Overview

In the upper years, learning takes its final shape—ideas once gathered now unfold in harmony. In keeping with the classical model, these high-school courses invite students to weave together thought and expression, wisdom and wonder. Literature, composition, and history move in concert, revealing the unity of God’s story across the centuries. 

Each class may be taken on its own, yet together they form a tapestry of intellect and imagination. Offered in rotation according to enrollment, these studies accompany the student’s final ascent from Dialectic 3 through Rhetoric 3—the threshold where understanding ripens into wisdom and words begin to bear the weight of truth.

Inductive Logic

Using the text The Art of Argument, students in this class learn the basics of how to both write and speak persuasively. Students also learn how to identify and correct common logical fallacies to strengthen their arguments. The course culminates in a moderated debate at the end of the year for students to showcase their skills. Text: The Art of Argument

Early Modern World History 1550-1815

Logic refines the mind to hear truth’s cadence. Students discern fallacies, craft arguments, and learn the discipline of listening before speaking. Debate becomes an exercise in humility—reason offered in the light of charity. Guided study of the texts The Argument Builder and The Art of Argument affords students foundational skills necessary for rational thought, persuasive writing and oration, as well as proper identification and correction of common logical fallacies to strengthen their arguments. Films, spirited discussions, and practical application are brought to bear to develop and enhance debate skills. The course culminates in a moderated debate allowing students to showcase their skills and persuade their families. Texts: The Western Heritage; The Interesting Narrative and Other Writings

Literature of the Early Modern World

Literature captures the heartbeat of an age. From the conscience of Shakespeare to Dickens’ vision of renewal, this course complements Early Modern World History, as students trace how imagination wrestled with faith and progress amid a changing Europe. Explorational themes include anti-Semitism, class conflict, and the impact of industrialism on all levels of society. Essays, workshops, and dramatic readings draw students as active participants into conversation with voices still asking the questions that shape every heart. Texts: The Prince by Machiavelli; The Merchant of Venice; Macbeth; The Misanthrope, Tartuffe, and Other Plays; The Pilgrim’s Progress; A Christmas Carol; Silas Marner; Pride and Prejudice; A Tale of Two Cities; and Shakespeare’s Sonnets and Poems

Biology

Creation opens as a living text of design and order. Using Apologia’s Exploring Creation with Biology, students study the structure and mystery of life through disciplined observation and experiment. Each lab journal becomes a record of both discovery and devotion—science practiced as attentive wonder in preparation for higher education. Dissection of various specimens throughout the year and participation in a STEM Fair project are seamlessly integrated into the curriculum. Text: Exploring Creation with Biology

Chemistry

Matter itself becomes a field of praise as students investigate the laws that sustain creation. Guided labs and precise record-keeping nurture habits of rigor and reverence, revealing that to study chemistry is to glimpse the constancy of divine order.

The course emphasizes the scientific method as students learn about the foundational elements of the universe.  Students explore molecules, mixtures, and chemical reactions through hand-on investigation.  Laboratory experiments are an important component in the curriculum, and students actively maintain a laboratory notebook throughout the year documenting observations, results, and conclusions. Prerequisite: Algebra I. Text: Apologia’s Exploring Creation with Chemistry

19th & 20th Century World History

From the engines of industry to the ideologies of war, students follow humanity’s restless march through the modern age. They examine how technology, belief, and culture reshaped nations—and how conviction and compassion continued to flicker within the storm. Dialogue and research transform history from a timeline into a living conversation about courage, conscience, and consequence. Texts: The Western Heritage, Vol. 2; selections from The Brothers Grimm; The Communist Manifesto; Animal Farm; 1984; The Treaty of Versailles

19th & 20th Century Literature

Through poetry and prose, students follow the modern world’s increasing secularization of society amid a prevalent and persistent search for meaning—from the triumphs of invention to the silence after war. Thoughtful and informed consideration of prescient questions which dominate our world today forms the mode of discovery. Reading deeply, students will see how truth endures even in disillusionment, how beauty still bears witness. Texts: Frankenstein; Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde; All Quiet on the Western Front; The Great Gatsby; The Gift of the Magi; The Diary of Anne Fran; Night; The Screwtape Letters; 1984; and Fahrenheit 451

Academic Composition

Writing becomes a discipline of seeing clearly and speaking faithfully. Through narrative, analysis, and persuasion, students learn to shape thought with grace and precision. Revision turns from duty to art as clarity itself becomes an act of love. One goal of this course is for each student to create a comprehensive portfolio, providing a well deserved opportunity showcasing their growth as writers. Texts: The Writer’s Workshop; Writing About Literature