HIGH SCHOOL

At SCCS, you're not just a student; you're a critical thinker in the making. We empower you to think with reason and embody virtue as we nurture academic excellence and foster a resilient faith in God.

From the desk of Mr. Stevenson, Logic & Rhetoric Principal:

At a recent parent book club meeting, we were discussing how diverse the needs of our kids are. We all want a school that honors the individual needs of our kids. For some parents, SCCS is too rigorous, whereas for others it is not rigorous enough. In light of all this, one parent asked the question: “What is the purpose of an SCCS education?”

I love this question, and I would like to offer one answer. Stratford Caldecott says in his wonderful book, Beauty in the Word, “We have been educating ourselves for doing rather than for being.” An emphasis on doing more than being is a problem because it elevates performance over virtue, and it measures people primarily by what they can (or can’t) do rather than who they are becoming.

If we take Caldecott’s admonition seriously, we could rephrase the question this way: “What kind of a person should our students become when they graduate from SCCS?”

Our Portrait of a Graduate outlines the characteristics we desire in our graduates. We form servant leaders who...Love God, Think with Reason, Speak with Humility & Wisdom, Cherish Beauty, Embody Virtue, and Become Invested Citizens. Can you think of any relationship, job, or scenario where these characteristics wouldn’t be welcome? A student who models these characteristics will also be good at doing a lot of things, but it situates skills within the context of virtue.

How might we accomplish this purpose? Chesterton said “Education is not a subject, and it does not deal in subjects. It is instead a transfer of a way of life.” We are bequeathing a way of life through the books we read, the things we learn, the teachers we hire, the games we play, the songs we sing, and the culture we build. Our Christian faith unifies all of this. This is the purpose of an SCCS education!

In Christ,
Mr. Stevenson

SCCS Rhetoric School (High School) currently consists of 9th to 11th grades, with 12th grade added in the 2025-26 school year.

EDUCATION THAT CULTIVATES CHARACTER

SCCS understands that character and virtue are of paramount importance—it influences every aspect of a person’s life. Teaching with wisdom and virtue in mind (rather than knowledge alone) alters the focus of education to who we become, not simply what we know. Alongside rich academics, we use liturgy, love, and example to cultivate affections. With the Gospel at the center, our students learn stewardship, honor, wisdom, and self-control. Thoughtful, disciplined, inspired minds influence how we live our lives, from how we solve a math problem, to how we understand and love our neighbors.

ACADEMICS FOR CURIOUS MINDS

Our students learn by asking questions, reading original texts, and using logic to reach educated conclusions. We teach our students in a way that aligns with their natural development, encouraging a love of learning that equips them well beyond the classroom. Our curriculum uses history as its organizing principle, beginning with the ancients and progressing forward to the moderns in history, science, literature, art, and music. This time-tested framework results in a more comprehensive understanding of subject matters and the valuable skill of making connections between past events and current information. Rhetoric, the final stage of learning in the classical model, focuses on helping students refine their thinking, with an emphasis on speaking well.

INTENTIONAL STUDENT CULTURE

SCCS House System: Cultivating Community and Leadership

House systems have been around for centuries and have been a staple culture-builder for classical schools. SCCS Houses (teams of students across Upper School grades) create instant community, facilitate student connection, and provide regular opportunities for leadership and mentorship. Each house earns points throughout the year through friendly competitions, academic achievements, and demonstrations of virtue, all aimed at winning the yearly House Cup.

Student Life: Beyond the Desk

Our student experience is more than just rich academics; We form students who are set apart and well-prepared to embody God's goodness, truth, and beauty in all of life.

• Upper School practices weekly chapel together, which includes opportunities for guest speakers, student-led devotionals, and corporate worship.

• Creative field trips offer students a hands-on opportunity to apply their learning and explore the rich resources our city has to offer.

• School-wide events where Rhetoric students participate as leaders, such as music concerts, all-school chapels, theater productions, and more.

In addition to school-wide events, our Rhetoric School students look forward to enrichment opportunities such as a start-of-school Retreat (builds relationships with peers and teachers to strengthen their grow in the academic year), Protocol Night (preparing young men and women to be comfortable in social settings and care for others well) and engaging Capstone Trips crafted to bring their education to life.

Clubs and Sports

Our after-school clubs and sports will continue to expand as our school grows. We currently offer: Speech & Debate, Drama, and Archery Club. We believe in supporting every student's interests, even if it's beyond our current offerings. If SCCS does not offer a particular sport, students may choose to participate with their local public school.

Concurrent Credit

We have recently been approved by Northwest University to offer concurrent credit in those 11th-grade classes that meet the concurrent credit requirements. To meet these requirements, a class must be taught by a teacher with graduate-level training in the subject they teach, teachers must submit their transcripts, and teachers must fill out a course description form that provides Northwest University with the necessary curriculum details. Examples of potential classes include: Bible, History, Biology, and Pre-Calculus

Curriculum guides by grade:

Additional resources

• Classical Christian Education and S.T.E.M.

• What is SCCS seeking in a family partnership?

• Portrait of a Graduate

• Closing the Gap with Financial Aid

 What students are saying:

If you want to know what a school values, ask the students. We recently had the opportunity to ask our 7th through 10th graders: “How have you grown as a result of being at Seattle Classical Christian School?” Their responses blew us away:

“I have learned to talk in a way that people will listen”

“I feel more confident about myself”

“Love for learning”

“Being able to trust myself”

“I feel like a stronger Christian”

“Growing closer to and finding more joy in Jesus”

“Being able to defend my faith”

“Problem solving and being hardworking”

“Seeing the value in asking questions and forming your own opinion”

What parents are saying:

“Academically it’s a healthy challenge but also coming from public school my kids really value this time to examine and gain confidence in their faith, knowing how much they’ll need to be equipped to engage the world and neighbors around them.”

— Pickel Family

“If I had to do it all over again, I would choose to have my kids receive a Classical Christian Education. ”

— Kim T., Current SCCS Donor

“We’ve loved the care and education our boys have had at SCCS... The community of people surrounding them and the focus on character formation as they learn are some of the things we appreciate most at SCCS.”

— Nanfelt Family