High School
In classical education, the Rhetoric stage is the third and final phase of the Trivium. Each stage corresponds to a developmental level in a student’s intellectual growth, and the rhetoric stage typically coincides with the high school years of 9th-12th grades.
Having completed the grammar stage, where the emphasis is on memorization, facts, and rules, and the logic stage, which focuses on critical thinking and sound reasoning, the rhetoric stage is where students learn to reflect back what they have learned through written and oratory skills. Effective communication is honed during this time in a student’s educational journey.
Throughout the rhetoric stage, students engage in activities such as formal debates, speech and rhetoric classes, and mock trials. Classical texts are studied and discussed, with the goal of cultivating persuasive expression. At Evangel, we want to graduate students who not only possess a deep understanding of the liberal arts, but also have public speaking skills to articulate and defend their ideas with clarity.
Although we present students with a high-level, time-tested classical curriculum, we embrace “vigor over rigor.” We don’t overwork students. The curriculum is full of vigor, but not rigorous to the point of overloading students and creating work-addicted adults. We want our high school students to be well-rounded people who thrive inside and outside the classroom.
Our ultimate goal at Evangel is for high school students to function as effective communicators and leaders, especially in regard to defending their faith. Students learn to persuade in the truth, with eloquence and conviction. We want students to leave Evangel as winsome representatives of the Gospel to a world that needs to hear of the saving grace of Jesus Christ.
Creating a life-giving sense of community is an important value at Evangel. High school students need to feel connected and supported by both faculty members and their peers. To this end, we create relationship-building opportunities through our House system, which combines students across grades for fellowship and service opportunities. Traditional high school social experiences such as dances, homecoming traditions, and a spring junior-senior banquet fill the school calendar each year.
High school at Evangel is marked by personalized attention from faculty members, a wide range of varied opportunities, shepherding of both the head and the heart, and guidance and encouragement for next steps after graduation.
High School Frequently Asked Questions
What our Families Say…
“Evangel Christian Academy has been the perfect fit for our family. The strong Biblical foundation continually woven into the teaching, curriculum, and interactions perfectly compliments the values we teach our boys at home. It has been a pleasure to journey hand-in-hand with this special school as our boys develop in mind, body, soul, and spirit..”
– The Mayotte Family