San Luis Obispo Classical Academy

This is our 2nd year at SLOCA, and have only experienced the middle school. We wanted a different approach for middle school so my son started in 6th grade. Over all, we have found SLOCA to be an excellent choice for middle school. Kids are still kids and there is no perfect school, but we have found SLOCA to be a supportive environment with very rich learning and extra curricular opportunities. My son is a fairly good student, but much more attuned to sports than to academics. SLOCA has helped him stay engaged in his studies while allowing him the space to play sports and express his interests other than school. Middle school is a tough season of life, and the teachers have been excellent supporters of his growth and wellbeing. Their communication is top notch and they seem to truly “get” my son. They always have more positive things to say than negative, and that wasn’t always our experience in the public environment. I can only speak for the middle school, but I would choose it a hundred times over again, and plan to send my daughter for middle school as well.

While no school is perfect, SLOCA has been a good fit for our family. The culture in the classrooms promote learning, and the teachers are outstanding. I appreciate the purposeful study of logic and reasoning skills as part of the classical curriculum. The study of Latin also provides a good foundation for learning other languages and many other disciplines. My kids are known by their teachers and school community, especially at the high school level. SLOCA doesn't have as many special programs (like special ed) or extracurricular activities (like band or choir) as larger schools, but it does the things it does well.

We love SLOCA! Our kids are truly thriving and, after 10 years at SLOCA, we can not imagine them going to school anywhere else. We appreciate that the small class sizes allow our kids to be well-known by their teachers, and not just known, but genuinely cared for. The faculty and staff are committed to coming alongside parents to nurture kids who love learning and are growing in character. The curriculum is carefully curated, no assignment feels like "busy-work", and the classical approach means our kids are learning through texts and methods that have stood the test of time. Our kids are often studying the same topics at the same time due to the 4 year history and literature cycle; this has created a place for connection and fun family discussions. As a parent, I find my own love for learning being kindled as I learn new things alongside my kids. SLOCA truly is a community that benefits the whole family!

When local schools closed for COVID-19 SLOCA never skipped a beat. School closed on Friday with a soccer game and on Monday morning SLOCA was online with our students. This is just one example of how SLOCA's commitment to students and families continues to exceed our expectations. Our children have thrived in the hybrid program which provides a rich rhythm of instruction where students spend a day of in-class teaching followed by a home-based day where they can savor the curricula and delve deeper into their studies, only possible by ongoing parent-teacher collaboration. One of our favorite aspects of the program is the quadrennial literature/history cycle that provides a classical theme for each year's studies. A SLOCA education truly is a family affair providing all of the satisfaction and reward that comes with any worthwhile endeavour.

Our family has had a fantastic experience at SLO Classical Academy. The small class sizes, excellent teachers and curriculum, close-knit community, and overall amazing education are unmatched. We love the 4-year history cycle, with each year focused on a different period of history (Ancients, Middle Ages, etc.). The whole school, from 1st through HS, is studying the same period of history but at their age-appropriate level. If you have children at various levels, it allows for a deep connectedness at home and wonderful discussions. This is paralleled with literature - a 2nd grader might read the younger version of Prince and the Pauper, while middle school and up are reading the actual Mark Twain. The math program is similarly amazing, the curriculum is the best I've experienced, creating a strong number sense through the use the mental math and many other methods. As a parent, I have learned so much that I missed out on in my grammar school education. I highly recommend!