Middle & High School

In accordance with the philosophy of Classical Education, by sixth grade a child’s mind begins to think more analytically.  A student is ready for the Logic Stage when the capacity for abstract thought begins to mature. During these years, the student begins algebra and applies logic to all academic subjects. The logic of writing, for example, includes paragraph construction and learning to support a thesis; the logic of reading involves the criticism and analysis of texts, not simple absorption of information; the logic of history demands that the student find out why a war was fought, rather than simply reading its story; the logic of science requires that the child learn the scientific method.

In High School, students begin the final phase of a classical education, the “Rhetoric Stage,” which builds on the first two stages.  At this point, the high school student learns to write and speak with force and originality. The student of rhetoric applies the rules of logic learned in middle school to the foundational information learned in the early grades and to express his/her conclusions in clear, forceful, elegant language.

The Rhetoric Stage at Noblesse also includes the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program (beginning in August 2013) that prepares students for effective participation in a rapidly evolving and increasingly global society (which demands strong problem-solving skills), and is also recognized and respected by the world’s leading universities.