrusted to them by God, as God desires such to learn of Him and obey Him; that Christian parents are morally responsible to do so (Deut. 6.4; Eph. 6.1), or they may delegate that authority to Christian teachers.
  2. . . . that the children entrusted to Christian parents are not all spiritually mature, nor regenerate, neither of which negates the duty of Christian parents to educate their children.
  3. . . . . that all truth is God's truth; hence, Christian students should be taught the so-called facts within a Christian frame of reference (worldview) in all academic subjects.


Covenantal education necessitates:

  1. . . . that students are indeed practicing Christians along with at least one parent in his or her family and that they are members in good standing in evangelical churches.
  2. . . . that students are striving daily to love God through good works and the practice of the spiritual disciplines; to love their neighbor as themselves.
  3. . . . that students are known by others to be practicing Christians; that what they say they believe they indeed strive to live.
Why Study Greek?
The English language, much like Latin is also based upon Greek roots. Therefore, to better understand English, we study Greek as well. Greek also is the language of the New Testament, so there is the practical value of being able to read and study the New Testament in the original language.

We will be adding to our FAQ page as the school continues to develop. If you have any questions, contact us. If you have any curriculum questions, contact the Provost. Thank you!