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. We understand this may be disappointing, especially for families who want to enroll younger children but have older siblings.

If there is sufficient interest for 4th and 5th grades, we will consider adding a "cohort" group that combines grades for older siblings of enrolled TK-3 students. It's important to understand that this group would be part of our community but would function differently than the core 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 attending one of our interest nights.

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.

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

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.

We are currently seeking a head of school for Mountclef.

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.