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Forming Knowledgeable, Virtuous American Citizens

Lower School

“To know of many things is not the same thing as having been shaped by them, taken them in, made them one’s own – accepting their formative power and thereby being further equipped for the task of living well.”

- Wilfred McClay, historian and author

Classical education aims to inform the minds and transform the hearts of students, enabling them to receive, understand, and be shaped by what is true, good, and beautiful. 

The classical experience in the lower school promotes the love of order, precise and edifying language, and objective standards of goodness, truth, and beauty. Our content-rich curriculum alongside a faculty that is equipped and passionate about delivering this curriculum is what makes the lower school so special at Atlanta Classical Academy.

Our lower school is uniquely positioned to build the foundation for learning by establishing a solid catalog of basic knowledge and skills. 

  • Students are taught systematic and explicit phonics, develop academic vocabulary, learn the structure of a sentence, write in cursive, and memorize great poems, all to gain mastery in literacy, which leads to eventual critical thinking and logical analysis. 

  • Our approach to numeracy is focused on mastery, achieved through our curriculum’s intentional sequencing of concepts, which transitions beautifully from the concrete to the abstract. Students gain a depth of knowledge by progressing through our curriculum. Past concepts are continuously connected to new material, causing students to think through concepts and learn by building on past learning. 

Download 2024-2025 Lower School New Family Guide

Lower School Academics

Student Services Department

The following services are available to ACA students to assist them academically. To discuss eligibility for these programs, see the contact information below:

ESOL (English Speakers of Other Languages)
Support for students who are English language learners.
Ms. Hendley (K-12) - mhendley@atlantaclassical.org

504 Plans
Intended for students with medically documented disabilities (temporary or long-term) who may benefit from accommodations at school.
Mrs. Roberts (Grades K-6) - jroberts@atlantaclassical.org
Mrs. Boyd (Grades 7-12) - rboyd@atlantaclassical.org

IEP (Individualized Education Program)
Intended for students who qualify for special education services and would require an individualized education plan.
Mrs. Nash (Grades K-12) - anash@atlantaclassical.org

If you have any questions or concerns regarding additional academic support or services for your child or if you have not shared information about a previous plan that was in place for your child, please reach out to Ms. Messiah (Grades K-12) - emessiah@atlantaclassical.org