It’s Monday morning. Children from the Excelsior Classical Homeschool Academy in Paradise Valley, Arizona gathered at school.

Held at a local church, students of all ages come in uniform. It’s time for students, parents, administrators and teachers to come together. Undo your educational goals and curriculum for the week, see how everyone is doing, connect with your community, enjoy your community, and join forces.

For the rest of the week, children will continue to study at home under the supervision of their parents or guardians. The school uses the award-winning Memoria Press Classic Core Curriculum, a full Classical Christian curriculum with an emphasis on language and mathematics. Great works of history and literature are also included, along with ecclesiastical history, Latin, Athenian and Roman culture.

Students may also gather for special events and activities. For example, the Cardinals Nature Club meets every other Friday to enjoy the outdoors by going hiking, visiting farms, observing nature, and birdwatching in protected areas. Meanwhile, the Cardinals Culture Club meets monthly and participates in local ballets, symphonies or museums.

Parents are in the driver’s seat. The school shares a common belief that parents are best placed to nurture and oversee their children’s education, not only academically but also in character development and faith-based life paths. . And at the end of the day, students will be ready to enter college and improve their grades.

There is no set formula for how homeschooling should be structured. Depending on the ingredients, you can enjoy various flavors. It can be tailored to meet the needs of individual parents or small groups of like-minded parents.

Two key factors you can find in Excelsior are time and talent. Parents and teachers have invested in creating a unique, enriching and nurturing atmosphere at this academy. A creative, classical, and Christian combination at work.

At first

“We always wanted to be homeschooled,” said founder and principal Pauline Avello. She has been married to her husband Derek for nearly 17 years and has homeschooled all seven of her children, from age 4 until she was 16.

“Neither of us had a great experience in public school. It was less the teacher’s fault than the bullying. It was a negative encounter with peers.”

Pauline and Derek Avello and their children. (Courtesy of Pauline Avello)

Other parents felt the same and connected. They have created a homeschool community for classical educators.

Excelsior started in 2019 with a family of 6 and 12 children. Nearly four years later, there are now 28 families and her 80 children. Classes are intentionally small. Most upper bounds are 8. Also, some classes have a waiting list.

“We are constantly tweaking, learning and growing. There are many ways to homeschool,” Abello says. She feels blessed to have a group of teachers (many of whom are parents) who are highly educated and have different skill sets. “We are able to pool talent and bring excitement and vibrancy to the curriculum.”

It’s no exaggeration to say that Avello is passionate about what he does. For her, it goes beyond business. It is a mission and a mission to travel with other parents to raise the next generation of children who are classically exposed, critical thinkers, and who know and defend the Christian faith.

(Provided by Excelsior Classical Homeschool Academy)

Guidance to test

To receive federal funding, states administer a variety of standardized tests in public schools. Parents usually want their children to do well, and evaluating test results is one measure. Rigorous tests also require stamina from students, teachers and administrators.

Some critics of rigid standardized tests argue that teachers have eliminated fun or creative lessons in order to focus on what they know will be on the test. . As teachers, our evaluation is often based on how well our students do on these tests, so they are just as stressed as our students. For administrators, state accreditation is tied to exam results.

Classified legally as homeschoolers and primarily parent-led, Excelsior receives no government funding or taxes. What better way than a standardized test to confirm results?

For Excelsior homeschoolers, formal testing does not begin until senior year.

“Most students are going to college, so SAT preparation is necessary, but it starts later,” Abello said. In the early grades, other methods are employed to measure whether students grasp the material. “In contrast to memorization tests, we do a lot of narration and reading.”

Avello sticks to a gentler approach of asking, “Tell me what you learned,” rather than a list of questions.

“We are a little different,” she said. “We have our own way of navigating these waters.”

Abello emphasized, “There are different kinds of students, and they have different ways of learning.” Cottages She appreciates that her school is smaller and more intimate, allowing it to be flexible, smoother and more responsive to the needs of individual students.

Abello laughs and mentions a young student who likes to read Shakespeare in the sunshine.

outing in nature. (Provided by Excelsior Classical Homeschool Academy)

In support of this approach, Avello cited various studies showing that homeschooled students generally perform academically “off the charts.”

homeschooling fees

When families come to Avello wanting to learn more about teaching methods at Excelsior, she is happy to share the positive results and the benefits they derive from a close-knit community that offers a classical Christian curriculum. It requires parental effort, but many believe it is well worth the expense.

“These parents really care about their children … there are sacrifices,” Avello said, explaining that the parents’ decisions are there for a reason.

However, this education option should not be dismissed from consideration immediately. Arizona has a strong homeschooling network. Families receive help in need through a variety of homeschool scholarships and grants available through national and local Arizona chapters of the Homeschool Legal Defense Association (HSLDA).

“We keep our prices very affordable. Tuition is higher for drop-offs.

The uniforms worn in the classroom are patterned to match school and state colors and are also affordable—Abello wanted to add a sense of formality.

(Provided by Excelsior Classical Homeschool Academy)

Focus on Arizona

In July, Governor Doug Ducey signed HB 2853 to expand the Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program. It will go into effect on September 24th.

Passage of this bill is a major step forward for school choice in Arizona. Essentially, this measure would give every parent the opportunity to receive a state credit per student ($6,500 to $7,000) to send their children the way they want (public, private, charter, Christian, or home school). Educate them and make sure they have the support to do so.

Previously, only students falling into distinct niches could qualify. Now it’s open for all.

Passage of this bill will not affect current homeschoolers. Parents do not need to apply if they do not want it, but government funding is available.

“I think this is a great law and I support it,” Abello wrote in an ESA update on Excelsior’s website. “I believe that parents know what is best for their children.”

Money can accrue (like a savings plan), so the funds can be used for in-state colleges or private Christian colleges.

“This is a big deal,” Avello said.

I’m looking forward to

Derek and Pauline Abello are entrepreneurs and educators. But most of all, they are a loyal family.

We hope that what they create in Excelsior will soon be replicated. “We are considering a second campus,” she said. “Enrollment numbers are increasing, but we want to keep class sizes small and grow slowly.”

Abello is also open to expanding the model beyond Arizona. She is happy to share her story of their success with other parents.

It always comes back to family. As for herself, Avello is expecting her eighth baby in December. I was. “It brings me great joy.”

For more information

For more information about the Excelsior Classic Homeschool Academy, please visit ClassicalHomeschoolCurriculum.com.

To contact Pauline Abello, send an email to Pauline@ClassicalHomeschoolCurriculum.com.