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. There are five classical schools (Decatur, McDade, Poe, Skinner North and Skinner West). 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
Selective Enrollment Elementary Schools (SEES) application
Entrance exam

Testing

Admission testing is required. All students in grades PreK-3 will be tested. Testing eligibility for students in grades 4-7 will be based on the student's ISAT national percentile rank in reading or total math or, if the student did not take the ISAT, on a different nationally normed, standardized achievement test.

In order to be eligible for testing, students in grades 4-7 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

SEES application - English
SEES application - Spanish