Classes

Students in our commonwealth are divided into different classes based on their phase of learning (see A Thomas Jefferson Education). Below outlines the general subject matter and objectives of each class as well as the courses for the current or following year. 


Scholars

Scholar students are students who are ready to dive deeper into their learning and expand their knowledge through self-motivated study and supported by mentors and parents. These classes are led by 1-2 mentors who are passionate about the class topics and/or trained specifically to teach a Scholar course (called "Projects"). Some of our Scholar level classes are from the Leadership Education Mentoring Institute or LEMI. These projects are designed to expose students to a specific body of knowledge and instill within them a greater vision of themselves, ultimately enticing them to ask the question, “What is the purpose of my life?” or “How can I make a difference?” These courses include speaking/presenting, reading, writing, and critical thinking. Scholar students are typically between the ages of 12-18. 

2023-2024 Scholar Classes

Aspire/Key of Liberty (Year long, Mornings)

Georgics (Fall Afternoon) 

BEAM - Emotional Intelligence / Hero Project (Spring Afternoon)

2024-2025 Scholar Classes

Jr. Scholars

Jr. Scholar is where our "love of learning" students prepare themselves to transition from studying an assortment of topics to the more focused learning expected from our Scholar students. Students in this phase of learning still study a variety of topics but instruction is tailored to dive a bit deeper and includes reading and writing assignments. Previous topics they have studied include Entrepreneurship, Geography, Friendship & Kindness, Shakespeare, & Logic. Jr. Scholar students are typically ages 10-12.

2024-2025 Jr. Scholar Topics

LOLIPOP & Core

LOLIPOP

LOLIPOP stands for Love of Learning Integrated with Projects, Opportunities for Service, & Play. Our goal is to introduce a feast of assorted topics that allows students to gain a love of learning through play and activities. Interest based topics are assigned each month and mentors lead each group through various activities related to the topics. Past topics have included Space Science, Ancient China, Handcrafts, Oceans, Nature Journaling, Shakespeare, Dinosaurs, Anatomy, Pet & Animal Care, Art Studies, and World Religions. LOLIPOP students are typically ages 8-10.

CORE 1 & 2

According to the phases of learning, Core students are not often found in educational settings. Core phase is to be left to families. However, we recognize that even our littlest friends desire community and that families need support. Our Core friends study the same topics as our LOLIPOP students with the hope that younger and older siblings can bond over the fun things they're learning. While the topics covered are the same, the amount of formal activity time is significantly less than older groups to accomodate younger attention spans. Interspersed within fun learning activities and free play time are moments where mentors can help Core friends learn to work together, be kind, and have age appropriate responsibilities. Core students are typically ages 4/5 (Core 1) and 6/7 (Core 2).

2024-2025 LOLIPOP & Core topics

Nature Cycles (September), Animals (October), Survival Skills (November), Art (January), Ancient Greece/Rome (February), Medieval Times (March), Ancient Egypt (April)

A Note About Phases of Learning

You may notice that there is some overlap in the ages of our student groups. No one person is strictly in one phase of learning over another. It is important to understand where your child really is in their learning journey (not where you want them to be) and to appropriately choose the best group to place your child in. Some students are ready to move forward in their learning journey earlier than others. Some students require a bit more time in a phase before they're ready to move on. Either situation is perfectly acceptable. Our goal is to help inspire each child in their own learning journey and meet them where they are.

I love it all! We're ready to Apply!