FAQs

The school day is from 8am-3pm. For occasional half-days, dismissal is at 11:30am.

The study of Latin is an integral part of a classical education. From antiquity through the nineteenth century, Western educators understood its power to sharpen one’s grasp of language and to teach clear thinking and speaking. Today, moreover, Latin is of inestimable value in conveying an appreciation for Western culture and history. In sum, Latin contributes beautifully to accomplishing all of the goals of the trivium.

The study of Latin greatly enhances the young child’s grasp of the English language. Since many English words are derived from Latin, an understanding of these roots increases the range and depth of a student’s vocabulary. Mastering the subtleties and nuances of Latin grammar also aids in the comprehension of complex English sentences. Latin study, therefore, contributes enormously to the grammar stage of classical education.

Latin is a complex but very systematic language. Reading it requires more than just memorization. It entails the comparison and analysis of subtle forms and differences. It involves the practical application of rules and principles. We see, therefore, that it teaches logical thinking.

The study of Latin also involves the study of Latin authors. Experiencing these authors means encountering the greatest writers and thinkers of two thousand years of Western culture. In teaching Latin, we are exposing our students to the best of the rhetorical tradition. What better way to learn the art of skillful communication than from the masters of our own intellectual history?

Finally, we note that Latin is the linguistic soul of our culture. Most of the languages of Western Europe evolved, to some extent, from Latin. Over fifty percent of our own English vocabulary is derived from Latin, and students studying Latin typically increase their English vocabulary by 500-1,000 words.

Yes. As of the 2024-2025 school year, we now offer Homeschool A La Carte class options for homeschool families. We have also partnered with homeschool families who participate in our athletics and activities offerings such as Winter Ball. To find out which activities are available this year, please email Office@jecanashville.org.

While we do not have the resources to provide for students with severe learning disabilities, we will earnestly consider each student and will strive to bring each student along in concert with the whole class. 

Yes, we love playtime. When weather permits, older students also regularly have lunch periods and classes such as P.E. outside. And of course, JECA’s annual traditions such as our Fall Picnic and Field Day draw adults and students of all ages onto our extensive grounds to play and serve together.

Ability is God-given and the classical model is beneficial to many levels of ability. “Learning how to learn” will be a benefit to students who will grow up to become professional physicians and educators as well as mechanics, technicians, and laborers. Students will be taught to see Christ in all of life and apply a Christian worldview to all of life. This will be evident in the way that they work and workship and conduct their whole lives.

We love this question and thought you would never ask. We have a directory full of strong advocates for our school. We will spin the wheel and choose someone for you.

We would love to let you talk to first-year parents or seasoned parents, parents with children that match your children’s grades, or parents that have children in grades that your children will advance to. Ask them about teachers, homework load, school culture, how JECA resolves problems, or anything else. We are not a perfect school, but we are open to the needs of our parents and want to keep making our school better by resolving problems with biblical grace.

It is important to note that test results do not measure what JECA is about. JECA is not here first to impart knowledge. Standardized tests don’t measure Gospel readiness, humility, love of neighbor, or love of God, so in that respect, we remember to take these tests for what they are.

The value of these tests is that they provide a measurable standard for JECA to look at each year. It allows us to hold ourselves accountable to both our internal standards and external standards such as the CLT, future families, and future college admissions offices.

We use DIBELS Reading and easyCBM: CCSS Math for K-8th grades. We use this tool to get an overall picture of how a student is performing academically in these core subjects. These quick check assessments will be administered beginning, middle, and end of the academic school year. Faculty, will use this data to inform instruction and any necessary interventions.

Education is less about information and more about formation and discipleship. It’s less about college-readiness than it is about shaping the loves of our students.

To that end, we must remind parents that their children will look like their teachers. They will be influenced by their teachers’ strengths, weaknesses, preferences, and dislikes. The teachers have a key role at JECA in shaping loves and affections (just like parents and pastors and aunts and uncles do in their realms).

No, we consider parents to be responsible for every part of their children’s education. This responsibility is given to no one else in Scripture.

With a high esteem for the role of the church and as members of various churches, we feel that we have a Great Commission role to teach and make disciples. We see legitimacy in offering our talents to assist parents in their roles and not assume the roles as our own.

We are an independent school and not affiliated or subsidiary to any denomination or church.

Our school board is comprised of eight members (all of whom have children in the school) who serve as the caretakers of JECA’s mission and vision. They meet regularly (usually monthly) and have one employee (the headmaster) who executes their mission and vision by administrating and overseeing the budget, faculty, staff, curriculum, processes, policies, gatekeeping, etc. involved with the running of a school.

JECA has 501(c)3 status. We also submit ourselves to an annual independent financial audit.

JECA holds membership in the Tennessee Association of Christian Schools (TACS), the American Association of Classical and Christian Schools (ACCS), and the Society for Classical Learning. These associations hold us to various quality standards and expectations.

Our school is equipped with comprehensive surveillance cameras, maglocks that seal the campus, electronic door monitoring, break-resistant 3M film on windows, and vigilant, well trained and well prepared faculty.  We have close relationships with local law enforcement who make regular visits to our faculty to help with training and familiarize themselves with the campus.  We do not employ a security officer or School Resource Officer (SRO) for three main reasons. First, peer-reviewed studies have demonstrated that SROs do not prevent gun violence on campus (https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED616763.pdf). Second, studies have demonstrated that, in spite of their very low probability, students experience anxiety about school shootings (https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2018/04/18/a-majority-of-u-s-teens-fear-a-shooting-could-happen-at-their-school-and-most-parents-share-their-concern/). We do not want to add to this anxiety by adding a uniformed patrolmen. Third, the cost associated with an SRO would add around $1,000 to each family’s tuition burden.  For a school whose mission is to offer classical Christian education to families from a broad range of economic backgrounds, this added cost is significant.