“Academe provides an atmosphere for open discussion. You feel your opinions are valuable, so you learn to value the views and ideas of everyone else. Your mind develops and you learn so much more because of this openness.” —Senior
At Academe of the Oaks, we understand that teenagers have different needs in each stage of their high school education, and what, how, and why they learn will affect them for the rest of their lives. We offer a rigorous program in the sciences, mathematics, and humanities that prepares students for future academic work.
Rather than focusing on standardized tests or textbooks, we emphasize active involvement, creative thinking, and the exciting process of intellectual discovery. All Academe students explore every aspect of our Waldorf curriculum—math and science, literature and history, social sciences and the arts. We believe that high school is not the time to specialize, but to open minds and hearts to the world.
Entire blocks are dedicated to individual works, such as Homer’s Odyssey and Dante’s Divine Comedy; to specific science topics, such as optics, hydrology, and mechanics; to global developments, such as those in the Middle East or world economics; and to branches of mathematics, such as calculus and projective geometry. Students also take continuous classes in English, science, math, and foreign language.
Classes at Academe are small enough for our teachers to know each student as an individual, and students are encouraged to find strength in independence. At the same time, we place great emphasis on working in groups and developing empathy for others.
We also support balance in education. We believe the arts deepen academics and strengthen skills of observation, engineering, and imagination. All our students participate in music, drama, and the fine arts, regardless of skill level.
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Freshmen learn the powers of observation through a variety of subjects such as Anatomy, Art History, Revolution and Reform, Descriptive Geometry, Organic Chemistry, and Comedy & Tragedy. Students begin to recognize the physical, emotional and intellectual changes happening within themselves.
Sophomores learn a more formal process of comparing and contrasting ideas found in subjects like History of English, Poetry, Ancient Civilizations, Human Physiology, Surveying, and Greek Geometry. Students begin to identify their own connections with man, nature and the universe.
Juniors learn the power of analysis and interpretation through a variety of subjects including Atomic Theory, Projective Geometry, Music History, Astronomy, and the Romantics in Literature. Students develop abstract thinking skills and work with their own inner desire to explore worldviews
Seniors apply the powers of synthesis to the study of Biochemistry, Modern World History, Calculus, Architecture and Economics. Students select a topic of interest and conduct their own independent studies for their senior project relying on self-discipline and motivation to complete their work.