The Christian School at Castle Hills
Classical School
• CHRISTIAN
• CLASSICAL
• COLLABORATIVE
What makes this school different?
THE CLASSICAL SCHOOL AT CASTLE HILLS
See Our Classical Education Plan
Steps to Admission
- Attend Open House
- Fill out the Admissions Application >>
- Schedule an Academic Assessment >>
- Family Interview with Admissions Team
There are four expectations each family must align with:
- Parents must know Jesus as Savior and be active members of a Bible-believing church.
- At least one parent can dedicate two days per week to the co-teacher’s responsibility.
- The co-teacher parent must be willing to be trained and supported, have an aptitude for working with their own children, and be committed to following the classroom teacher’s plans in detail.
- Commitment to participate in the annual Paideia Parent Training Conference (2-3 days) in August, as well as other monthly ongoing support sessions during the school year.
Do these four expectations in our partnership with families describe your family?
- – If yes, we warmly invite you to proceed with the admissions process.
- – If not, no worries. Classical University-Model® education is not for everyone. We encourage you to consider applying to The Christian School at Castle Hills – Traditional campus.
Our Classical University-Model® School
This model is at the very heart of who we are. It is designed to unite the strengths of two worlds— the expertise and community of a school and the discipleship and influence of the home. The result is an educational experience that is academically rigorous, spiritually grounded, and
deeply relational.
general questions
Yes. As part of the admissions process, a placement exam assesses
Yes, but due to the model of our school, we are unable to admit transfer students after the start
of the school year. It is essential that all applicants complete the admissions process and attend
our New Student Orientation in August in order to prepare for the unique partnership with The
Classical School.
Yes, The Classical School students are required to take Latin. The grammatical structure of
English is based on Latin, as is about fifty percent of English vocabulary. Consequently, the
study of Latin tends to expand students’ vocabularies, as well as enhance their grammar skills.
Latin also prepares children for the study of other foreign languages—French, Spanish, and
Italian are all related to Latin. Contrary to popular belief, the study of Latin also guards against
arrogance. In his studies, a child begins to recognize that his world, his language, his
vocabulary, and his way of expressing himself are only one way of living and thinking in a big,
complicated world. Finally, the very process of learning Latin is a rigorous exercise that requires
mental gymnastics that strengthen the mind.
Yes, students at The Classical School wear school uniforms. The specifics of the uniform policy,
including where to buy, and dress code are included in our Back-to-School Checklist each
summer as families begin to prepare for the fall.
Because of the nature of the university-model, the cost of tuition for a full-time student is less
than a traditional private school. However, our desire to attract and retain the very best
teachers is reflected in our tuition as well. View the latest Tuition and Fees schedule.
No, a board of men and women from this community independently governs the school. For
more information about the board, please see Our Leaders.
Yes, The Classical School is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation formed in Texas and governed by
an independent school board.
questions about admissions
While our model is not a fit for everyone, it is our desire to bless families by serving as many of
their children as possible. Once a family has been accepted and gone through the admissions
process with one child, they do not need to go through the family interview a second time.
Applications will be sent via the School Memo in November and placement testing takes place
in January. Although sibling acceptance is not guaranteed, they do receive priority
consideration. Sibling admission decisions are communicated in February so you can make
informed decisions for your whole family during re-enrollment.
Yes, both parents must wholeheartedly agree with, genuinely live by, and willingly sign our
Mission; Statements on Faith, Life, and Conduct; and Family Commitment. As a discipleship
school, The Classical School is committed to ministering to and partnering with Christian
families to reinforce the Biblical worldview instilled in children at home and in church. We are
only able to effectively support families when unified in our core beliefs and values. It is neither
our desire nor our role to be the primary influence in your child’s life, but rather to complement
your efforts in discipling your child.
Due to the model of our school, we are unable to admit students after the start of the school
year. It is important that all applicants go through our complete admissions process and attend
the New Student Orientation to prepare them for the unique partnership The Classical School
offers. We will not accept applications for admission after the start of our annual Paideia
Conference in the beginning of August.
By August 31st, applicants for kindergarten must be five. We hold tightly to these requirements
and recommend that applicants with birth dates in any of the summer months consider waiting
until the following year.
To protect our limited class time, we do not allow class observations. However, our Admissions
Office is available to schedule a campus tour and answer your questions while you get a
glimpse of the classrooms and community of The Classical School.
The Classical School is generally not equipped to provide special assistance to students with
severe learning disabilities that require help beyond what a parent is normally able to give at
home or through other means. However, in some limited cases involving certain learning
differences, the school is able to provide The Classical School families with access to additional
support services on campus. Learning Support Services are provided at an additional cost to
students with medical diagnoses of learning differences (e.g., dyslexia, dysgraphia, etc.) and
allow them to receive personalized accommodations within the classroom. The Classical School
also attempts to provide access to additional support for its families who adopt internationally.
We value your time and desire to make the best educational decisions for your family. To ensure
you are well informed about the unique and inspiring approach to education at The Classical
School, it is important for you to:
- – hear an overview of the school’s model, mission, academics, and opportunities directly
from school administrations (Open House) - – discern if our heart for discipleship and education is consistent with that of your family’s
(required reading) - – have a personal opportunity to discuss the compatibility of your family’s goals with the
school’s methods and philosophy, while receiving valuable feedback for optimal grade
level placement at The Classical School (placement testing and family interview)
While the process may seem lengthy, each step is implemented to assist you in learning more
about the school and your role in the parent/school partnership that is essential to The Classical
School. Through this process, we are both better equipped to partner in training the hearts and
minds of your children for the glory of God through a classical, Christian education.
QUESTIONS ABOUT UNIVERSITY-MODEL® SCHOOLING
UMS and homeschool co-ops should not be equated. Homeschool co-ops are a good way for
homeschooling families to pool their resources and expertise for specific and usually short-term
study projects. One parent, for instance, may be especially proficient in math or science and
teach a group of students that subject for a period of time. Generally speaking, homeschool co-
ops are age-integrated, specialized, parent-run, and do not simulate a college structure. In
some cases, co-ops also take over the primary responsibility of teaching certain courses instead
of integrating the teacher and parent effectively for each course as is done in the University-
Model ® . UMS is also different by virtue of having specific grade levels, consistent accountability
from semester to semester, a full spectrum of courses complete with prerequisites and diploma
plans, and a professional administration and faculty responsible for curriculum and instruction
who partner with parents to deliver some instruction in the lower schools.
Parents need not have teaching experience. The Classical School takes the lead in the area of
academics. New concepts are introduced and taught at school by certified professional faculty
while the application of the concept often takes place at home, much like that of college studies.
The Classical School teachers provide detailed course overviews and online assignment sheets
each week while maintaining open lines of communication. Parents act as co-instructors under
the guidance and direction of the classroom teacher. In addition, the academy offers training to
parents in various areas including academics and character development. Finally, bear in mind
that as a child progresses to higher grade levels, the academic role of the parent gradually
migrates from that of co-instructor to proctor/mentor, so that by the time a student graduates he
is prepared (trained and experienced) to assume the individual responsibility required for
success at the collegiate level.
A rule of thumb at a University-Model School® is that for every hour spent in the classroom, an
additional hour to hour-and-a-half on each core subject (math, language arts, science, and
history) is required in the “satellite classroom” at home. This rule, of course, varies according to
the need and increases a bit as students progress to higher grades. If a student is academically
strong in a particular area, perhaps less time will be needed. If a student is weak in a subject or
the subject is particularly challenging, then more time will be needed. Parents need to be alert to
each of their children’s individual needs and lead them accordingly in the structuring of their
time. As students progress through the grades, this time frame rests more and more on their
shoulders and less and less on the shoulders of parents,
Probably not. One of the most important ingredients in the success of the university model is an
available parent who can assist and properly work with the student. For a family in which both
parents work outside the home on a full-time, or almost full-time, basis, our traditional school,
The Christian School at Castle Hills, is likely a better choice.
Communication between teachers and parents plays a large role in a UMS, and there are
several ways that clear communication takes place. First, each course is described, along with
its prerequisite and parent role, in the school catalog. The parent role is defined for each course
so that parents understand the required level of assistance for their children. Vitally important
are the weekly lesson plans and assignment sheets that are prepared by the classroom teacher
and made available to parents and students online. Instructions to parents are included as part
of these assignment sheets, as are long-term study projects that are forthcoming. Parents are
also invited to communicate any of their questions back to the teacher as needed.
Yes, our academic standards meet or exceed the requirements for grade levels in the public
schools in Texas as published by the Texas Education Agency.
Yes, UMS is accredited through the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) as an
educational arm of The Christian School at Castle Hills.
Please join us to learn more about our vision for the Classical School, a hybrid school model opening in Fall 2026 with grades Kindergarten through 4th.
You will have the opportunity to meet with school leaders and other interested families. Additionally, you will be able to tour a couple of rooms set up for school as well as examine the curriculum.
Holiday Coffee &
Classical School Tour
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 10 | 9:00AM
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