Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What are school hours?
What do the Monday / Wednesday classes look like?
The pace and format of the on-campus classroom time is tailored to each grade level. Class time combines listening with movement and activities to keep students engaged and learning. Classroom activities can include the following: direct instruction from the teacher, discussing lessons or recent reading, making student presentations, students working example problems on the whiteboard, singing songs, reading groups, working on projects, repeating chants and mnemonics, students reciting their memory work, participating in a question-and-answer time, praying, writing, taking tests and assessments, playing learning games, working with math manipulative pieces, and completing assignments under the guidance of the teacher.
Other things that happen on school days influence the community we are trying to build. This may look different on different days, but if you visited KCA you might see baby chicks in a classroom, or Elvis up on stage as we study the 1950’s. It could mean an Egyptian Feast with crawl-though tunnels or mummified chickens, a Roaring Twenties Thanksgiving Feast, a Renaissance art studio, or a Teddy Roosevelt museum. It could be a guest speaker lecturing on the Cold War, or a group of high school students having a Fireman’s Breakfast in support of the book they just finished.
The most important thing to note is that we are building a community. This is something that is important to us at KCA – we are very intentionally trying to create a learning community, focused around a Christian world view, and the study of the classics. A learning community is a bit more than a school. We are aiming to be a place where families help each other to educate and train their kids, where relationship-building is encouraged, where learning is more cooperative than competitive, and where we build more than just knowledge - we build community, and have fun together.
Our staff works very hard to put together lesson plans that are challenging, and meaningful, and creative in ways that allow the students to experience these subjects with all of their senses. This passionate team that is our staff is committed to helping your students learn, and to help build community.
Why is KCA's curriculum organized the way it is?
KCA curriculum is organized into 4 historical segments:
- Year 1: Ancient World through the fall of Rome
- Year 2: Middle Ages through the New World
- Year 3: American Colonies through the Civil War
- Year 4: Civil War to present
Does KCA provide transcripts?
Do you give report cards?
On Tuesday/Thursday/Friday, (the satellite days) are students working to complete assignments that are given by the KCA teachers? Or are they doing things assigned by their parents?
What is the role of the parent when teaching at home?
What is the typical class size?
Our average classroom size is between 12 and 14 students.
What is the amount of time spent at home on KCA assignments?
Kindergarten: 1.5 to 3.0 hours per satellite day
Lower Grammar B: 2.5 to 4.0 hours per satellite day
Lower Grammar A: 3.0 to 4.5 hours per satellite day
Middle Grammar B: 3.5 to to 5.0 hours per satellite day
Middle Grammar A: 4.0 to 5.0 hours per satellite day
Upper Grammar B and Upper Grammar A: 4.0 to 6.0 hours per satellite day
Dialectic and Rhetoric students: 6.0 or more hours per satellite day
It is important to remember that there is no evening homework assigned. Most families complete the at-home assignments during the daytime, eliminating late nights and opening up time for families to spend time together.
However, exactly when a student completes the assignments is up to the family. If a family has other commitments during the daytime hours of a satellite day, then they may choose to work around these time frames. Each assignment does have a due date on which the student will turn in the assignment at KCA to the teacher who assigned the work.
Does each grade have one teacher that teaches all subjects or do the kids rotate between teachers?
All KCA teachers receive instruction in classical teaching methods, both during the summer and during the school year. The majority of our teachers come to KCA with some experience in Classical instruction, content, and methods. All teachers must agree with the KCA Statement of Faith and the KCA Core Values and Philosophy of Education.
Are the teachers certified teachers and/or have teaching degrees?
For the older kids, how do you deal with various levels of learning?
Do special activities/field trips take place on other days of the week?
Which grades have recess? Is there PE or are there other electives?
What about lunch and snack time?
Is there an administrative team or school board that makes decisions for the school?
Katy Classical Academy is a 501c3 non-profit corporation formed under the laws of the State of Texas. Our Board of Directors consists of seven board-elected members who meet quarterly and advise KCA. The overall responsibility of the board is to advance the school according to our statement of faith, the school’s by-laws, and its stated objectives and mission.
The Director and Administrator are appointed by the Board to be the chief administrators of the school. The director is responsible for overseeing all of the programming and operations of the school and ensuring that those activities function in accordance with the school’s mission and board policies.
Are books included as part of the tuition?
What is the cost of books?
Why does KCA charge a supply fee, and how is it used?
Supply fees are used for each and every hands-on project that KCA completes. This would include any resource that a teacher would need to gather, including books or instruction manuals, craft or art supplies, food or decor. This fee also goes to supplies for the events we schedule, such as the Egyptian Museum (Year 1), the Frankfurt Book Fair (Year 2) or the Teddy Roosevelt Museum (Year 4). We also use the supply fees to bring meaningful experiences or traveling field trips to the campus. A few recent examples include The Houston Museum of Natural Science Traveling Dome Planetarium, miniature horse traveling rides with chariots, or the school-wide shark dissections.
KCA also uses supply fees for monthly or unit assemblies, and end of the year celebration or assemblies. If we have glow sticks to shine a light on hunger or corn dogs to encourage adventure, it is paid for with the supply fee.
How is on-campus discipline implemented?
As a general rule, classroom actions which evidence disrespect, lack of courtesy, general disturbance, abuse of permission, incomplete homework, lateness and other offenses shall be handled by the teacher. Situations that the teacher evaluates as chronic, flagrant, or otherwise worthy of special handling will be referred to the Director or the Administrator. These situations will be dealt with according to the guidelines outlined in the KCA Family Handbook.
Students are expected to demonstrate the following behaviors and characteristics:
Integrity in the keeping of one’s word, speaking the truth, doing one’s own work, carrying out responsibility (doing assignments adequately and on time) and respecting authority.
Respect for self, Katy Classical Academy and its staff and students, and the property of others.
Courtesy extended in all relationships – student to student or student to teacher/staff.
Stewardship of the property, supplies, and equipment of Katy Classical Academy, as well as Trinity Baptist Church.
Preparation for class and readiness to learn.
Reconciliation through Biblical and appropriate repentance and forgiveness when offenses have been committed or received.