American Faith Academy | Classical Christian Online Education
American Faith Academy Academics | Classical Christian Online School
Academics

Classical Christian K-12+ Education That Transforms Minds & Hearts

Shaping Minds. Forming Character. Cultivating Wisdom for Life.

Our academic program is designed to do more than just impart information. We seek to form the soul, train the mind, and equip your child for a life of purpose, leadership, and service to God.

Student holding books
Not your typical online school

A vibrant, rigorous learning experience—built for real formation.

At American Faith Academy, we have reimagined what online education can be. Forget passive video lectures and isolated worksheets. Our students are engaged in a vibrant, intellectually rigorous learning experience that rivals—and often surpasses—traditional brick-and-mortar schools.



Students collaborating on a hands-on learning project
What does learning look like at AFA?
(Click to Learn More)

Students spend their days in dynamic, personalized learning sessions through our adaptive platform. They read real books—”Great Books”, classic literature, and primary sources. They complete hands-on projects that bring learning to life: models, experiments, essays, and presentations. All required books included with tuition.

No hunting down dozens of books. No hidden curriculum costs. Just open-and-go learning for your family.

Beyond personalized learning, students connect globally through virtual Socratic seminars, debates, salons, and presentations—wrestling with big ideas and learning to think and speak with clarity and conviction. This is not isolated education. This is formation: personalized, relational, engaging, transformative.

  • Personalized: Adaptive pacing and mastery-based progress tailored to each student.
  • Relational: Socratic seminars and live community learning with peers and mentors.
  • Hands-on: Projects, labs, writing, presentations, and service that bring learning to life.

Education as it was meant to be: high-touch, high-thought, and high-impact.

Students don’t just consume content—they practice the skills of wisdom: reading deeply, reasoning carefully, communicating clearly, and applying truth in real life.

Students building community through discussion-based learning
Learn About the Science Behind Personalized Learning (Click to Read More)

This research note draws directly on well-established findings in education research—most notably Benjamin Bloom’s landmark study on the “2 Sigma Problem,” which examined why students receiving individualized, mastery-based instruction dramatically outperformed those in conventional classroom settings. Bloom’s research demonstrated that when students receive frequent feedback, targeted correction, and the opportunity to revisit material until mastery is achieved, learning outcomes improve by as much as two standard deviations. 1

In Bloom’s study, the key difference was not intelligence or motivation, but instructional design: students advanced only after demonstrating mastery, rather than moving forward based on time or calendar constraints. This mastery-based approach significantly reduced learning gaps, prevented small misunderstandings from compounding over time, and increased student confidence and engagement.

Our academic model is intentionally aligned with these findings. We combine adaptive pacing—which continually assesses readiness and identifies specific skill gaps—with guided support that reflects the proven benefits of high-dosage tutoring. Our platform personalizes each student’s learning path while providing clear explanations, meaningful feedback, encouragement, accountability, and coaching in disciplined habits of thought. The result is a learning environment designed not just for efficiency, but for deep understanding and lasting formation.

Research-backed outcomes illustration
The Classical Method: How We Teach

The Trivium:
A Three-Stage Approach

Modern education often focuses on content delivery. Classical education focuses on forging the tools of learning. We don’t just fill students’ heads with facts; we shape minds to analyze, reason, and communicate effectively. Our curriculum is both rich in content and integrated in its approach. With history as the backbone, we weave together literature, theology, science, and the arts to tell the grand story of God’s work in the world.



In these early years, children are masters of memorization. We fill their minds with foundational facts— the grammar of history, science, math, and Latin—through engaging, interactive learning. Students read rich, living books and complete hands-on activities that make learning tangible and memorable.

  • Joyful exploration through stories, songs, chants, and memory work.
  • Concrete learning: projects, models, and guided discovery.
  • Strong foundations in reading and math through mastery.
Child reading

As students think more abstractly, we teach the art of reasoning. They learn to analyze arguments, identify fallacies, and ask probing questions. Students write analytical essays and prepare for virtual debates and Socratic seminars—ordering facts into coherent understanding.

  • Argument analysis and critical thinking through guided practice.
  • Analytical writing paired with discussion and debate.
  • Socratic seminars that sharpen reasoning and humility.
Student working on research

In the final stage, students express well-reasoned conclusions with clarity and persuasive power. They engage Great Books, write research and persuasive essays, deliver speeches, and defend theses in presentations and debates. They learn to articulate and defend a biblical worldview winsomely.

  • Advanced writing, rhetoric, and apologetics.
  • Global seminars, salons, and formal debates.
  • Capstone projects, presentations, and oral defenses.
Students presenting
Why This Approach Works (Click to Read More)

This educational model is supported by a growing body of independent research examining the long-term outcomes of classical Christian education. One of the most comprehensive studies to date, the Good Soil report, conducted by researchers at the University of Notre Dame, analyzed graduates from classical Christian schools across the United States. 2

The study found that these graduates consistently demonstrate strong academic preparedness, a high level of civic engagement, and a lasting commitment to their faith. Compared to peers from conventional schooling models, alumni were more likely to complete college, pursue meaningful careers, remain actively involved in their churches, and describe their lives as oriented toward purpose rather than mere achievement.

These outcomes are not attributed to a single factor, but to the integrated nature of classical education: a content-rich curriculum, disciplined habits of thinking, strong moral formation, and close partnership between school and family. For families seeking an education that prepares children for college, career, and faithful leadership in adulthood, this research provides strong evidence that a classical, Christ-centered approach delivers enduring results.

Research-backed outcomes of classical education
Curriculum For All Grade groups

One Program.
Six Pathways by Age and Stage.

Each grade group is designed to meet students where they are—building strong foundations, forming character, and training students to think clearly and live faithfully. All required books are included in tuition. Families receive access to the curated literature, classics, and primary sources used throughout the program—without surprise curriculum fees.

Primary (K-2): Wonder and Discovery

Primary students begin with joyful, parent-supported foundations in reading, math, Bible, history, science, memory work, and rich read-aloud literature.

A joyful, hands-on introduction to learning, focusing on foundational skills in math and reading, alongside rich explorations of the Bible, history, and science. Students engage in interactive learning sessions, read aloud with their families, memorize poetry and Scripture, and complete creative projects that bring their learning to life. At this stage, our platform is designed to serve as a support for parents—not a replacement. It provides structure, guidance, and resources that equip parents to confidently teach, encourage, and shepherd their children’s learning, while keeping the parent firmly at the center of the educational journey.

Book List (Included with Tuition)

Primary book list with authors and publication years
TitleAuthorYear
Charlotte’s Web E. B. White 1952
Winnie-the-Pooh A. A. Milne 1926
The Mouse and the Motorcycle Beverly Cleary 1965
Mr. Popper’s Penguins Richard & Florence Atwater 1938
Stuart Little E. B. White 1945
Little House in the Big Woods Laura Ingalls Wilder 1932
The Wind in the Willows (selected/abridged) Kenneth Grahame 1908
The Boxcar Children Gertrude Chandler Warner 1924
Babe: The Gallant Pig Dick King-Smith 1983
The Door in the Wall Marguerite de Angeli 1949
Little Bear Else Holmelund Minarik 1957
The Stories Julian Tells Ann Cameron 1981
The Hundred Dresses Eleanor Estes 1944
The Trumpet of the Swan E. B. White 1970
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe C. S. Lewis 1950
Heidi (abridged/illustrated) Johanna Spyri 1881
The Railway Children (adapted) E. Nesbit 1906
My Father’s Dragon Ruth Stiles Gannett 1948
The Borrowers (illustrated) Mary Norton 1952
The Courage of Sarah Noble Alice Dalgliesh 1954
Paddle-to-the-Sea Holling C. Holling 1941
Reading readinessPhonics, vocabulary, and daily story time.
Number senseConcrete math practice that builds confidence.
WonderNature study, simple science, and joyful projects.
Young student reading a book

Grammar (3-6): Building the Foundation

Grammar students build a strong knowledge base through integrated history, literature, Latin, writing, science, discussion, and classic reading.

Students systematically build their knowledge base through our integrated curriculum. They read historical fiction, biographies, and classic tales aligned to the historical period they are studying. Latin instruction begins in earnest, and students develop strong writing and composition skills through structured assignments. Science comes alive through guided exploration and hands-on experiments. Students also participate in virtual group discussions and collaborative projects with peers from across the country and around the world.

Book List (Included with Tuition)

Grammar book list with authors and publication years
TitleAuthorYear
Gilgamesh the Hero Geraldine McCaughrean 2002
Golden Goblet Eloise Jarvis McGraw 1961
Tirzah Lucille Travis 1991
D’Aulaires’ Book of Greek Myths Ingri & Edgar Parin d’Aulaire 1962
Detectives in Togas Henry Winterfeld 1953
Archimedes and the Door of Science Jeanne Bendick 1962
Bronze Bow Elizabeth George Speare 1961
The Adventures of Geraldine Woolkins Karin Kaufman 2018
Beorn the Proud Madeleine A. Polland 1961
D’Aulaires’ Book of Norse Mythology Ingri & Edgar Parin d’Aulaire 1967
The Hobbit J. R. R. Tolkien 1937
The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood Howard Pyle 1883
Otto of the Silver Hand Howard Pyle 1888
Door in the Wall Marguerite de Angeli 1949
Crispin: The Cross of Lead Avi [Edward Irving Wortis] 2002
Castle David Macaulay 1977
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon Grace Lin 2009
The Shakespeare Stealer Gary Blackwood 1998
Surviving Jamestown Gail Langer Karwoski 2001
Blue Birds Caroline Starr Rose 2015
The Tinker’s Daughter Wendy Lawton 2004
Cecile: Gates of Gold Mary Casanova 2002
Adventures of Don Quixote translated Miguel de Cervantes; adapted/translated edition 1605/1615
Dangerous Journey Oliver Hunkin 1985
Tales from Shakespeare Charles & Mary Lamb 1807
Starry Messenger Peter Sís 1996
Ben and Me Robert Lawson 1939
Mr. Revere and I Robert Lawson 1953
Caddie Woodlawn Carol Ryrie Brink 1935
Toliver’s Secret Esther Wood Brady 1976
Silent Thunder Andrea Davis Pinkney 1999
White Lilacs Carolyn Meyer 1993
Snow Treasure Marie McSwigan 1942
Number the Stars Lois Lowry 1989
The Winged Watchman Hilda van Stockum 1962
Maniac Magee Jerry Spinelli 1990
Esperanza Rising Pam Muñoz Ryan 2000
Sarah, Plain and Tall Patricia MacLachlan 1985
Fluent literacyReading comprehension and rich literature.
Writing growthClear sentences → organized paragraphs.
Mastery mathSkill building with practice and feedback.
Elementary students collaborating at a table

Logic (7-8): Learning to Reason

Logic students grow in reasoning, analysis, primary-source reading, essay writing, Socratic discussion, science, and independent learning.

Students delve into formal logic and critical thinking through dynamic learning sessions, while continuing their studies of history and literature. They read primary source documents and write analytical essays. Through virtual Socratic seminars and debates, they are challenged to analyze and defend ideas from a biblical perspective alongside students from diverse locations. Science instruction includes laboratory work and the scientific method. Students begin to take ownership of their learning, asking deeper questions and making connections across disciplines.

Book List (Included with Tuition)

Logic book list with authors and publication years
TitleAuthorYear
The Epic of Gilgamesh translated Anonymous, N. K. Sandars (Translator) c. 2100–1200 BC, 1960
Code of Hammurabi translated Hammurabi, L. W. King (Translator) c. 1754 BC, 2015
The Odyssey translated Homer, Robert Fagles (Translator) c. 8th century BC, 1999
Augustine’s Confessions Augustine of Hippo, Maria Boulding (Translator) c. 397–400, 2002
Beowulf translated Anonymous Old English poet, Burton Raffel (Translator) c. 700–1000, 2008
The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood Howard Pyle 1883
A Midsummer Night’s Dream William Shakespeare c. 1595
Macbeth William Shakespeare c. 1606
The Rule of St. Benedict Benedict of Nursia c. 516
The Canterbury Tales (General Prologue) Geoffrey Chaucer c. 1387–1400
Inferno Dante Alighieri c. 1314
Concise Theology: A Guide to Historic Christian Beliefs J. I. Packer 1993
The Pilgrim’s Progress John Bunyan 1678
Chains Laurie Halse Anderson 2008
A Tale of Two Cities Charles Dickens 1859
Twelve Years a Slave Solomon Northup 1853
Two Roads Joseph Bruchac 2018
When My Name Was Keoko Linda Sue Park 2002
Inside Out and Back Again Thanhhà Lại 2011
Frankenstein Mary Shelley 1818
Escape from Aleppo N. H. Senzai 2018
Animal Farm George Orwell 1945
El Capibara con Botas Mira Canion 2016
Logic & reasoningArgument analysis and clear thinking.
Structured writingEssays, summaries, and thoughtful responses.
AccountabilityTime management and maturity-building habits.
Student taking notes and studying

Rhetoric (9-12): Wisdom and Eloquence

Rhetoric students complete a Great Books capstone focused on advanced reading, writing, rhetoric, apologetics, discussion, thesis work, and future-ready pathways.

The capstone of their education. Students engage with the Great Books of Western civilization—from Homer and Plato to Augustine and C.S. Lewis—reading, discussing, and writing about the ideas that have shaped history. They study advanced rhetoric and apologetics through personalized instruction, learning to defend their faith with grace and conviction. They participate in global virtual Socratic seminars, salons, and debates with students from around the world, sharpening their thinking and communication skills. They complete a thesis—a substantial research project that culminates in a written paper and an oral defense presented virtually to a panel. They can also pursue dual enrollment to earn an associate’s degree or specialize in our trades pathway.

Book List (Included with Tuition)

Rhetoric book list with authors and publication years
TitleAuthorYear
The Scarlet Letter Nathaniel Hawthorne 1850
Killing England Bill O’Reilly & Martin Dugard 2017
The Pursuit of Happiness Jeffrey Rosen 2024
The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass Frederick Douglass 1845
The Jungle Upton Sinclair 1906
The Great Gatsby F. Scott Fitzgerald 1925
The Grapes of Wrath John Steinbeck 1939
To Kill a Mockingbird Harper Lee 1960
Bomb: The Race to Build—and Steal—the World’s Most Dangerous Weapon Steve Sheinkin 2012
Thirteen Days Robert F. Kennedy 1969
Farewell to Manzanar Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston & James D. Houston 1973
The Red Badge of Courage Stephen Crane 1895
Twenty Basics Every Christian Should Know Wayne A. Grudem & Elliot Grudem 2005
What’s Your Worldview? An Interactive Approach to Life’s Big Questions James N. Anderson 2014
The Iliad Homer, Robert Fagles (Translator) c. 8th century BC, 1998
Republic Plato, G.M.A. Grube & C.D.C. Reeve (Translators) c. 375 BC, 1992
Lysistrata, Clouds, and Wasps Aristophanes, Jeffrey Henderson (Translator) 411 / 423 / 422 BC, 1998
The Bacchae, Electra, and Trojan Women Euripides, Philip Vellacott (Translator) c. 415–405 BC, 1973
Euclid’s Elements Euclid, Thomas L. Heath (Translator) c. 300 BC, 1956
Nicomachean Ethics Aristotle, Terence Irwin (Translator) c. 340 BC, 1999
Politics Aristotle, Carnes Lord (Translator) c. 350 BC, 1985
On the Nature of Things Lucretius, Martin Ferguson Smith (Translator) c. 55 BC, 2001
Eclogues and Georgics Virgil, C. Day Lewis (Translator) 39 / 29 BC, 1984
Metamorphoses Ovid, David Raeburn (Translator) 8 AD, 2004
Meditations Marcus Aurelius, Gregory Hays (Translator) c. 180 AD, 2003
City of God Augustine of Hippo, Henry Bettenson (Translator) 426, 2003
The Consolation of Philosophy Boethius, Victor Watts (Translator) c. 524, 1999
Summa Theologica Thomas Aquinas, Fathers of the English Dominican Province (Translators) 1265–1274, 1947
Divine Comedy Dante Alighieri, Allen Mandelbaum (Translator) 1320, 1982
Canterbury Tales Geoffrey Chaucer, Nevill Coghill (Translator) c. 1387–1400, 2003
The Prince Niccolò Machiavelli, Harvey C. Mansfield (Translator) 1532, 1998
In Praise of Folly Desiderius Erasmus, Betty Radice (Translator) 1511, 1994
Institutes of the Christian Religion John Calvin, Henry Beveridge (Translator) 1536, 2006
Don Quixote Miguel de Cervantes, Edith Grossman (Translator) 1605 / 1615, 2003
Tartuffe Molière, Richard Wilbur (Translator) 1664, 1961
The Tempest William Shakespeare, Barbara A. Mowat & Paul Werstine (Editors) c. 1611, 2004
Paradise Lost John Milton, John Leonard (Editor) 1667, 2003
Leviathan Thomas Hobbes, Christopher Brooke (Editor) 1651, 2017
Pensées Blaise Pascal, W.F. Trotter (Translator) 1670, 2011
The Wealth of Nations Adam Smith, Robert B. Reich (Introduction) 1776, 2000
Moby-Dick Herman Melville 1851
Notes from the Underground Fyodor Dostoevsky 1864
Beyond Good and Evil Friedrich Nietzsche 1886
The Sun Also Rises Ernest Hemingway 1926
The Stranger Albert Camus 1942
One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn 1962
Brave New World Aldous Huxley 1932
Emma Jane Austen 1815
Testigo – La Historia de Brayan Kristy Placido 2019
Great BooksDeep reading, discussion, and written analysis.
Advanced writingResearch, persuasion, and rhetorical skill.
Purposeful prepCollege/career readiness and leadership formation.
High school students working together

College Track

Dual-credit and advanced pathways for older students. Motivated learners can pursue college-level coursework, strengthen academic writing, and accelerate toward degree goals—without sacrificing discipleship and formation.

Dual creditEarn credits while completing requirements.
Academic rigorHigher-level reading, writing, and accountability.
Next-step planningGuidance for college, calling, and vocation.
High school students working together

Trade Programs

Career-ready skills and practical training options. For students called to build and serve with their hands, trade pathways provide structured, credential-minded preparation—honoring workmanship, responsibility, and real-world competence.

Practical trainingSkill development with real outcomes.
Credential-mindedProgress toward recognized readiness.
Honorable vocationWork as worship—excellence and integrity.
Hands-on trade training with tools
Included with tuition Books & curriculum materials are included.

Families avoid hundreds—even thousands—of dollars in additional book and curriculum purchases each year.

The omnibus approach

Integrated Learning at Its Best

Omnibus integrates subjects around a central theme or time period—history, literature, science, geography, and fine arts working together to tell one unified story. Students don’t learn isolated facts; they learn a connected world.

History & Geography
Sciences
Fine Arts
Bible & Theology
Humanities
Mathematics
One Unified
Story of Truth

The Power of the Cyclical Rotation Model

Students within each stage of the Trivium study the same historical period and biblical themes simultaneously, rotating through the full scope of history multiple times—going deeper at each pass.

  • Family Learning Together: siblings share a common frame of reference and mentor one another.
  • Community Connection: meaningful conversations across ages in seminars, events, and trips.
  • Deepening Understanding: facts → analysis → synthesis and wisdom across repeated rotations.
  • Biblical Integration: shared themes create rich family discipleship rhythms.
Explore the technical architecture of Omnibus Chronology, source pairing, worldview analysis, writing, seminar, and synthesis
Curriculum Architecture

Omnibus: The Integrated Spine of the Humanities Program

Omnibus is the structural core that binds history, literature, Bible, theology, geography, composition, rhetoric, philosophy, art, music, and primary-source study into one coordinated academic sequence. Instead of treating subjects as separate silos, each unit asks students to study a civilization, text, event, doctrine, or idea from multiple angles at the same time.

What makes a unit “Omnibus”?

A true Omnibus unit begins with a historical anchor, then layers in the texts, people, ideas, institutions, theological questions, artistic works, scientific developments, and cultural conflicts that belong to that period.

  • Historical frame: date range, geography, civilizations, rulers, wars, migrations, inventions, and major turning points.
  • Core texts: literature, Scripture, biographies, speeches, creeds, confessions, political documents, sermons, myths, epics, plays, essays, and philosophical works.
  • Skill outputs: narration, outlining, annotation, discussion, comparison, argument analysis, essays, presentations, debates, and thesis-driven writing.

Traditional Subject Separation

History, literature, Bible, writing, geography, and art are often taught in separate tracks with separate assignments and little connection between them.

Omnibus Integration

The same historical moment becomes the shared context for reading, writing, discussion, theology, worldview analysis, geography, art, music, and cultural study.

Real-world application

Hands-On Learning
That Leaves the Screen

Learning is not confined to the screen. Students touch, create, experience—and apply truth through projects, labs, writing, presentations, service, and optional travel experiences.

Hands-on learning

Students engage in:

• Science labs at home (scientific method + observation)
• Creative projects (timelines, models, presentations, art)
• Writing assignments (essays, stories, research, persuasion)
• Oral presentations (speeches, defenses, virtual delivery)
• Service projects (faith in action)
• Optional field trips (national & international)

National & International Field Trip Opportunities (Click to Read More)

AFA organizes educational travel experiences that bring history, literature, science, and culture to life— visiting significant historical sites, cultural landmarks, and places of biblical and classical importance. These trips are optional but highly encouraged, creating friendships and unforgettable learning moments.

Global community learning

Virtual Socratic Seminars,
Salons, & Debates

Socratic dialogue is central to classical education. Students gather virtually with peers around the nation and globe to discuss books, wrestle with ideas, and practice respectful, rigorous conversation.

Not lectures—collaborative exploration of truth.

In seminars, students defend interpretations, debate arguments, analyze events, explore theology, and consider how discoveries changed history. Beyond seminars, we host salons, global debates, and student presentations.

Students in discussion
Beyond coursework

Educational Clubs
& Academic Competitions

Students pursue passions, build skills, and compete with excellence—supported with coaching, resources, and a community that celebrates disciplined effort.

Debate club

Clubs

Debate, public speaking, robotics/STEM, creative writing, literature, coding, arts, music/worship, service, apologetics, and more.

Academic competitions

Competitions

Science fairs, speech & debate, academic bowls, math competitions, bees, history contests, writing showcases, and more.

Community collaboration

Community & Mentorship

Student-led and faculty-mentored groups that build accountability, courage, creativity, and leadership.

Pathways to the future

College & Career Readiness

We prepare students for whatever calling God has on their lives—equipping them for college, trades, and leadership.

Associate’s Degree Pathway

Through dual enrollment partnerships, dedicated students can earn a full associate’s degree by high school graduation—saving significant time and tuition.

Trades Pathway

For students called to skilled trades, we offer training and industry-recognized certifications—preparing them for a strong, honorable career.

Free College Benefit

As part of the Excelara Network, families who remain for nine or more years may be eligible for a free college education at partner institutions.

TAKE A PEEK AT OUR CURRICULUM

Explore What Your Child Will Learn

Download our scope and sequence to discover the engaging and rigorous academic journey awaiting your child at American Faith Academy.

Download Scope and Sequence
Academic Sources
  1. Bloom, B. S. The 2 Sigma Problem: The Search for Methods of Group Instruction as Effective as One-to-One Tutoring. Educational Researcher. View paper →
  2. University of Notre Dame Sociology Department. Good Soil: A Comparative Study of Alumni from ACCS Schools. Association of Classical Christian Schools. View study →