Upper School
7th through 12th Grade
Three Days on Campus. Two Days of Learning at Home. One Connected Community. Preparing to Flourish.
During the Logic and Rhetoric Stages, students learn to think critically, reason deeply, and communicate persuasively. Through discussion, logic, great books, composition, debate, and academic study, students learn to evaluate arguments, ask thoughtful questions, defend what is true, and articulate their ideas with clarity and conviction.
In partnership, parents and teachers cultivate students who think wisely, communicate eloquently, pursue truth, recognize what is good and beautiful, and grow in Christian faith, wisdom, and virtue—preparing them to lead and serve faithfully in their families, churches, and communities.
Spiritual & Virtue Formation
Faith shapes every aspect of life at COA. Students learn to see God's truth and goodness in every subject—from literature and history to mathematics and science—developing a biblical worldview that informs how they think, discern, and live. Through intentional discipleship, worship, prayer, and the cultivation of Christian virtues, we seek to form students who grow in prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance, and who live out faith, hope, and charity. Our aim is to nurture students who love what is true, good, and beautiful; grow in Christlikeness; and faithfully steward their gifts in service to God and others.
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Upper School students gather regularly for chapel, centered on worship, prayer, and Scripture. Through teaching, fellowship, and shared worship, students are encouraged to grow in their faith and deepen their relationship with Christ.
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Emphasizing prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance, we seek to form students whose character reflects Christ and whose habits prepare them to live well.
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Students learn to thoughtfully articulate and defend the Christian faith, engaging questions about God and Scripture. Through reasoned discussions around biblical truth, they grow in confidence to give an answer for the hope they have in Christ.
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Students learn to construct sound arguments grounded in Biblical truth, reason, and evidence. Through thoughtful discourse and respectful debate, they develop clarity of thought and the ability to engage opposing ideas with wisdom and conviction.
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Rooted in our shared commitment to Christ and one another, students grow in faith through the rhythms of school life together. Within our covenant community, they are encouraged to pursue Christlikeness, practice mutual encouragement, and live out their faith.
A Rich Tradition of Literature
Our Upper School literature program immerses students in great books, enduring classics, poetry, mythology, drama, and works of historical and literary significance. Through thoughtful engagement, students appreciate beautiful language and enduring ideas.
Students encounter works that explore virtue, courage, wisdom, and human nature. Through discussion and literary analysis, they learn to interpret and engage meaningfully with complex texts.
Throughout their studies, students are encouraged to evaluate literature and its ideas through a biblical worldview, discern truth, recognize virtue and vice, and consider how great works illuminate the human condition in light of God's truth.
Sample Upper School Literature Selections
The Iliad — Homer
The Hobbit — J.R.R. Tolkien
The Odyssey — Homer
The Witch of Blackbird Pond — Elizabeth George Speare
Johnny Tremain — Esther Forbes
Red Scarf Girl — Ji-li Jiang
The Hiding Place — Corrie ten Boom
Romeo and Juliet — William Shakespeare
To Kill a Mockingbird — Harper Lee
A Midsummer Night’s Dream — William Shakespeare
Fahrenheit 451 — Ray Bradbury
The Scarlet Letter — Nathaniel Hawthorne
Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass — Frederick Douglass
The Great Gatsby — F. Scott Fitzgerald
Frankenstein — Mary Shelley
Hamlet — William Shakespeare
Beowulf — Anonymous
Paradise Lost — John Milton
Pride and Prejudice — Jane Austen
Macbeth — William Shakespeare
The Screwtape Letters — C.S. Lewis
Upper School Courses
Upper School course offerings vary each year based on scheduling needs and instructor availability.
Student Life & Community
Upper School students build meaningful friendships and discover their gifts through community outings, dances, student-led Bible studies, chorus, theater, and athletics. Athletic opportunities include swimming, cross-country, and boys' basketball, while performing arts and social events provide opportunities for creativity, collaboration, and connection.
Through these shared experiences, students develop confidence, leadership, teamwork, perseverance, and a strong sense of belonging within the COA covenant community.