If you were to walk along the campus of the new Capstone Classical Academy middle and high school, you would see eight tall pillars out front which represent virtues each of the students are striving to emulate. These are as follows: courage, justice, excellence, friendship, wonder, responsibility, prudence, and moderation. Once inside the doors of the school, you will see just how these virtues are being implemented in the classroom. The feel of the hallways is calm, the ambiance is relaxed but structured, and the instructors and mentors are richly connecting with their students.
Located at 3885 U.S. Hwy 89 in Pleasant View, Utah, Capstone Classical Academy is a tuition-free, public charter school serving grades 6-12, and sits on 14 acres of land. Specifically, this school is designed, in mind, with a Finnish model of excellence.
According to their website at www.capstoneclassical.org, the mission statement for the Academy reads, “Our mission joins instruction in the principles of moral character and civic virtue with a rigorous academic program. Virtue requires both a trained mind and a generous heart, and as such unites our ability to think and reason with our passions, desires, and feelings.”
Volunteer parent, Chris Ruiz, who has done a great deal of research into the classical learning methods, said, “Whether our forerunners understood it or not, they were designing education to meet the physiological progression of a child’s mind. As the brain grows, the ability for it to do things changes. Classical education develops on the principles the way the brain progresses with reasoning and deduction.”
Enrollment is at 175 students and they are hopeful for more to come. Throughout the day, all students are learning literature, humanities, social studies, arts (including the physical arts) and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math). Also included are service projects, discussed each Friday, and carried out within the community as schedules allow.
Studying the Bible as a piece of literature is also fundamental with the curriculum at Capstone Classical Academy. Ruiz says, “You can’t separate how religion has affected us in our history, arts, and music. It’s a historical document.”
The art section of the curriculum rotates and operates in quarters. Everyone is required to do the arts: visual, music and physical education. They rotate one quarter of each and the fourth quarter the students are able to choose freely. Also included in the P.E. art is running, ballet, and ballroom dancing. Archery is also another option. In each “Hub”, or merging rooms, there are multiple teachers working at the same time. Grades are not given at Capstone Classical Academy but rather a mastery program: “Mastery, Near Mastery and Not Yet.”
Senior student, Emma M., loves attending Capstone Classical Academy because of the environment. She says, “Knowing that everyone there wants me to learn and become the best me is absolutely exhilarating.”
Furthermore, Emma tells us, “It’s unlike any other school I’ve been to because the mentors are there to push us and challenge us to become our best selves. It is a challenging school to attend. Every class will push you to learn something new every day. There’s no slacking off at Capstone.”
Every senior has to execute an internship. Specifically, there are internships 1 (in junior year) and internship 2 (senior year). Students are then offered a job the following summer. CCA partners with Ogden Weber Technology College as well as BYU.
Director and Founder, Dr. Susan Goers, who has always been a classicist, came from Rochester, NY. where she taught for many years in the classroom as well as was in administration. After moving to Utah and teaching 8 years in public schooling, Dr. Goers set up a successful school in Riverdale based on core knowledge. After finishing up her Doctoral Degree, Dr. Goers then chose to take a year off, and traveled to Switzerland and Finland.
After all of her research, Dr. Goers took 4 educational guidelines from the Finnish and Swiss people back to America where it could be received. 1st: The Hub system, 2nd. Skole or “To think” where students journal for 10 minutes in the morning and afternoon, 3rd. The appreciation and respect for Instructors. And, 4th. No homework which means more family time at home.
As director, Dr. Goers still chooses to teach in the classroom. This year at Capstone Classical Academy she is teaching: Philosophy, Ethics, and Internship 1 and 2.
“I will always teach. I don’t believe administrators can know the temperature of their school or students if they’re not out there teaching.”
Additionally, Dr. Goers emphasized, “We don’t have homework here unless you are significantly behind. Your child is going to work a job. They have to engage in the content. We’re training them how to work a job.”
There are no other classical charters in Utah. No one else in the State teaches Rhetoric, Latin and Bible. Latin is the foundational language to all of the medical and law terminology. Capstone Classical Academy is geared toward more in depth thinking, more philosophical thinking.
If you are interested in your child attending Capstone Classical Academy please stop by the school during school hours to fill out an application, visit the upcoming open house on September 23rd from 6-8 p.m. or go to their website at www.capstoneclassical.org to learn more.
