Start Date: August 28, 2024

School Hours: 8:20 am to 3:30 pm

Dropoff and Pickup: 7:50 am to 4:00 pm

Transportation: Your local districts may provide transportation or reimbursement. Check with  your district by June 28, 2024, with the transportation request.

Classical education is, above all, the teaching of virtue. It was the prevailing philosophy of education in the West for over 2000 years, from Plato and Aristotle and continuing through the American founding until around the turn of the twentieth century. Classical education values knowledge for its own sake; maintains that truth, beauty and goodness are objective; upholds standards of correctness and excellence; develops moral virtue in its students; and prepares them to be responsible citizens in their political community. For more information, click here.

Community schools, often called charter schools in other states, are public nonprofit, nonsectarian schools that operate independently of any school district but under a contract with an authorized sponsoring entity that is established by statute or approved by the State Board of Education. Community schools are public schools of choice and are state and federally funded.

• Core Knowledge history and geography
• Classical literature and philosophy from the Western canon
• Singapore math
• Core Knowledge science
• Explicit grammar and phonics
• American civics
• Latin
• Music and the arts
• Physical education

Any student who resides in Ohio is eligible to enroll in a public community school, space permitting.

We encourage our interested families to attend an upcoming parent information meeting to find out more about our school’s programs.

To apply to kindergarten, students must be 5 years old on or before September 30 of the year they begin kindergarten.

Heart of Ohio Classical Academy will initially offer kindergarten through sixth grade in the 2024-2025 school year. We will continue to add a grade each year until K-12 is served.

Parents of all students who have been offered an available seat must complete and submit registration forms with valid supporting documents by the deadline communicated by the enrollment manager, or the student’s seat will be forfeited to a student on the waiting list.

No. Each school year we start fresh with a lottery, so that everyone has a fair chance of getting in.

Yes, our curriculum not only meets but also exceeds Ohio’s state education standards. For example, we cover Ohio’s 7th-grade history standards in 6th grade, and also introduce them in 3rd and 1st grades. Additionally, our Literacy Essentials curriculum with explicit phonics instruction goes beyond the state’s guidelines.

Our content-rich science curriculum provides in-depth lessons that delve deeper than the typical STEM approach. By emphasizing the classical pursuit of truth, goodness, and beauty, our students gain a more comprehensive understanding of science, preparing them well beyond conventional STEM education.

Yes, we will participate in those tests but instead of using an electronic device, our students will use the printed version.

Please visit our careers page.

One unique characteristic of all Hillsdale schools is embracing the Western tradition. This is a vast array of philosophy, religion, literature, history, politics, and other canonized works. When we study religions, we will be true to our public charter and not promote or endorse one over another. 

Tuition-free schools like Dublin Classical Academy are just like any public school and will not charge students tuition to attend. In Ohio, this funding comes directly from the state, not the local districts.

There are at least three ways that you can help:

1. Donate – opening a new school requires significant, up-front capital to pay for:
   – Facility lease or purchase and renovations
   – Desks, classroom supplies, and administrative office needs
   – Legal, consulting, and marketing fees
   – Principal and teacher salaries prior to opening
   If you are willing and able to donate or pledge your financial support for the school, please visit the donation page.
2. Spread the word – let your friends, neighbors and colleagues know about HOCA, including by sending an email to them with a link to our website, so that they can learn more about the school and how to support it.
3. Volunteer – if you have time and expertise in the field(s) of education, marketing, real estate, finance, or are just a concerned parent or citizen who would like to be more involved in the founding effort, be sure to Contact us and include in your message that you would like to explore ways to become more actively involved.

Heart of Ohio Classical Academy is incorporated as a non-profit entity in the State of Ohio. Pending approval by the IRS, donations are tax-deductible through Community Shares of Ohio