Welcome to the Classical Experience!
The new school with a
time-tested tradition
As a Hillsdale College Member School, Cincinnati Classical Academy is a public community school that provides a tuition-free, classical liberal arts education to 750 students from 60 zip codes in the Cincinnati area in grades K-8 We will be adding a grade each year until K-12 is served.
Learn more about Cincinnati Classical Academy
Now Accepting 2025-26 Applications
Open enrollment for new students and currently enrolled students has begun for the 2025-26 school year.
Why Classical Education?
The pursuit of the good, the true, and the beautiful is good for everyone.
Cincinnati Classical Academy provides a time-tested, content-rich curriculum in the classical liberal arts and sciences, with instruction in moral character and civic virtue. We aim to prepare students for life, not just for college and career, through formation of the will to desire what is good, true, and beautiful. We rely on teachers, not digital devices, to teach, inspire, and form our students. We use primary sources and classic literature so that students can converse with and learn from the greatest thinkers who shaped Western culture and institutions.
Grades 9-12
Explore our content-rich curriculum, extracurriculars, athletics, and Sentinel culture including the Citadel Life house system.
As we expand our grades to include 9-12, beginning in 2025, we remain committed to our original mission. Our first class of Sentinels will graduate in 2029, marking a significant milestone in our school’s history. To provide you with insight into our plan and vision for these transformative high school years, we are excited to present the CLASSICAL 9-12 Prospectus, which details our educational philosophy, academic program, curriculum, athletics, extracurriculars, fine arts programming, and our unique house system, known as “citadels” in Sentinel lingo.
The Classical Approach to Education
Our teachings are based on the curricula, materials, methods, and aims that have traditionally been used to educate generations of young men and women who have helped build our nation and preserve Western civilization. The following are some of our hallmarks:
- Teaching objective standards of truth, beauty, and virtue
- Integrating the study of literature, history, science, math, music, art, and logic
- Cultivating moral character and civic virtue
- Relying on traditional methods, like teacher-led classrooms and great books
- Engaging a rigorous, content-rich curriculum
- Prizing a well-ordered mind and heart, from good manners to a well-adorned campus
- Seeking to tap students’ sense of wonder and pursuit of wisdom
- Holding that the purpose of education is to enable human happiness
How Do I Enroll My Child?
Attend an Info Meeting
Prospective parents can learn more about Cincinnati Classical Academy by registering for a personal school tour or an evening group tour.
Attend Open House
Cincinnati Classical Academy open house will be on November 9 from 7-9pm. Please register online.
Apply for Admission
All residents of Ohio entering grades K-8 are eligible. The application process for 2024-2025 will open this coming December.
Bona Verba from the Headmaster
A.I. in Education Is Not Inevitable
Bona Verba from the Headmaster The push for Artificial Intelligence in K–12 education has been framed as a technological inevitability driven by market forces and the allure of increased efficiency.
Seven Essential Books for Understanding Classical Education
Bona Verba from the Headmaster Classical education, with its deep roots in Western civilization, remains one of the most compelling and time-honored approaches to learning. For those seeking a roadmap
Why I Lead a Classical School
Bona Verba from the Headmaster The following is a brief speech I delivered at The Art of Teaching: Reading and Writing conference in Cincinnati, Ohio, sponsored by Hillsdale College’s Hoogland
Careers at Classical
Are you an educator interested in teaching at Classical?
Join us in helping children to become intelligent, curious, and responsible young adults.