Curriculum is a tool for furthering this approach, and curriculum choices at New Covenant Schools are therefore chosen according to how they best reflect that which is good, true, and beautiful. In some cases particular selections are explicitly secular; in other cases they may be explicitly Christian. All are chosen because they are best suited to our objectives and comport with our teaching methods.

General Objectives
A classical education exposes a student to the wealth of literature and thought that has endured in our cultural and religious heritage. It may be likened to a long conversation in which each succeeding generation takes part, both learning and eventually contributing. Thus, we begin by teaching students the languages in which the conversation has been conducted, primarily English, Greek and Latin, preparing them to appreciate and enjoy the richness of a liberal arts education.

Grammar School (Kindergarten - 6th grade)
The goal of a Grammar School education is to bring a student to mastery of language and mathematics. We emphasize language arts through direct instruction in phonics, classic literature, and early instruction in Latin. This combination enables the student to understand the mechanics of the English language, to appreciate its literature, and gives insight into the language that provides the basis for more than 60% of our vocabulary. Mathematics is taught incrementally and thoroughly, preparing a student the demands of higher mathematics.

Pedagogical methods in the Grammar School (grades K-6) emphasize direct instruction, memorization, and mastery of basic skills. Our curricular choices reflect this emphasis. Links to several of our curriculum providers are listed at the left should you wish to examine their programs more carefully. Links to these websites do not necessarily imply New Covenant's endorsement of all materials, nor do they necessarily reflect all the sources in use in a particular discipline at New Covenant.

Upper School (grades 7-12)
In the Schools of Dialectic and Rhetoric (grades 7-12), New Covenant maintains an increasing emphasis upon critical thought and interaction with primary sources. While each discipline employs a textbook, classes are not "textbook driven." Whether translating Julius Caesar, exploring the verb system in Greek, or examining biological processes in the science lab, learning is facilitated by instructors who are trained in their fields, and qualified to employ a variety of sources and methods to accomplish our educational objectives. Click here to meet the faculty of New Covenant.

The goal of the Upper School is to develop a student's ability to think critically and to articulate his or her own ideas. Ultimately, the student is expected to develop the ability to reason soundly, and to persuade verbally and in writing through the careful arrangement and presentation of material. A student's ultimate demonstration of these skills is set forth in the senior thesis, which is completed in the senior year.

While a liberal arts education stresses the humanities, New Covenant Schools also provides an exceptional program in mathematics and laboratory sciences, offering mathematics through the calculus, and four laboratory sciences in biology, advanced biology, chemistry and physics.

The links at the left will take you to Upper School course summaries contained in the New Covenant Schools Handbook, which you can download in its entirety here.