How Get Classically Educated Compares: An Online Classical Homeschool Program, Side by Side
Choosing an online classical homeschool program is hard, because most of them sound alike. Here is exactly what Get Classically Educated is, who it fits, what it costs, and the questions to ask any program before you enroll. We would rather you pick the right fit than the fastest yes.
What GCE is in one paragraph
Get Classically Educated (GCE) is an online classical homeschool program for ages 8 to 18 (grades 3 to 12), built on the Trivium: Grammar, Dialectic and Rhetoric. Your child learns through discussion, either at home with you using our weekly agenda, or live with a mentor in a small online class. The mentor leads the conversation. You stay the parent and the teacher. GCE is based in Florida and serves families nationwide.
GCE at a glance
| Detail | Independent Scholar Agenda + live parent support | Agenda + live classes | Agenda + live classes + Honors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yearly cost | $1,377 | $1,577 | $2,227 to $2,327 |
| How it works | 30 to 32 week classical agenda, done at home with you, with an assigned mentor you can live chat with all year long | The same agenda, plus weekly live mentor-led discussion for your child | Live classes, plus a second live day |
| Ages | 8 to 18 | 8 to 18 | Ages 10 and up |
| Live classes | Optional. Not required | Weekly, about 4 hours of mentor-led time | Two live days a week |
| Class size | n/a | Up to 12 students per class | Up to 12 students per class |
| Books | About $50 to $400 a year, billed separately | Same | Same |
Six-month payment plans are available at checkout for private-pay families. There are no campus fees or co-op dues. Live classes are optional, so you can start with the at-home agenda and add them later. Programs start at $1,377 a year. Scholarships and education funds are accepted: Step Up for Students in Florida, and ClassWallet in Arkansas and Arizona. What a fund covers depends on the program. Some pay for the agenda, and some also pay for live classes. Refunds are available within 30 days of purchase.
Classical Homeschooling on Your Own vs. an Online Classical Program
| Detail | On your own | With GCE |
|---|---|---|
| Planning | You research the method, pick the books and plan every week | A 30 to 32 week classical agenda is planned for you |
| Discussion | Your child talks ideas through with you | Optional live classes with same-age peers, up to 12 per class, led by a mentor |
| When you have questions | You figure it out on your own | An assigned mentor you can live chat with all year long |
| Grading and records | You grade and keep the records | You still grade, and GCE offers tools that can help you create a transcript and report cards |
| Who is in charge | You | Still you |
| Cost | Books, plus a lot of your time | Programs start at $1,377 a year, plus books |
Who it fits
- Families who want a classical education built on discussion and writing, not worksheets and memorized answers
- Parents who want to stay in charge of their child’s education, with a mentor and a plan to lean on
- Kids who need to talk ideas through, from the Grammar years through high school
Who it may not fit
- Families who want teachers to grade and run the whole day. At GCE, mentors guide the discussion and introduce new topics, and parents stay in charge of the grading
- Families who want math taught inside the live class. Math is not part of the live week; families add their own
- Families who want an accredited school. GCE is not an accrediting body (see our Diplomas and Accreditation page for how parent-issued diplomas and transcripts work)
Where we stand on faith
We’re a Christian family, and we like to be upfront about that. Our faith shapes how we run GCE. You don’t need to share our faith to feel at home here. Our mentors guide real conversations, and every student’s questions are welcome. Our goal is a classical education built on great books, real discussion, and learning to think well. Here is what that looks like:
- Our 4 Hours to Freedom mentors (our full-year program) are carefully chosen by us, and they share our Christian faith.
- Our enrichment classes are mostly led by Christian mentors, though it is not required.
- Through 10th grade, Bible is not a separate subject.
- In high school, we discuss science from a creation-based view.
- Our outright biblical classes are in 11th and 12th grade.
- Faith is welcome in our classes, and while we are not a Bible school, our students talk about Christian ideas openly, right alongside the great books, history and science.
Seven questions to ask any online classical program
- How many students are in a live class, and who leads it?
- How many hours a week is live, and how many are independent?
- What does it cost per year, including books and fees?
- Is math included, or do I add it?
- Who grades the work, the program or me?
- Is it accredited, and does that matter for my child’s plans?
- What is the faith stance, and what do I do if it isn’t a match?
Questions parents ask
- What ages does GCE serve?
- Ages 8 to 18. Grammar is ages 8 to 11, Dialectic is 12 to 13, and Rhetoric is 14 to 18.
- How big are the live classes?
- Our goal is 6 to 10 students per mentor, with a maximum of 12.
- How much does GCE cost?
- Independent Scholar (the agenda with live parent support) is $1,377 a year, the agenda plus live classes is $1,577, and the agenda plus live classes plus Honors is $2,227 to $2,327. Books are extra.
- Do you accept scholarships?
- Yes. We accept Step Up for Students in Florida, and ClassWallet in Arkansas and Arizona. What a fund covers depends on the program. Some pay for the agenda, and some also pay for live classes.
- What is your refund policy?
- Refunds are available within 30 days of purchase.
- Are live classes required?
- No. Live classes are optional, and they are capped at 12 students.
- Is an online classical program better than homeschooling on my own?
- It depends on how much planning and support you want. On your own, you plan every week and you’re your child’s only discussion partner. With GCE, the agenda is planned for you, a mentor is there to answer your questions all year, and live classes are optional. Either way, you stay in charge.
- Can I try a class first?
- Yes. You can try a live class or request a free sample week.
- Does GCE give a diploma?
- Parents issue the diploma and transcript, which colleges accept. GCE offers tools that can help you create a transcript and report cards.