Advanced Learning Frameworks

Christian schools as a genre have been around since the 1950s. Recently, a subset of Christian schools known as classical Christian schools has become popular. This seems to have come about because standards in public education have steadily fallen. Many parents will not tolerate shoddy disciplinary standards, sloppy dress codes, violence in our schools, underachievement, and low expectations. As a result, they start their own schools.

Background

Classical Christian Schools trace their origins back to the revival of classical education in the late 20th century, particularly influenced by the works of scholars like Dorothy Sayers and Douglas Wilson. These schools seek to combine the rich heritage of classical education with a distinctly Christian worldview. The approach used in Classical Christian Schools is centered around the trivium, a three-part division of learning that includes the grammar stage, the logic stage, and the rhetoric stage. In the grammar stage, students focus on the foundational knowledge and facts of various subjects. The logic stage emphasizes critical thinking skills and logical reasoning, while the rhetoric stage focuses on effective communication and persuasive expression. Throughout all stages, the integration of Christian faith and principles is a guiding principle, with biblical teachings woven into the curriculum and classroom discussions. The goal is to cultivate students who are not only well-educated but also deeply grounded in their faith, equipped to engage with the world thoughtfully and confidently.

A classical Christian school proclaims Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. It also adheres to the principles of

The Seattle area is home to many fine private schools as well as to major companies such as Microsoft, Boeing and Starbucks.

• Annie Wright School, Tacoma
• Auburn Adventist Academy, Auburn
• The Bear Creek School, Redmond & Woodinville
• Bellevue Children's Academy, Bellevue
• Bellevue Montessori School, Bellevue
• Bertschi School, Seattle
• Bishop Blanchet High School, Seattle
• Billings Middle School, Seattle
• Brighton School, Lynnwood
• Brightwater School, Seattle
• The Bush School, Seattle
• Chrysalis School, Woodinville
• The Clearwater School, Seattle
• Concordia Lutheran School, Seattle
• Community Christian Academy, Lacey
• Eastside Catholic School, Sammamish
• Evergreen Academy, Bothell & Woodinville
• Forest Ridge School of the Sacred Heart, Bellevue
• Fremont Community School, Seattle
• The French American Immersion School of Washington, Bellevue
• French American School of Puget Sound, Mercer Island
• Holy Names Academy, Seattle
• Holy Rosary School, Seattle
• Hope Lutheran School
• Jewish Day School of Metropolitan Seattle
• Junior Junction School, Kent
• KapKa Cooperative School, Seattle
• King's Schools, Seattle
• Lakeside School, Seattle
• Life Christian School, Tacoma
• Matheia School, Seattle
• Montessori in Motion, Tacoma
• Northwest Yeshiva High School, Mercer Island
• The Open Window School, Seattle
• Our Lady of Gaudalupe School, Seattle
• The Overlake School, Redmond
• Providence Classical Christian School, Bellevue
• Puget Sound Community School, Seattle
• Saint Catherine School, Seattle
• Saint Alphonsus Parish School, Seattle
• Saint Charles Borromeo, Tacoma
• Saint George's Parish School, Seattle

What is the state of technology in private schools? In most private schools teachers and students have been using computers since the mid 1990s. Tablets are the norm. Wireless networking and electronic presentation devices such as whiteboards, LCD displays, and projectors are all part of the private school teacher's bag of tricks. In the old days, technology was a curious somewhat fascinating add-on. You went to a computer lab and taught keyboarding or used programs such as MathBlaster. In the 21st century technology supports and enhances all aspects of the curriculum and teaching. Everybody has their own portable computer with the flexibility and efficiency such mobility encourages.

How important is technology in schools?

American University makes the case succinctly as follows: " How important is technology in education? The COVID-19 pandemic is quickly demonstrating why online education should be a vital part of teaching and learning. By integrating technology into existing curricula, as opposed to using it solely as a crisis-management tool, teachers can harness online learning as a powerful educational tool.

The effective use of digital learning tools in classrooms can increase student engagement, help teachers improve their lesson plans, and facilitate personalized learning. It also helps students build essential 21st-century skills."

This TEDTalk discusses how technology makes learning more dynamic and engaging.

Teaching the digital generation

Most students live in a digital world. They have never known analog devices

Many Roman Catholic high schools don't use the SSAT or ISSE admissions tests as part of their admissions requirements. For instance, Roman Catholic high schools in the Archdioceses of New York and Brooklyn/Queens administer the Test for Admission Into Catholic High Schools or TACHS.

Elsewhere in the country, you will find the Cooperative Admissions Exam (COOP) or the High School Placement Test (HSPT). What the admissions staff are looking for is readiness for high school level academic work. The tests are generally given in the late fall of grade 8. Study.com offers a Practice and Study Guide for the COOP exam.

This video from Petersen's offers strategies for taking the HSPT.

Diocesan and archdiocesan high schools generally admit most of their new students from elementary schools within their own dioceses. (A diocese is a legal territory and entity under the control and jurisdiction of a bishop.) Consequently, most of the students have been educated to certain standards that are well-known within that diocese. Standardized tests are not necessary in order to develop a student profile. That profile is already well-known. as well, the teachers and principals of the diocesan elementary schools themselves are known quantities. That being the case, it is simply a matter for the admissions office to identify any marginal performers and decide on those applicants. The testing per se has already ben done.

Questions?

Standardized testing is part of most private schools' admissions requirements. There are several reasons why schools use standardized admissions tests. The first reason is that they level the admissions playing field. Every candidate for admission must take the same admissions test. Fairness is the name of the game. The second reason is that schools want to be able to assess candidates' proficiency in core academic subjects. In other words, can the candidate who wants to come to my school do the work we do at our school?

The two most commonly used independent school tests are the SSAT or Secondary School Admission Test and the ISEE or Independent School Entrance Examination.

About the SSAT

From the SSAT handbook, page 12: "The SSAT is the required admission test at many of the best independent schools in the world. This test is one important step on the path to an independent school education. Your SSAT score is one part of your complete application to an independent school, and while it is important, it is not the only criteria for admission. The SSAT is designed for students in grades 3 through PG and is administered on three levels (Elementary, Middle, and Upper)."

The SSAT is probably unlike any test your student has ever taken. That’s because it’s designed to find the best students in a large pool of excellent students. The SSAT’s questions are significantly different—in their difficulty and their content—from questions on other standardized