We're currently in advanced talks about our Year One location, with negotiations for our long-term home to follow.

We are targeting classes of 16 children.

We're currently enrolling a single class in each grade TK-3 with the intention of adding one grade per year.

We want to serve the largest number of students we can responsibly handle. As a startup, we need to establish boundaries that make sense for our capacity.

A combined 4th-5th grade cohort is offered for older siblings of Founding Families with enrolled TK-3 students. This group is a full part of our community but functions differently than our founding grades.

We will combine grades with the hopes of increasing enrollment and separating them again in future years.

In our first year, we will create a wait list. Starting small is in our DNA.

Our vision is to build three K-8 campuses that feed into a single classical high school. A network of this scale has the potential to transform communities and create lasting impact on student lives. The journey will require exceptional blessing and provision.

Classical Education is a time-tested model, with roots going back 2,500 years. It was founded by the Greeks and later transformed by Christians who recognized its value in raising wise, virtuous image-bearers.

Education has been the Western world's greatest open-source project. The hard-won insights of millennia remain available to us today just as they did to our grandparents' generation. This is our inheritance. All we need to do is claim it.

Classical education focuses on two key principles:

1. Who a student becomes is more important than what a student knows. This is "virtue" formation—cultivating prudence (wisdom in action), fortitude (courage in difficulty), temperance (discipline in desire), and justice (fairness in relationship). These qualities have remained constant for 2,500 years.
2. A school must teach students how to learn, not merely what. The Grammar → Logic → Rhetoric progression has defined education for centuries because it is the roadmap for learning anything. These are not merely subjects; they are the tools of learning. Master the building blocks → understand their relationship → apply the knowledge.

All of this is done in light of Jesus, our creator and savior, who transforms us.

While fragments of classical education exist in our modern system, the end goal is vastly different from progressive education, which trains students simply to pass tests and get a job.

We have educators on our team with decades of experience teaching and developing curriculum for other classical schools. They are creating a robust scope and sequence tailored to the goals and growth of our students, which we will share once finalized.

To get a sense of what a classical curriculum looks like, we suggest exploring the following schools:

Trinity Classical Academy: trinityclassicalacademy.com

The Cambridge School: cambridgeclassical.org

We care deeply about each child's success and that means placing them in the right environment with the right tools for them to thrive. At this time, we do not have the specialized staff or programs in place to support students with identified special learning or behavioral needs.

While we do not have a specific gifted program, the classical model is naturally more challenging and our small class sizes mean teachers can differentiate for students who are ready for additional depth or mastery. If needed, we can help you explore whether The Mountclef School would be the best environment for your child.

We are a full-time, in-person school.

Parents play an essential and powerful role in their child's education. A home that encourages learning and discipleship is one of the most powerful tools in a child's formation. We also recognize that not every family has the capacity or circumstances for a hybrid program. At Mountclef, we want to help bridge that gap. We intentionally provide opportunities of involvement and growth so every parent feels equipped to walk alongside their children in their educational journey. It is our joy to partner with families as we grow together in understanding God's magnificent creation and our rich Christian faith.

That said, we're continually listening to families and may consider flexible models in the future as our school grows.

Our model is different. We don't fund students through tuition; we fund classes through partnership. Learn more about our Concentric Support model by connecting with us.

We're trying something different because we believe God wants to do something different.

Some families recognize the challenges of the public school system and have the means to provide something better for their children. Others see the same challenges but lack the resources. When all families, along with the greater community, join together to make education possible, it binds us together.

Current estimates for a single class (appx. 16 students) are $225,000. This includes all direct classroom costs (teachers, materials, etc.) as well as a per-class portion of all other school costs (administrative, facility, etc.).

We are missional with intention.

All we do is done in order to spread the good news of the gospel. But to be a place that shines his light, we must have a culture that is firm in the faith, full of humility and generosity of spirit. It is of great importance that strong, faith-filled Christians, aligned with the mission for our community, make up the core of our families.

A few spaces are still available for the 2026-27 school year. Start your application here.

If you'd like to learn more before applying, connect with us and we'll be glad to answer your questions.

Our target student-to-teacher ratio is 1:16.

Lucas Weston, M.A. is our founding Head of School. Lucas brings a long history in ministry and education in the greater Conejo Valley community, having served as a student ministry director, worship director, humanities and English teacher, and most recently as Dean of Students at Oaks Christian Middle School. He has walked alongside the Mountclef team from the very beginning, offering counsel, experience, and prayer at every step.

Mountclef's board includes longtime Conejo Valley residents Don & Brea Thompson, along with Dr. Jessica Hooten Wilson and Jonathon Wilson.

Don works in the film industry as a producer and technical advisor and was introduced to classical education as a member of the 4th graduating class of Torrey Honors College at Biola University.

Brea worked in the fashion industry managing product development for global brands and now teaches their three children.

Jessica is a sought-after lecturer, author and the Fletcher Jones Chair of Great Books at Pepperdine University.

Jonathon, along with his wife Jessica, co-founded the Sager Classical Academy prior to their move to the West Coast. He holds a degree in Engineering.

Lucas Weston, M.A. — Head of School

Lucas is our founding Head of School. A longtime member of the greater Conejo Valley community, he brings a rich history in ministry and education, having served as a student ministry director, worship director, humanities and English teacher, and most recently as Dean of Students at Oaks Christian Middle School. Served is the word we choose intentionally, because it's how Lucas works and how he lives—with a gentle heart and a steady desire to point young people toward the love, power, and glory of Christ.

Lucas walked alongside the Mountclef team from the very beginning of this endeavor, offering counsel, experience, guidance, and prayer at every step, before sensing a clear calling to join the adventure full-time. We're confident he will leave a lasting mark on the Mountclef community—and on this beautiful valley as well.

Tiffany Dixon — TK-K

For the past four years, Tiffany taught at Bethany Christian School, a community that has deeply shaped her heart for early childhood education. Prior to Bethany, Tiffany worked in a variety of schools as an instructional aide, including Parnassus Academy, a classical school in Palos Verdes. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Theatre Arts from Butler University and studied Early Childhood Education through El Camino College.

Tiffany loves working with TK/K students because these years are filled with wonder, discovery, and joyful learning. She believes children learn best when they are encouraged to explore, ask questions, create, and delight in the world around them. She strives to create a warm, nurturing classroom where students feel known, loved, and excited to learn each day.

Tiffany is a wife and mom of two amazing children, ages 11 and 10. She loves collecting family memories at the beach and on hikes as well as cheering her family on in whatever sport is in season, mainly soccer. She is a member of Newbury Park First Christian and enjoys cooking, exercising, and listening to podcasts.

Catherine Davis, M.A. — 1st-3rd

Catherine comes from a rich background in classical education and has a deep desire to cultivate well-formed, critical-thinking, and virtuous students. Before joining The Mountclef School, she earned her bachelor's degree in Philosophy with a minor in Great Books from Pepperdine University and her master's degree in Dispute Resolution from the Straus Institute at the Pepperdine Caruso School of Law.

Over the years, she has worked with children in a variety of educational settings, including classrooms and after-school enrichment programs. She looks forward to partnering with families as students learn and grow throughout the year.

Outside the classroom, Catherine enjoys reading, ice skating, hiking, and crafting the perfect cup of coffee.

TK–K: 8:15 am–1:00 pm

1st–3rd: 8:15 am–2:45 pm

It is our hope to offer before and/or after school care to families who need it. However, logistics still need to be considered. If this service is a priority for your family, we welcome your feedback as we assess and plan.

The effects of screens on children are well-studied. While there may be some marginal benefit toward technological familiarity, the detrimental effects are far more significant. We will publish a formal policy on this in coming weeks.

No. Members of our board are regularly attending members of Anthem Church. The Mountclef School is operarted by The Altus Institute, a recognized 501(c)(3).

The Spreading Hope Network is a ministry of Hope Academy in Minneapolis—a school with a long track record of success operating almost exclusively through donor funds. The Spreading Hope Network was created to help school founders navigate the challenges of creating donor funded schools.

The SCL is an organization dedicated to fostering human flourishing through the advancement of classical Christian education. They provide guidance to school leaders and accreditation services.