GET CLASSICALLY EDUCATED
Online Highschool Program (Ages 14-18)
Imagine a space where your imagination has no limits, and your creativity is the key to unlocking endless possibilities. This is your world—a blank canvas ready for your boldest ideas to come to life.
Classical High School Education Beginning at Age 14
The Rhetoric Stage is the final phase of the classical trivium, typically covering high school students (ages 14–18). This stage focuses on helping students communicate ideas persuasively, reason critically, and express themselves with clarity and confidence.
While the Grammar and Dialectic stages build knowledge and reasoning, the Rhetoric Stage is where students learn to use those skills to influence, inspire, and defend ideas effectively-both in writing and in speech.
The Rhetoric Stage turns knowledge and reasoning into effective communication, preparing students for meaningful academic and real-world challenges.
What Students Learn in the Rhetoric Stage
In the rhetoric stage, we focus on developing audience awareness, which helps us analyze and customize our messages for different groups. Recognizing the context, purpose, and occasion of our communication—the “rhetorical situation”—is essential. Whether our goal is to persuade, inform, analyze, or reflect, tailoring our messages accordingly is key. Critical thinking also plays a vital role, allowing us to evaluate the effectiveness of existing discourse and the strategies used. To improve our communication process, we work through the five of the seven Canons of Rhetoric—such as invention, arrangement, style, and delivery—to ensure clarity and impact. Finally, understanding the ethical power of language reminds us to communicate responsibly, aware that our words can influence values and shape perceptions.
01
Exposition
Students engage with a wide range of texts, from classic literature like Shakespeare and Homer to contemporary works such as The Hunger Games and Starship Troopers. They explore character motivations and historical context while developing persuasive essays and learning to defend their beliefs with solid evidence. Through guided discussions, students analyze characters’ choices and practice critical thinking, focusing on organizing their ideas clearly and communicating their reasoning with confidence.
02
Discussion and Debate
Students start exploring the art of argument through structured debates and develop their speech skills with impromptu and informative speeches. This process helps them recognize weak reasoning, strengthen their arguments, and communicate their ideas with clarity and confidence. They learn to present effectively to both peers and adults, while also engaging in constructive criticism, critical leadership, and taking ownership of their learning.
03
Science
Students continue exploring the natural world with a focus on relatable biological sciences. Building on their previous knowledge of ecology, chemistry, and basic biology, they are introduced to topics like anatomy and marine biology. Instead of just memorizing facts, the emphasis is on understanding how they interact with different organisms and living systems. Along with developing skills in writing and presenting formal lab reports, this approach aims to strengthen their scientific thinking and observation skills, fostering curiosity and a deeper understanding of the natural environment.
04
Logic and Reasoning
Students further develop their thinking and comprehension skills by exploring informal and formal logic, along with essential leadership skills. This involves learning to organize their thoughts, reason through challenging topics, listen to different perspectives, and take responsibility for their ideas. They also learn foundational leadership principles, including conflict resolution, and get opportunities to lead discussions on various subjects each week. This hands-on approach promotes ownership, organization, and confidence, helping students overcome fear and prepare for real-world scenarios.
Our program focuses on the core of a classical education.
Families supplement mathematics separately according to their preferred approach.
How the Rhetoric Stage Is Delivered Online
Looking for a flexible, engaging way to boost your skills in speaking, debating, and analyzing texts? How about a way to unlock more freedom as you discover and step into your purpose?
Our online Rhetoric Stage program combines live, small-group classes with up to twelve students, once a week with independent work that fits into your schedule. During our hybrid option, you’ll meet online for 4 hours each week, where you’ll debate ideas, analyze texts, and practice persuasive communication through lively Socratic discussions with peers and your skillfully trained Mentor.
Before your weekly class, you will work on essays, readings from texts and books, and research projects at your own pace. This setup gives you the freedom to balance school, activities, and family while building on discipline, as you cultivate ownership, focus, and important academic habits. You can choose to participate in the hybrid program or follow the Agenda Only Plan, independently of live classes, with clear expectations based on classical rhetoric methods. It’s a great way to develop your voice, learn valuable leadership, debate and critical thinking skills!
A Clear Weekly Rhythm
Is the Rhetoric Stage Right for Your Student?
The Rhetoric Stage serves students ages 14-18, providing clear structure, consistent expectations, and foundational academic training rooted in classical education—while still allowing flexibility to fit family and extra curriculars in life.
Continue Through the Classical Stages
The Grammar stage lays the foundation. Discover how students progress through the Grammar and Dialectic stages.