Carey Classical Academy

Wonder. Wisdom. Work. Worship.

Launching Fall 2025 in Alexandria, VAClassical / Christian / Collaborative

Sign up for our newsletter to receive updates!

About US

Mission
Carey Classical Academy offers high quality classical Christian education in a collaborative model at a cost financially accessible to as many families as possible.Vision
We partner with parents in forming students who live out their created purpose of loving God and neighbor as discerning thinkers, skilled communicators, courageous leaders, and humble servants.Our Name
William Carey (1761-1834) was a British missionary, Bible translator, teacher, and school founder who devoted his life to the spread of the gospel. Known as the “father of modern missions,” Carey’s life modeled courage, conviction, service, and devotion to Jesus Christ - all qualities we seek to instill in our students.Core ValuesWonder
Learning begins in wonder. The innate curiosity of the young child provides fertile ground for the early seeds of knowledge. However, wonder must not die as the child grows but become a life-long characteristic of all of us - students, teachers, and parents alike - as we marvel at God and His creation. (Psalm 8, Matthew 6:26-30)Wisdom
Academic achievement is not an end in itself but serves the path to cultivating wisdom, the ability to discern truth and apply it to our particular place and time. We demand academic excellence and seek to develop students who are equipped to excel in their future careers. But even more importantly we strive together by the grace of God to shape men and women marked by wisdom. (Proverbs 1:1-7, 3:7 Philippians 4:11-12)Work
Parents, teachers, and administrators co-labor in the calling of educating young minds. Our students join in that work as learners. Together we aim to glorify God in the good works He has prepared for us to do together. While work is a necessity and at times painful in a sinful world, work is itself not a curse but rather a gift from God that He intends for our good and the service of others. This reality informs the way we approach all work, paid and unpaid, private and public. (Exodus 20:8-11, Ephesians 2:8-10, Mark 10:45, 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12)Worship
Worshipping God by glorifying and enjoying Him is the right response to learning and the end for which we are created. We begin each school day with a time of worship, weaving it deeply into our identity. As Christian teachers and parents, worship extends beyond this formal time as we seek to model lives submitted to the lordship of Christ and devoted to the advancement of His kingdom. (Psalm 22:27, Psalm 29:2, John 4:23-24, Hebrews 12:28, Revelation 22:3)Our StoryWe're Micah and Joanna Walters, second generation homeschoolers and parents of five children ages 11-2. Having spent most of our lives in the homeschool community, we have experienced first-hand the benefits and challenges of homeschooling both as students and now as parents. We have also found great joy and help from learning in community with other like-minded families. Doing so fosters friendships among students and parents alike, allows parents to utilize their own strengths and tap into the giftings of others, and offers structure and accountability to stay consistent.The decision to launch Carey Classical Academy is the result of much prayer, counsel, and research as we seek to provide a rich education for our own children and to make excellent, Christ-centered classical education accessible to more families in our community.

EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY

We believe education begins in a posture of wonder and pursues wisdom, work, and worship.We believe education is primarily about formation, not self-expression.We believe education should shape the student’s affections to recognize and love that which is good, true, and beautiful.We believe education orients a young person to understand his or her identity and telos (purpose).We believe education is not an insular activity but one that should produce service to others.

Our approach to education is built on the belief that Jesus Christ stands at the beginning and end of education. Jesus is the Word incarnate, the One by whom all things exist and in whom all things hold together. (Colossians 1:15-17) True education begins with recognizing Christ as the Lord of all—over every discipline, every subject, and every aspect of life. It progresses in humble submission to His authority, prayerfully pointing the student toward a deeper knowledge of and delight in God. Knowing the One by whom and for whom we exist is the ultimate end of education.Our educational philosophy is deeply grounded in the classical tradition with its recognition that education should cultivate the whole person—mind, body, and soul—with the aim of shaping the affections to love the good, the true, and the beautiful. We strive towards this end by spreading a rich feast of knowledge, equipping students to engage thoughtfully with ideas, discern truth from error, and cultivate winsome, persuasive communication skills.In our pedagogy we draw from the work of British educator Charlotte Mason who developed an educational philosophy that built on the principles of classical education and set forth pedagogical practices designed to make a rich education available to all. Many of these time-tested methods hold true in the 21st century and guide the way we structure lessons and the school day. These include the careful selection of living books, the practice of regular narration, an emphasis on extensive outdoor time, and the intentional formation of virtuous habits.

Sign up for our newsletter to receive updates!

OUR PROGRAM

Located in Alexandria, VA, Carey Classical Academy embraces a collaborative approach to education that combines the flexibility of homeschooling with the structure, support, and community provided in classrooms directed by experienced teachers. Students will meet on campus on Mondays and Wednesdays and complete assigned work at home on the remaining three days.For our inaugural year we will operate as a tuition-free, co-op style program with one parent required to serve regularly in a classroom or administrative role.Beginning in the 2026-2027 school year we intend to offer a full drop-off program with reasonable tuition rates. This year we plan to offer Kindergarten through 6th grade with the goal of adding one grade each year.

Contact us to learn more about enrollment and teaching opportunities for Fall 2025 or beyond!

Contact Us

Reach out to us here or email [email protected].

Give

Thank you for supporting our mission to expand access to classical Christian collaborative education! Here are three ways you can partner with us.

1. Pray - Unless the Lord blesses this mission, our efforts will be in vain (Ps. 127:1). Pray for the Lord to guide this educational endeavor and use it for His kingdom purposes.

• Donate

2. Donate We are seeking to raise $15,000 for start-up costs including:

• Donate

Raising these funds will position us to launch Carey Classical Academy on a stable financial footing while maintaining low tuition costs.

3. Spread the Word - Know someone who would be a great fit as a parent, teacher, or administrator? We would love to connect! Contact Joanna Walters at [email protected].