Curriculum

Excellence in Education

At RCCS, students the Grammar School consists of grades Kindergarten – 4th while the Logic School is grades 5-8.  Rhetoric School follows in grades 9-12. Students in Grammar School generally stay with one teacher throughout the day while our Logic and Rhetoric students will have various subject-specific teachers.

S.T.E.M. Focus

A defining trait of our education model is that we recognize Math as the foundation of a student's future S.T.E.M. success. We build this foundation with three proven techniques:
- Starting with Pre-Algebra in 7th grade, we extend Math instruction from the traditional one-hour period to two hours. This allows for a traditional math instructional period followed by a second period of Specialized Math Activities, as well as short break times.
- Specialized Math Activities include "board work" sessions where students stand up at a whiteboard and work example problems, both individually and in pairs or groups. The teacher observes this work, makes corrections, answers questions, and asks students to explain their work to the class. This technique has been developed and proven over decades of use at the U.S. Air Force Academy.
- After the traditional instruction period and Specialized Math Activities are completed, the remainder of the Math session (30 minutes desired) is spent with students at their seats, working on their assigned homework, with the teacher available for questions. This is a built in tutor for parents who may not feel equipped to help their aspiring S.T.E.M. student with upper level Math!

This approach is the Marshall Math Model of instruction, and is a unique yet proven method to Classically teach upper level Math. 

Note: Dr. Marshall served as an Assistant Professor of Mathematics at the U.S. Air Force Academy. He graduated with a B.S. from the U.S. Air Force Academy with Honors and a Double Major in Astronautical Engineering & Mathematics. He also holds an M.S. in Applied Mathematics from the University of Washington and a M.S. in Aeronautical Sciences from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. He has taught at the High School, Undergraduate, and Graduate levels including courses in College Algebra, Calculus, and Astronomy since his retirement from the Air Force in 2014.