When can I enroll my student(s) at Covenant Classical School for fall 2024-2025?

• If you are a new family or you are a returning family (Pre-K through 6th grade), you can enroll your student(s) beginning on January 1, 2024! To apply, please follow the steps on the Admissions page of the website.

  • Students who enroll before February 1st will receive 20% off of their application fee.

  • Students who enroll before March 15th will receive 10% off of their application fee.

  • The last date for fall 2024 enrollment is May 1st.

When is the next interest meeting?

• The next interest meeting for the 2024-2025 school year will be held on Friday, March 8, from 7:00-8:15pm. You can RSVP to the next interest meeting here.

What grades are being offered in fall of 2024?

• We will offer Pre-K through 5th grade this year, with a longterm goal of adding grades until we are a fully-functioning Pre-K through 12th Grade school. During the 2024-2025 school year, we are planning to have Pre-K, Kindergarten, 1st Grade, 2nd grade, and 4th-6th grade. Depending on the families who join us during the spring, class offerings are subject to change.

How much does it cost?

• Covenant Classical School’s tuition rate is:

  • $1000 per student per year for our Pre-K program (two half days from 8:15 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.)

  • $3000 per student per year for Grammar school (grades K-6)

• In addition to the tuition rates above, each family will pay a $200 application fee per new student, and each family will pay a $100 re-enrollment fee per returning student. Families will also want to budget for school uniforms and books (cost will vary depending on grade). Our Board is committed to remaining solvent and to keeping costs low as we want to make the school accessible to as many families as reasonably possible.

What does a week at Covenant Classical School look like given the fact that it is a collaborative model school?

• Students will attend class for 2 days during the week, and then will remain at home for the other 3 days for in-home instruction. Class days will begin at 8:15 a.m. and end at 3:30 p.m.

• Parents will share the responsibility for educating their children (cf. Ephesians 6:4) with a professional teacher who prepares the lesson plans, provides classroom instruction, organizes take-home assignments, and grades the student’s work.

• This blended model of educating students combines aspects of traditional schooling with homeschooling. The home has been described as the “first and best school of nurture that exists on earth.” This model maintains the integral place that the Christian home has in the formation of children (and parents!) while also providing the academic rigor and excellence that a traditional school can offer.

• For more information about collaborative schooling, click here.

Is Covenant Classical School accredited by the State of South Dakota?

• No, we are not a state accredited school. However, this is an intentional decision. The school will provide “alternative instruction” pursuant to SD CL 13-27-3. This would allow the school to avoid certain mandates and requirements that come from state accreditation that could potentially interfere with parent-directed Christian education. In some ways, this university-model school that combines classroom instruction and parental involvement will be new to our area. Parents will be responsible for filing homeschooling paperwork each year to participate in the school (the school can assist in this process). When the time comes, Covenant Classical School will consider seeking accreditation from the Association of Classical Christian Schools.

What is the school’s stance on masks and vaccines related to C0VID-19?

• An additional benefit of our school’s intentional independence from government (state or federal) money and accreditation standards is that we have more institutional freedom than other schools that may have strings attached. Our school will not require masks or C0VID-19 vaccines for students or teachers at the school. These decisions will be left up to the discretion of each family. We value common sense and find pedagogical value in un-masked learning (i.e., masks detract from the ideal learning environment).

Does the school have a uniform policy?

• Yes. Our development of a uniform policy is driven by a desire to create and promote an environment where dress is not a distraction to the educational process. We believe our uniform policy is God-honoring, family-friendly, and cost-effective. Our uniforms help communicate that our students are on the same team, working toward the same goal of academic excellence. For more information on the uniform policy, refer to the Family & Faculty Handbook on the Admissions page (there is also a picture of students in uniform if you scroll to the bottom of that page).

Who decides what curriculum is taught at the school?

• The core curriculum is chosen by the school (and approved by the Board); however, families can supplement additional material as much and as often as they desire. The initial curriculum maps can be seen under the Academics tab.

How is the school governed and who makes decisions for the school?

• As a nonprofit corporation in the state of South Dakota, the school is governed by a Board of Directors in accordance with the Bylaws of the corporation. The school faculty manages the day-to-day operations of the school, and the Board oversees that the mission and vision of the school are being realized.

What is the ideal student-to-teacher ratio at the school?

• While this ratio may fluctuate from year to year, the goal is to maintain a student-to-teacher ratio below 15:1.

When did Covenant Classical School begin?

• In God’s grace, kindness, and providence, the school opened fall of 2021 with 7 total students in one lower grammar section (K-2) and one upper grammar section (3-5). In year two, we doubled our student body to 14 and added a third class. And in year three, we doubled our student body yet again to 29 and added a fourth class. The Lord has been good to us!

• To learn more about our mission & vision, start by checking out the links on our home page!