The LaGrange Academy Advantage

We realize that an education at an independent school requires a considerable financial commitment.  Is it worth the cost?  We believe that it is, and that LaGrange Academy is innovative and different from your child’s other educational options.

 
Here’s how LaGrange Academy is different...

In Lower School:

• Mathematics:  Our Saxon Mathematics Curriculum gives students an early advantage in mathematics, often placing them a year ahead of counterparts at other schools.
• Reading and Writing:  All lower school students receive intensive reading and writing instruction, assuring that all students are performing at grade level; most read and write above grade level.
• Spanish:  At LaGrange Academy, all lower school students receive weekly Spanish instruction so that they are familiar with elementary vocabulary, grammar and conversation by the time they enter middle school.
• Fine Arts:  Art and Music are integral parts of the lower school curriculum, and all lower school students receive Art and Music instruction two to three times weekly.  In addition, music theory is taught once a week. We have been a STAR school for the past three years!
• Applied Learning:  All lower school students take frequent field trips to highlight their class work.  The 5th grade, for example, takes an annual trip to Space Camp.  Students also receive weekly computer instruction.

In Middle School:

• Mathematics:  Saxon Math guides all students to Pre-Algebra by 7th grade; Algebra I by 8th grade, placing them a year ahead of students at other schools.
• Writing:  All middle school students begin research writing in 6th grade (with a 3-5 page, 4 source paper), and continue it to 8th grade (8-10 pages, 7 sources).  Writing is cross-curricular, from science to history.  All middle school students average one graded writing assignment a week.
• Spanish:  All middle school students are required to take Spanish daily, and most students are ready for Spanish II by 9th grade.
• Fine Arts:  All middle school students take music (including percussion and music theory) through 8th grade, enroll in Art each year, and have the opportunity to try out for Upper School dramatic productions as well as literary. 
• Athletics:  Aside from junior varsity teams in baseball, softball, soccer and basketball, talented 8th graders may be eligible to play varsity sports.  Middle school students may also play varsity golf and tennis.
• Results:  Our middle school students begin Upper School as confident young men and women.  Last year, as in past years, 50% of 7th graders qualified for the Duke TIP program. 

In Upper School:

• Mathematics:  Four years are required for graduation, and since most of our students take Geometry in ninth grade, many are eligible to take Calculus or AP Calculus as seniors.
• Science:  With 9th grade Biology, and (required) 10th grade Chemistry, students are enabled to take advanced work as upperclassmen, like our Forensics class (the only one in the area), or AP Chemistry.  The Biology class takes an annual marine biology trip to Skidaway Island.  Chemistry labs require a five week “Qualitative Analysis” program requiring students to analyze ionic solutions.  Most labs classes require lab practicals that tests just as college labs do.
• Language Arts: 

  High school students (even in their ninth and tenth grade years) learn and implement college concepts like literary criticism and in-depth annotating of texts.  In addition to the typical literary canon, they read college-level literature.  Also, juniors write an extensive literature research paper, while seniors spend several months conducting and synthesizing research for a multi-genre research project. 

• Foreign Language:  Two consecutive years are required for graduation, either in Spanish or in . . .
• Latin:  LaGrange Academy is the only school, public or private, in our four county region to offer Latin.  Moreover, one year of Latin is required for graduation, giving students rigor in grammar and writing.
• Athletics:  85% of our students participate in championship-level, competitive athletics.  All will play.
• College prep:  48% of students take Advanced Placement (AP) classes; Juniors may be eligible to take one class per semester at LaGrange College; 100% of our graduates are accepted to college.
• Fine Arts:  Drama, Art & Music Theory, Composition(Appreciation, History) Art History