Private classical education for students of all ages, directed by Catholic Lay Dominicans.
“Altar of St Thomas Aquinas”, photo by Fr. Lawrence Lew, OP.
Welcome
“My mouth shall meditate truth, and my lips shall hate impiety.” (Proverbs 8:7)
The Classical Liberal Arts Academy exists to research, restore, publish and teach the classical liberal arts. These are the studies of the saints and the medieval universities: the Trivium and Quadrivium, ordered toward Philosophy and Theology.
Modern families are offered two choices: a modern school, or teaching everything themselves at home. Both are recent inventions, and both have produced poor results. For most of history, families who wanted the best education for a child worked with a private teacher. The Academy restores that arrangement for families today, wherever they live.
Parent-Directed Private Education
In the Academy, parents remain the authority in their children’s education. The Academy provides the curriculum, the assessment and the instruction. The student does the studying, which is where all real learning happens.
Each week works in four steps:
- The Academy provides the study. Lessons, texts and assignments are published in the Academy Study Center, and Academy students receive a weekly study plan approved by their parents.
- The student completes the assigned study at home, with the parent overseeing the work.
- The Academy assesses the work. Quizzes, written assessments and records are handled by the Academy, so parents do not grade.
- Tutoring follows where it is needed. When an assessment shows a student needs help, he meets with the headmaster.
This is neither a school that takes your children away nor a box of books left for you to figure out. It is private education, directed by parents and supported by teachers.
Learn more about Parent-Directed Private Education
Academic Excellence in the A.I. Age
Modern schools lowered their standards until machines could meet them. Now artificial intelligence lets students complete their work without opening a book, and the schools blame the technology instead of their own methods.
The classical liberal arts cannot be faked. A student either reads Latin or he does not. He either follows a proof of Euclid or he does not. He either can answer a question in disputation or he cannot.
Academy students may study by any means they please and are encouraged to use technology prudently. But they are assessed on what they actually know, through the Academy’s examination system and in conversation with their teacher. When a CLAA student presents a certificate, you can be sure he knows his stuff.
The Curriculum
The Academy’s curriculum is the classical order of studies, studied from authoritative sources rather than modern textbooks:
- The Trivium: Grammar, Logic, Rhetoric
- The Quadrivium: Arithmetic, Geometry, Music, Astronomy
- Philosophy: Ethics, Physics, Metaphysics
- Theology: Sacred Scripture, Sacred Tradition
- Humanities: History, Literature
- Modern Studies: English Language Arts, Modern Foreign Languages, Modern Mathematics, Modern Sciences, Social Studies
This is not a sequence of courses to finish and forget. It is a course of study for a whole life, begun in childhood and advanced as far as each student’s devotion allows.
Modern requirements matter too. The Academy guides students through what is needed for a diploma or college admission, efficiently, so their time and attention remain free for the studies that form the soul.
View the Curriculum | Course Recommendations by Grade
Personal Instruction
Books and videos do not make a scholar. Students left alone with materials rarely persevere. What they need is a teacher who knows the subject, follows their progress, and holds them to it.
The headmaster, Mr. William C. Michael, O.P., tutors students personally in:
- Latin and Greek
- Logic and Philosophy
- Theology, including catechism for younger children
- Humanities and Classical Mathematics
Tutoring is available by Zoom anywhere in the world, or in person at the Academy office in Monroe, North Carolina. Academy students may request a weekly meeting. Tutoring is also open to students of any age in any school or program.
Learn about Tutoring | Schedule a Session
Enrollment
The Academy is open year-round. Students may enroll at any time and begin within 24 hours. There are two plans:
| Extern Student Plan | Academy Student Plan | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $25/month | $100/month |
| Self-paced online courses | Yes | Yes |
| Quizzes, assessments and records | Yes | Yes |
| Lesson videos | Yes | |
| Weekly study plan | Yes | |
| Weekly tutoring meeting | Yes | |
| Best for | Families directing their own studies | Families who want Parent-Directed Private Education |
Both plans include:
- All study materials; no books to purchase
- Assessment, grading and academic records
- Study at any age, from kindergarten through adult
- Accreditation by Cognia
Tutoring sessions are available to non-Academy students for $50 each. Financial assistance is available for Extern students.
Who Directs the Academy
The Classical Liberal Arts Academy is an accredited school directed by Catholic Lay Dominicans. It was founded in 2008 by Mr. William C. Michael, O.P., and is operated with his wife, Mrs. Dania C. Michael, O.P.
Mr. Michael studied Classics at Rutgers University and has spent more than twenty-five years teaching and homeschooling his own ten children. The Academy began when his local tutoring work drew requests from families across the country. It earned accreditation from Cognia on its first attempt.
The Academy’s teaching follows Aristotle and St. Thomas Aquinas, in the tradition of the Order of Preachers.
What Families Say
“Let another man’s lips praise you, and not your own.” (Proverbs 27:2)
“My husband and I both have MA degrees in Theology, and we have learned more from the CLAA than from our degrees combined.”
“My experience with the CLAA has been outstanding… it has been so beneficial to my life as a husband and father, and Catholic man in general.”
“My 7th grade son… never enjoyed writing until this year. Now I don’t even have to ask—he just does it for fun.”
Free Guides for Parents
Understanding Classical Catholic Education The history of true education from the ancient world through the medieval universities and the Scholastic tradition. It shows where education was corrupted and how authentic Catholic education differs from modern theories and counterfeit “classical” movements.
Guide for Parents Considering Enrollment An honest explanation of what enrollment in the Academy requires of students, parents and the Academy, to help you judge whether it is right for your family.
Questions Families Ask
What ages do you serve? Students of every age, from kindergarten through adulthood. The Course Recommendations page suggests where to begin by grade.
Do I have to teach the lessons myself? No. The Academy provides the lessons and does the assessing and grading. Parents oversee their children’s study and direct their education; they do not need training in the classical arts.
Is the Academy accredited? Yes. The Classical Liberal Arts Academy is accredited by Cognia, and the Academy keeps each student’s academic records.
Will my child be able to earn a diploma or go to college? Yes. The Academy guides students through modern academic requirements so they can complete the credentials they need, while continuing the classical course of study.
We live outside the United States. Can we enroll? Yes. The Academy serves families around the world. Courses are self-paced, and tutoring is scheduled at times that suit your time zone.
When can we start? Any day of the year. Most families begin studying within 24 hours of enrolling.
Do we need to buy books? No. All study materials are provided through the Academy Study Center.
Begin Your Studies
The best way to know whether the Academy is right for your family is to talk with us. Consultations are free, by Zoom, phone or in person.