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Frequently Asked Questions

No. Pend Oreille Classical Academy will be a tuition-free public charter school.

We plan to open the school for operations in the Fall of 2028.

We will be a K-12 public charter school. The school initially will serve grades K-7 and add one grade level each new school year.
Pend Oreille Classical Academy will be an open-enrollment, tuition-free public charter school. All Idaho students are eligible to attend. If enrollment requests exceed the number of seats available, placement is determined through a lottery system. Details will be made available closer to the opening date. 
The planned location for Pend Oreille Classical Academy is within the Old Mill neighborhood currently being developed along the Pend Oreille River in Oldtown, Idaho. 
The word liberal is derived from the Latin word libertas, which means freedom.  When classical educators use the phrase liberal to describe any part of the education offered within a classical school, they are referring to the education befitting the citizens of a free country.
North Idaho Classical Academy is a public school, which means it is non-sectarian with no religious affiliation. The classical model is inspired by the Western traditions of art, literature, philosophy, history, and language that are intertwined with the American tradition. These traditions had a tremendous influence on the development of the world and appear in the curriculum as essential historical context. When information about the major religions is taught, it is included for its historical, cultural, and literary significance.
The classical tradition acknowledges objective standards of correctness, logic, beauty, weightiness, and truth. These concepts can be illuminated through an education that is full of time-tested literature. Children have an incredible intellectual inheritance available to them through more than two millennia of contemplation documented in the Great Books. We take pride in supporting parents and their efforts to raise children with excellent character by using literature to help them consider the questions examined by profound thinkers from ages past.
Aristotle wrote about virtue in Nicomachean Ethics (around 350 BC) and explained that humans are not born with virtue, but rather become virtuous through practice. The culture that you can expect in an ACSI school is one that nurtures the development of virtuous character. As James Madison explained in Federalist Paper No. 55, “…there are other qualities in human nature which justify a certain portion of esteem and confidence. Republican government presupposes the existence of these qualities in a higher degree than any other form.” In other words, a virtuous citizenry is not only possible, but also a necessary component of our representative form of government.
We are dedicated to the formation of virtuous citizens.  Our school virtues are courage, courtesy, honesty, perseverance, self-government, and service.  When students arrive at a school, these qualities will be one of the first ideas that they see posted on the walls.  They are taught in every subject, at every grade level, and permeate all aspects of school culture.  If these concepts are as important to you as they are to us, then you will find that we are the best partners you could have in helping your children grow up to be virtuous citizens.

Mathematics will be taught using Singapore Mathematics. This approach involves an emphasis on developing number sense using concrete tools (such as base 10 blocks), followed by the introduction of pictorial strategies that begin with images on a page and grow into visual models. Once students master the concrete and pictorial approaches, abstract concepts such as algorithms and equations are introduced. This cycle occurs when teaching specific concepts and broadly throughout the curriculum.

Students are organized into ability-level groups for mathematics. This means that students work on mathematics at their current ability level and may spend extra time on concepts or accelerate their learning as appropriate.

The civics program begins with a strong foundation in American history, geography, and the founding documents of the United States and eventually concludes with a deep dive into moral and political philosophy and American government in grades 10-12. Through this program, we seek to foster a deep understanding of how our system of government came to be and how it operates. This knowledge contributes to an appreciation for the American experiment with self-government and a sense of responsibility for the role citizens ought to play in the civic life of the nation. We refer to the ability to meaningfully contemplate these matters as “thoughtful patriotism.”
Great emphasis is placed on mastery of the English language. Students also learn two other languages. Spanish is taught in grades K-5. Latin and Greek roots are introduced in grades 4 and 5, then all students take Latin from grades 6-9. In grades 10-12, students take advanced coursework in either Latin or other language (depending on student demand).
Students receive structured physical education. Elementary students also have access to recess daily.
Yes. As a public charter school, Pend Oreille Classical Academy will welcome all students and have robust programs for those who need additional support.
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