Paideia Christian Academy

What is the name of the school? 

Paideia Christian Academy

What is Paideia? 

(pronounced “pie-day-uh”)

The Greek word for an ancient concept, Paideia has no exact English translation. It is essentially the part of upbringing and education that forms the soul of a human being — and it is key to the formation of a culture. (https://classicalchristian.org/what-is-paideia/)

It is recoined by the Apostle Paul in a Christian context in Ephesians 6:4: “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline (paideia) and instruction of the Lord.” 

When Greeks used this word, they meant not only intellectual skills, but also the transmission of the entirety of the loves, norms, and values of a culture.

We believe this concept is a powerful summary of Christian education.

What are the distinctives of Paideia Christian Academy? 

It is Christian, connected to New Life Community Church, Classical, and Collaborative. 

What is Christian education? 

It is the training of the affections and the development of virtues in accordance with the greatest commandment, to love God supremely and love your neighbor as yourself. It is centered on Christ as creator and redeemer, and all education being an exploration of his created works through study of his world, and by a study of God revealed through inspired scripture. All good, true, praiseworthy, and beautiful things we learn about lead us to the ultimate source of that goodness, truth and beauty. 

What does Collaborative or “Homeschooling Hybrid” mean? 

Instruction is facilitated in a classroom by a teacher, and at home by a parent. They are collaborating in the instruction of the child. This is also called the “university model”. This centers the responsibility of training and educating the child with the parents (Eph 6:4, Deut 6:5), and provides the benefit of the expertise and support of a teacher.

Our expectation is that in Grades 1-6, children will be “in class” 2 days a week, and at home 3 days a week. In Grades 7-12, this would change to 3 days in class, 2 days at home and workload would increase accordingly.

What is a Classical Education/Why Classical? 

Classical education is in the midst of a broad resurgence in America, and so you may read different definitions in different places. What we believe is the core of Christian classical education is to define education as the formation of virtue, and to place at the center of education both facility (skill) in language and a participation in the Great Conversation through the exploration of timeless literature. These central values aid to develop virtue, reasoning, and eloquence. Classical education is rooted in ancient Greek and Roman educational practices “baptized” by Christian thinkers throughout church history – it is not too bold to say that Classical Education was synonymous with Christian education until the late 1800s.

While we never want to rely on a model to produce the outcomes we desire in our children, rather than relying on Christ, this study is worth consideration, and shows the depth of character and faith being developed in Classical schools around the world. https://classicaldifference.com/good-soil/ 

Ok, but what are you actually teaching kids? What sets Classical apart?

In many ways the content will not differ greatly from the average school. Kids still need to learn reading, writing, and arithmetic, after all. The real difference is in HOW content is taught. We aim to focus on creating connections between all subjects, and seeing how Christ is over all areas of study. We also seek to build a basis of knowledge in young children through living literature, memorization, and embodied learning. Kids love to learn through story, rhyme, song, etc, so let’s use that to our advantage!

But yes, there are distinctives. The most obvious of these are Latin, Logic, and Rhetoric. Latin is a phenomenal tool to get inside of language and learn how to use it well. 60% of English words have Latin roots, so a grounding in Latin will enable greater precision in using the English language, as well as exercising the muscles needed to quickly acquire other languages. Better yet, since Latin is regular and has many endings, verb forms, etc. that can and should be memorized, younger kids can learn these easily and enjoyably through songs, rhymes, etc. Students will begin Latin in 2nd-3rd grade, and continue into upper school.

When developmentally appropriate, formal Logic begins and continues to focus on a clear understanding and use of language. We believe children will be ready for this sometime between 7th-9th grade. By understanding how to recognize logical constructions in texts, students will be better able to identify and refute false thinking, and better communicate truth themselves. Logic is not an ultimate goal – it can only be valid and useful when subjected to God’s revelation, but it is a useful and God-given tool which we are called to use well.

Again, when developmentally appropriate (9th-12th grade), Rhetoric will be taught. This is a capstone in many ways, and the seeds of this will have been planted for many years as children encounter beautiful rhetoric in good literature, and also accumulate knowledge and learn how to logically order it. Now they will learn how to make the truth persuasive and beautiful themselves. Again, this is not an ultimate goal. It is better to have simple truth than flowery falsehoods, and yet rhetoric is another gift given by God that we can and should use in the service of truth.

We also aim to pursue Philosophy (the word literally means “a love of wisdom”) and Theology in the upper grades. These should be the true aim of a classical education.

This sounds really hard… Latin, Logic, Philosophy, Theology?! How in the world will my kid keep up?

We realize this sounds like a lot; but growing the minds of children in these ways does not automatically equate to mountains of work. Remember a good, common saying, “We usually overestimate what we can do in a year, and underestimate what we can do in a decade.” We aim to reach these goals through lots of very small steps.

If you are already homeschooling, likely 50% of families will feel like it’s an acceleration, and there may be growing pains. Likely 50% of families will feel like they’re being slowed down in at least one if not many areas. But small efforts over 12 years can add up to big results.

Also, if you are already homeschooling, or committed to dedicating your time to your child’s education if you are not currently, there is no reason to think your child will fall behind. If you are already homeschooling, you already know how to engage with them and help them learn. And whether or not you already homeschool, there will be a huge amount of help available. Teachers will provide training before the year begins on what the curriculum is and how you as a parent can implement it at home. Teachers will also be fully on call on the days you have your child at home, so you can email, phone, or Zoom to get all the help you need. Finally, remember that in Grades 1-6, there will be 2 days in school, and 3 days at home. That gives time for catchup if needed. Finally, you will be a part of a whole community of parents doing exactly what you’re doing, and more experienced parents will be able to reach out and help those who are just starting out. The aim of this model is to give you everything possible to make your child’s education a joy for him or her, and for your whole family.

Are there any examples of schools that model these distinctives?

Yes, we have visited Two Rivers Classical Academy in Des Moines, and had extended conversations with several founding board members. They have openly shared their experiences and their values, and we highly recommend their website as a resource. (https://tworiversclassical.org)

Are you joining any other organizations or networks? 

We are a member of the Iowa Association of Christian Schools, which works with schools in Iowa to promote Protestant Christian education and lobbies the government on behalf of their interests. (https://www.iowachristianschools.org/about/) IACS works with Christian Schools International, through whom we are obtaining accreditation. This will allow us to be eligible for ESAs (Education Savings Accounts). Provisional accreditation is still underway, but we hope to have the process finalized by early January.

We have also obtained provisional membership with the Association of Classical Christian Schools, and our long term vision is for our primary partner to be the ACCS.

(https://classicalchristian.org/the-mission-of-the-accs/)

Why the ACCS?

As discussed above, Classical Christian Education is in the midst of a broad resurgence. The ACCS is on the forefront of that movement. As such, they offer a vast amount of energy and resources to new school startups, and they are dedicated to planting many more schools, and helping them succeed. We also have been encouraged by the high character we have observed in all of our interactions with this organization. We have consistently seen a dedication to valuing heart formation, not merely head information, to unashamedly teaching Christ in every area of life, to fostering families, and to serving the body of Christ.

See also the Good Soil study in “Why Classical?”( https://classicaldifference.com/good-soil/)

When will it start? 

Our target start date is to open in August 2026 for the 2026-27 school year. 

When will enrollment begin? 

If you are interested in enrollment, please contact us. Official enrollment will occur in April-May of 2026.

Will I be able to use ESAs?

Educational Savings Accounts in the state of Iowa provide ~$7800/child for private education. This money is allocated by parents to the accredited school of their choice. By working with IACS and CSI, we expect to be eligible to accept ESA funds for the 2026-27 school year. You would apply for this funding in April when you enroll, and funds are disbursed to schools in August and December. There are no income restrictions for ESAs.

What Curriculum does your school use? 

We do not have a specific curriculum selected yet, and aren’t tied to an exact publisher or set of works. It is likely we would use a mix of resources and publishers. The curriculum will be decided by the headmaster and teachers in advance of the school year, and will be used for both in class and at home instruction. There is latitude within the Classical paradigm we seek to implement for individual teachers to choose curriculum based on their expertise.

What is your position on homeschooling? 

We are strong supporters of homeschooling, and the best person to make an informed decision as to your child’s education is you as their parent. Being at home is important, and deciding to spend regular time away from the home is weighty. It is contextual to each child and family as to what is the best way to meet their needs. While we will always support and encourage homeschooling, we believe the hybrid school model offers tremendous support to families as they paideia their children.

Is the government involved? 

In America, education is largely a matter left to the states. The Department of Education in the State of Iowa enforces standards set by state law for all education levels (K-12 and college), and all forms (homeschool, public, private, etc.). They are very involved in public school, and have requirements for content that must be taught. For private institutions and homeschooling it is different.

The DoE is involved in accreditation, and is involved to ensure safe and legal conditions for operation, but does not determine our content. The state of Iowa allows accreditation by an approved list of private accreditors. This list includes CSI and ACCS, and we will be beholden to the educational standards of these private organizations.

How is the school funded?

Our primary funding will come through tuition. For most families, ESAs will cover a significant portion of the tuition cost. We expect a small portion of our annual budget to come through fundraising.

How is this different from a homeschool co-op or a homeschool assistance program like MHSAP? 

Co-ops and assistance programs vary but are similar to a hybrid school in that they recognize the value of both at home instruction and the need to create additional resources and outlets for families, whether it be specific classes, extra-curriculars, or presentation days.

These arrangements have differences too: The hybrid school isn’t a come-and-go activity, where you pick some of the classes, as all classes integrate together. Co-ops typically don’t have paid staff. In a hybrid school model, the school is ultimately determining the grading of the student’s work, whereas the parent typically is determining the quality of work in these other models.

What instruction happens at home? Do parents have to lesson-plan for those days? 

The teacher creates a lesson plan for each day of instruction at least one week in advance so that parents have time to review and prepare. Each day of instruction is set to be sequential, so days in class and days at home assume the content of the previous day was completed. Days of at home instruction by parents are similar to if not identical to the content taught in class. 

This is a key component of the value of the school, that the teacher can take on the burden of standardizing lesson plans and grading, and resourcing parents on how to present the material at home.

What days of the week will the school meet? 

At this time the board expects that the lower school (Grades 1-6) will meet in person on Monday and Wednesday, with at home instruction on Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. The upper school (Grades 7-12) will meet in person Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, with at home study on Tuesday and Thursday.

What is the ideal class size? 

There is value in having community in learning, and we also value smaller groups where relationships can develop. We want the teacher to be able to instruct several students at once, but be at a size that they can help struggling students on the side. Trying to balance those dynamics, we believe 10-16 students is the ideal class size. 

What grade levels will it be for? Is it elementary only? 

Our desire is to scale to a full K-12 school as quickly as administratively feasible.

In our first year, we expect to offer Grades 1-7. We hope to grow into a full upper school year over year as the students age into the upper grades. We also hope to offer Kindergarten in Year 2 or 3. 

What is the location? 

We expect to meet at the campus of New Life Community Church. We expect our growth to move us to another location in Year 2 or 3.

Is there a maximum number of students allowed?

We will likely be constrained to a limited number of students in Year 1, as we seek to develop staff and pursue a unique vision of education. We want to hear from you if the vision has resonated with you.

Does anyone make money off this? 

This will be a non-profit institution, which will be legally required by the IRS, the State of Iowa, Department of Education, and CSI, our accrediting body. The intent is to operate with integrity by wisely using funds, not financially overburdening families, and ensuring financial health. 

There will be a staff, with most notably a Headmaster who will be full time, but in education nobody is getting rich. We desire to pay teachers competitive wages, while accounting for the fact that many teaching positions will be part-time roles.

Is this Classical Conversations? 

No. We are aware of Classical Conversations (CC) and this model is most people’s first exposure to Classical Christian Education (CCE). Like homeschooling, we celebrate the deeply shared values present in this model, and delight that people we know are thriving in this organization. We would recommend them as a positive influence for those in Classical Christian Education who are set on a homeschool only model. (https://classicalconversations.com/) 

The key difference is that CC is not a school. CC is primarily a homeschooling system with a one day a week co-op structure with high levels of community and accountability.

What about special needs kids? 

Firstly, all children are special! We know that each child has particular needs, desires, gifts, and developmental needs that are only accounted for by love and attention. You as the parent are the best person to assess those things. We also see the school as a way to offer perspectives through teachers on how to best meet some of those needs that parents may not always be exposed to. Both settings provide for the child’s needs in different ways that support each other. 

We would recognize that there is a broad spectrum of needs and behaviors that are workable inside of a classroom setting and outliers that will not be able to thrive in that environment. This could be developmental disorders, learning disabilities, physical needs, etc. We also know that as a small school our resources are not going to be able to accommodate every configuration of needs. 

There are multiple models that we would love to explore in the future to empower families with deeper needs, but right now are just aspirational. For reference see the Jubilee School: https://thejubileeschool.com/ 

Will children of non-Christian families be allowed?

No. 

We are what is referred to as a “coventantal” school, which requires members to agree with a statement of faith, and abide by a membership covenant of a biblical lifestyle. Our desire is to equip parents to fulfill Ephesians 6:4 to “bring [their children] up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” This model requires at least one committed Christian parent who is agreeing to be accountable before God in how their child is being raised. 

We hope all children attending will regularly hear the gospel and delight in learning about God’s created world and be drawn to a relationship with him. However, a child doesn’t necessarily have to be a professing Christian to be admitted. 

This is different from other school models which are called “missional” or “evangelical” which allow non-Christian families to join.

We see value in both approaches, but they have different goals, and we are focused on helping the community of Christ-following parents in our church and community. 

What churches are represented in the school?

While we are founding within New Life Community Church, we desire to partner with all local parents who are pursuing a common vision of Christian education. 

We will expect parents to have a recommendation from a local pastor who will partner with us in the spiritual wellbeing of their family. This includes the parents giving permission for and expecting the faculty of the school and their pastor to be in communication with each other. The school is not a church on its own, and needs pastoral oversight to ensure healthy care of all families involved.

Can both parents work full time and have someone else be at home with their children during the day?

No. Our expectation is that on the days the child is receiving at home instruction, it is by a parent. We recognize this will not be possible or desirable for all families. The headmaster will have the ability to make accommodations as needed for special circumstances.

Will there be sports or other extra-curriculars? 

Eventually, yes. However, to start we have to limit how many non-academic programs we start. In Year 1 we don’t expect to have any sports, and likely limited extra-curriculars. 

While our resources will be limited in the beginning, we do believe that there is great value in athletics. We are embodied creatures and we should develop our physical strength and skill even as we form our hearts and minds. Athletics also offers immense potential to shape the character of children and young adults.