Charter Schools
Charter schools are tuition-free public schools who receive government funding for each student at the same rate that other public schools do. Each charter school must have an authorizing entity (usually public university or school district). In exchange for overseeing the charter school, the authorizing entity receives a small portion of the per-student funding from the state. Whitmore Lake is our authorizing entity.
Each charter school has a particular “niche” or specific focus. At Livingston Classical Academy, our focus is to foster a culture of learning through immersion in a content-rich curriculum based on the tradition of the liberal arts and sciences. Our curriculum is important but, if we could measure it, we would like to say that 90% of what makes LCA so special is divided between the way that we teach (pedagogy) and the culture that we cultivate.
Our School
Our school building has two separate addresses. LCA’s growing student population has access to the entire north address – 8877 Main Street.
The south part of the building has been leased to a private school. We have separate entrances and parking lots.
We offer kindergarten-12th grade.
Yes, as with all Michigan public schools, our teachers are certified in their grade or subject by the State of Michigan.
Yes, as a public school we comply with all state requirements for testing.
Homework will vary by student, but most students have about 10 minutes of homework (for every year of their grade) in addition to 30 minutes of reading. This means that a 2nd grader should expect to average 20 minutes of homework each night plus 30 minutes of reading and a 9th grader should expect to have 90 minutes of homework plus 30 minutes of reading.
Yes, although our academic program is vital, we also understand the need for children to be active. Grades K-6 have recess time.
Yes, all students are required to follow the dress code and wear uniforms with our logo patch on the shirts.
We do not offer a daily hot lunch program, however, we do have Pizza Fridays.
Yes, we partner with Whitmore Lake Public Schools on athletics and other extracurricular activities for both middle school and high school. As we grow we will offer more sports and other extra-curricular activities based on student interest.
No, we are not a religiously affiliated school and as a public school we are not legally allowed to teach religion.
We do not provide busing.
Yes, we have both before and after school care available through the WLPS Kids Club from 6 AM to 6 PM.
Classical schools are unique among school choice options for three main reasons – a virtuous education, a content-rich curriculum, and a traditional classroom environment.
Moral character does not come from a flippant approach to teaching character as a means of discipline or when it is convenient. Children need an intentional, consistent and constant teaching of virtue that is why high academic achievement, personal discipline, moral character and responsibility are consistently reinforced through the study of subjects in the classical tradition.
A classical education delivers real content. Students learn about historical events, characters, stories, fables, myths, scientific facts, and mathematical proofs. They read whole literary works in great depth, and they learn to approach books both with moderation to learn and courage to question.
A classical classroom prioritizes the authority of the teacher, and therewith their expertise and responsibility to deliver it to students. Students are not the passive recipients of knowledge, but active participants in the discussion, incorporating the Socratic method of engaging dialogue between the student and the teacher.
Regardless of backgrounds, experiences, economic status or other variables that create uniqueness among students, all will be part of a shared community of learning.
Traditional teaching methods are founded on a student-teacher relationship. This relationship is cultivated as the teacher models sound learning through direct instruction and guides students toward maturity by engaging them in meaningful dialogue or Socratic discussion. Ideas are studied for their own sake because they are beautiful and worth knowing. Assessment is implemented as celebrations of students progress rather than the goal of their studies.