Educational Philosophy
Hillsdale Academy develops within its students the intellectual and personal habits and skills upon which responsible, independent, and productive lives are built, in the firm belief that such lives are the basis of a free and just society. The Academy strives to cultivate Christian classical virtue and wisdom and to nurture the child’s humanity—mind, body, and spirit—with a constant view to the potential adult. The time-honored liberal arts curriculum and pedagogy direct student achievement toward mastery of the basics, exploration of the arts and sciences, and understanding of the foundational tenets of our heritage. The curriculum, by purpose and design, is a survey of the best spiritual, intellectual, and cultural traditions of the West.
At the Academy, we believe parents are the primary educators of their children. The staff and faculty partner with parents in a shared commitment to the mission of Hillsdale Academy on behalf of the child. Teachers communicate directly and regularly with parents. The faculty view themselves as stewards of the Christian classical tradition and possess a high view of the content they teach and of their students. They model and lead their students toward intellectual, moral, and civic virtue, preparing students to accept the privileges and responsibilities of citizenship in a democratic society that honors and esteems its Maker.
The Headmaster, under the authority of Hillsdale College’s president and provost, oversees the implementation of the mission statement of the school.
In sum, our school has committed to embrace and uphold the following key characteristics:
- A curriculum that is content-rich, balanced, and strong across the four disciplines of math, science, literature, and history.
- The Western tradition is central in the study of history, literature, philosophy, and the fine arts.
- Study of the American literary, moral, philosophical, political, and historical traditions.
- Explicit instruction in phonics and grammar.
- The study of Latin as a requirement for all students.
- An approach to instruction that acknowledges objective standards of truth, goodness, and beauty.
- A well-educated and articulate faculty who use traditional, teacher-led methods of instruction.
- A commitment to use technology effectively without diminishing the faculty leadership that is crucial to academic achievement.
- Service of Grades K-12 so as to provide continuity and a recurrent examination of subjects throughout a student’s career.
- A school culture of moral virtue, decorum, respect, discipline, and studiousness among both students and faculty.
- A course of study and instruction guided by the immemorial teachings and practices of the Christian faith.
Faith & Community
As a part of Hillsdale College, the Academy is a Christian institution that recognizes the central role of religious instruction in a liberal arts education. Every morning at the beginning of the school day, Hillsdale Academy students come together as a community for opening ceremony. This ceremony includes the Lord’s Prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and student recitations. We gather again at lunch and offer a corporate prayer before sharing the meal together. Each Wednesday morning the entire student body comes together for a chapel service led by the Academy headmaster and the Hillsdale College chaplain.
As students learn about the nature of the universe and themselves through study of the various disciplines, they inevitably confront deep questions about faith. Our teachers welcome these discussions and embrace their role as spiritual mentors to our students. Together, students and teachers explore how the greatest minds, from St. Augustine to C. S. Lewis, understood Christianity and viewed faith as an essential part of who we are as individuals and as members of the human community.
The Academy understands that parents play the principal role in spiritual instruction; the Academy’s mission is to partner with parents by providing a faith-supportive environment their children need to grow into their faith. That mission suffuses everything we do at the Academy, from the selection of curriculum to classroom instruction to the standards of behavior we expect from students.