‘Classical Christian school’ in Hancock County accepting student applications for first semester in fall 

BURNSIDE, Ill. — A school hoping to bring an alternative option to the educational landscape of the Carthage area will open its doors for the first time in the fall. 

The Oaks Academy will offer a “classical Christian education” to students in kindergarten through sixth grade in its first year, with plans to expand by one grade level each year to eventually accommodate students in grade 12. 

“A classical Christian school seeks to graduate strong, spirited men and women who are intellectually, morally and spiritually prepared to speak their convictions eloquently, compassionately and earnestly,” said Lindsey Wood, who founded the academy with her husband Ryan.

Burnside Christian Church, roughly eight miles north of Carthage at 2088 E. County Road 2110, will be the site of the school until it buys or builds its own facility.

The Woods began the process of bringing the school to life about a year ago. Based on the amount of interest forms they’ve since received, an inaugural enrollment of 15 to 40 students is anticipated.

The family’s oldest child, 10-year-old Ivan, currently attends Trinity Academy, a classical Christian school in Industry. They love the school, Wood said, but the 40-minute drive to get there has hindered their ability to build a sense of community with other families and Ivan’s ability to spend time with friends, many of which also make long drives to the school from opposite directions.

“It’s our love for Trinity that really spurred us in wanting all of our children … to experience the beauty of a classical Christian school, but just closer to home,” Wood said. “We want to see schools like Trinity thrive. Trying to plant one closer to our home has been the heart behind it that our children and other community members’ children can benefit from.”

Wood compared classical education philosophy to a “multi-faceted diamond.” She said some classical schools emphasize certain facets over others. Generally, though, Wood said the philosophy is rooted in teaching methods that are in alignment with students’ “natural phases of development.”

Though classical schools aren’t all religiously affiliated, developing a sense of virtue through logical reasoning is another key characteristic.

“In classical Christian schools, that looks like developing Christian virtue and teaching children all knowledge, all subjects, through a biblical worldview,” she said.

Classical education utilizes what is known as the Trivium to instruct students on various subjects, a concept that consists of grammar, logic and rhetoric.

The Circe Institute, a hub of classical education resources, says, “To be educated in any discipline, you must (1) know its basic facts (grammar); (2) be able to reason clearly about it (logic); and (3) communicate its ideas and apply it effectively (rhetoric).”

“Classical education begins with the assumption that objective truth, goodness and beauty do exist. Classical Christian schools go beyond that and say that objective truth, goodness and beauty do exist, and they find their source in God,” Wood said. “All knowledge, all education, is an effort to understand more about God and the creation that he has given us.”

Other like-minded schools in the region like Trinity, such as Ulmus Academy in Quincy and Palmyra Christian Academy have provided the Woods with guidance. The Association of Classical Christian Schools has provided them with support and a dedicated crew of volunteers.

“We have been immensely blessed with a wildly talented and committed board of directors. Beyond our board, we have had many gifted individuals volunteer their time, talents and wisdom to get The Oaks off the ground. God has blessed us with an incredible team, and we would be lost without them,” Wood said.

Student applications opened Feb. 15. The application fee will increase from $50 to $100 after May 1.

The school is accepting applications for staff members. Wood hopes to recruit two to four staff members to accommodate their projected enrollment numbers.

For more information on The Oaks Academy, visit TheOaksAcademyIL.org.