Main Line Classical Academy

MLCA is truly one of a kind on the Main Line. Having grown up here and being very familiar with the area schools, we eagerly chose MLCA because of its deep dedication to a robust education. The focus on ensuring every item on the syllabus is actually of value leads to children who revel in learning and builds a foundation for deep understanding at a young age. Imagine your child coming home chatting about The Epic of Gilgamesh, or dropping allusions to Greek mythology in everyday conversation (and that’s three months into kindergarten). At the same time, MLCA focuses on producing well-rounded people through art classes, outdoor skills, robust music instruction, and even morality/philosophy (again, imagine your 5yo discussing the comparative benefits of choosing a life of virtue vs a life of pleasure). MLCA produces happy, genuine, playful kids, who also love to learn and challenge themselves. It truly feels like the teachers and entire school community are partners in our children’s education. We are so grateful for this school! Hands down the Main Line’s best-kept secret.

As an expat family from Europe, we were hoping to find a school delivering a content-rich, classical education that would help our children appreciate the culture and history we return to each year. As we visited schools, we couldn’t help but notice how easy it is for academics, especially the classics and history, to take a back seat in favor of extracurriculars or sports.
We have found far more than we were hoping for at MLCA. The curriculum is unparalleled in its rigor and richness, delivered in an age-appropriate way in a small-class setting. There is real academic substance and a clear focus on content, with equal emphasis on math, the humanities, and music (including one-on-one instruction). Our third grader’s knowledge of ancient history, math, and French has impressed more than one university professor we know in those fields.
At the same time, the atmosphere is wholesome and nurturing: expectations are high, but there is no unhealthy competition, and the children stay grounded, kind, and collaborative. Advanced math and reading the classics are simply a natural part of their day, right alongside lots of outdoor, old-school fun.
Importantly, “classical” at MLCA does not mean stiffness or rigidity in viewpoints. The community includes families with different backgrounds and perspectives who are united by a shared belief in deep learning and cultural literacy.
Finding MLCA has been a blessing for our family, and we look forward to many years to come.

My son is very happy at this school. We moved him as a transfer student in March, at the end of his second grade year, and he just now began his fourth grade year. In this time at Main Line Classical Academy, he has already read works by Oscar Wilde, Mark Twain, Howard Pyle, among many other classic authors and poets. The curricula and teaching styles of all the other subjects are equally impressive. MLCA offers a nurturing and challenging education for young intellectuals.

Unparalleled rich and academic learning. There is no wasting time on trivial pursuits at this school except if it is not to play a stimulating and fun math game, identify birds in the woods at recess, play out the battle of Sparta on the playground and get lost in great works of poetry. Yes, in Kindergarten ! This is a school for young curious minds. It is a tight knit community of thoughtful parents and educators. Our family has been there for 6 years and our children have benefitted enormously.

We are a new family in Main Line Classical Academy. We transferred our son from a top 5 Maryland private school for the exclusivity of MLCA. The former school had a well-known name, national ranking, huge facilities, and emerald sports fields. What was missing for us, and what we ultimately discovered at MLCA, was the individual approach to our child. Main Line Classical Academy offers a rigid curriculum that, quite frankly, is stellar, and we haven’t seen anything like that at the top private schools. We had a fantastic opportunity to meet all his teachers during the Back-to-School event, and to say that we were impressed is to say nothing. Every class is designed to deliver rather challenging material in a child-friendly, age-appropriate manner. For example, in the 1st-grade class, students studied maps, talked about Pelasgians, learned the letters of the Greek alphabet, and covered and read a couple of myths, and they did all this only in a few weeks of school. More to say, our child comes back home and talks about his school day. Another component is that the school is very child centric. They genuinely care about their students. Our son is all boy so he likes to have fun and move around. The school day offers plenty of recess opportunities that he loves. The school doesn’t provide sports, but the PE class is excellent!