Classical

Designed to provide a challenging liberal arts course of instruction for students with high academic potential.

Overview

Curriculum

The instructional program in these schools is accelerated and highly structured for strong academic achievement in literature, mathematics, language arts, world language, and the humanities. The classical schools begin with full-day kindergarten and continue through the sixth grade, with the exception of Skinner, which continues through the eighth grade. All four classical schools (Decatur, McDade, Poe, and Skinner) are considered as magnet schools, meaning that all students in the school are in the classical school program, and no student may enroll in the school without participating in the application and selection process. Testing is required.

Attendance boundaries

None. Students across the city may apply.

Resources

View list of Classical schools

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Enrollment requirements

Acceptance criteria

Application
Gifted and enriched academic program (GEAP) application
Entrance exam

Testing

Admission testing is required. All students applying for grades K-4 will be tested. Testing eligibility for students applying for grades 5-8 will be based on the student’s 2006-2007 ISAT national percentile rank in reading or math, or the 2006-2007 percentile rank in reading and math on a different nationally normed, standardized achievement test.

In order to be eligible for testing, students applying for grades 5-8 must score at or above the 80th percentile in both reading and math. After the applications are processed, students will be contacted regarding testing date, time and location.

Download application form

GEAP application - English
GEAP application - Spanish