The classical method education is characterized by academic excellence, a biblical worldview, and a building-blocks approach (referred to as the "trivium") that starts with factual knowledge ("grammar"), develops it through ordered critical thinking ("logic"), and completes it with clear, concise and persuasive expression ("rhetoric"). In TPS, these elements are included not just in the classical track, but in the overall TPS scope and sequence for every subject and in each individual course. However, the TPS classical track adds to those attributes an interdisciplinary focus, where core courses (History, Literature, Philosophy, Culture, and Worldview, with strong Composition and Rhetoric) are combined into an integrated core discipline that weaves together the various elements within the core.

The spirit of a true classical education is more than the study of great books of Western literature. It is a study of thought and ideas that have shaped the West and the world. Yet a biblical classical education should be even more than this. A biblical classical education is training in biblical wisdom -- more than just Western thought and human logic -- to analyze and understand how human thought and ideas throughout time and across the world have aligned or not with God's revealed Word.

The description from our Year 2 core offers a good sense of the depth and breadth -- and efficiency of workload -- of TPS Classical:

"This integrated course covers Genesis through the Medieval Period, studying the history, literature, philosophy, and culture in an integrated approach. The course also covers significant aspects of the development of Christian doctrine in the early church. Students will study the events, great works, and culture (art, music, and other cultural expression of the times), and analyze philosophy and worldviews from a biblical perspective. This approach helps students understand the relationships between the different aspects, as well as follow the overall flow of thought, events and culture throughout history. This approach also keeps the student workload down to fewer total assignments on integrated topics. This course also has a strong evaluated composition component, so students learn to become good writers as well as knowledgeable critical thinkers. On a transcript, this course can be counted for two high school credits of various kinds, including Ancient-Medieval History, Ancient-Medieval Literature, and Ancient-Medieval Philosophy. The course is taught by a team over three class sessions per week, and students must enroll in a Day 1 and Day 2-3 section."

Consistent with our overall approach at The Potter's School, TPS Classical strives for academic excellence in all fields of study, since each field is an opportunity to get to know a different aspect of the One God who is all Truth. We offer our interactive classes in a close-knit relational community of learners where teachers are mentors and every student is individually discipled. Distinctives of TPS Classical include:

• Thoroughly biblical worldview throughout the entire program.
  
• Complete four-year curriculum, developed and taught by a small team of experienced classical teachers.
  
• Integrated content and balanced workload across History, Literature, Philosophy, Culture, and Worldview, with strong Composition and Rhetoric emphasis.
  
• Students who successfully complete the four years of the Classical Track are prepared to take the AP English Language and Composition Exam.
  
• Small class size. Personal attention and involvement from the staff and mentoring relationships with the teachers.
  
• Ample amount of evaluated work (papers, exams, presentations) with emphasis on timely personal feedback.
  
• Individual academic counseling and planning with every student, including math, science and languages.
  

The TPS Classical program is a rigorous integrated four year plan of required and recommended courses designed to be started in Year 1 and followed through to Year 4. It includes core literature, composition and history courses that are required for TPS Classical students and available only to those students pursuing the four year TPS Classical program. For information on how to prepare your student to enter TPS Classical in Grade 9, please go here.

TPS Classical Year 1

• American Literature and Composition (required)
  
• American History (Pre-Colonial to Reconstruction) (required)
  
• Classical Symposium (required)
  
• TPS Starting Points (required)
  
• TPS math (usually Geometry or higher) (recommended)
  
• TPS science (usually Biology) (recommended)
  
• TPS Latin 1 or Greek 1 (recommended)
  

Notes: (1) TPS Logic or approved equivalent must be taken as a prerequisite to Year 1 or during Year 1 or Year 2. (2) Some students may be required to take a one-semester Grammar Review course during Year 1.

To view course descriptions and schedules for TPS Classical Year 1, please browse our courses or type "cty1" into our Course Finder.

TPS Classical Year 2

• Ancient (Genesis through Middle Ages) History, Literature, Philosophy and Culture (3 days) (required)
  
• TPS OT/NT Survey(required)
  
• TPS math (usually Advanced Algebra or higher) (recommended)
  
• TPS science (usually Chemistry) (recommended)
  
• TPS Latin 2 or Greek 2 (recommended)
  

To view course descriptions and schedules for TPS Classical Year 2, please browse our courses or type "cty2" into our Course Finder.

TPS Classical Year 3

• Middle (Renaissance through Revolutions) History, Literature, Philosophy and Culture + Rhetoric (3 days) (required)
  
• TPS Theology Matters (required)
  
• TPS math (Precalculus; or Functions, Statistics, and Trigonometry; or higher) (recommended)
  
• TPS science (usually Physics) (recommended)
  

To view course descriptions and schedules for TPS Classical Year 3, please browse our courses or type "cty3" into our Course Finder.

TPS Classical Year 4

• Modern (Revolutions to Present) History, Literature, Philosophy, and Culture + Rhetoric (3 days) (required)
  
• TPS Worldviews and Issues (required)
  
• TPS math (Calculus; or Precalculus and Discrete Mathematics; or higher) (recommended)
  
• TPS advanced or specialty science (recommended)
  

To view course descriptions and schedules for TPS Classical Year 4, please browse our courses or type "cty4" into our Course Finder.