Thank you for your interest in Providence Classical School! It would be my pleasure to show you a classical & Christian education in action at Houston’s oldest and largest classical school.
At the time my husband and I began contemplating educational choices for our three children, we didn’t know much, but we did know that we wanted the richest and most excellent education possible for them. As we began to explore options, we learned about classical and Christian education, and we knew this was the answer for our family. A Christ-centered education that would equip our children to think for themselves; to become the whole human beings that God intended them to be; and to be leaders in their families, churches, and communities – this was all we had been seeking and more!
If you would like to see this education in action, please come to visit our campus! You will find our Grammar School students (grades PK through 6) immersed in the richness of history and literature and learning the foundational facts of math, science, English grammar, and Latin. Our School of Logic students (grades 7 and 8) will be learning to formulate a logical, well-reasoned argument and solving lots of problems in their various classes. And the School of Rhetoric students (grades 9 through 12) will be involved in the Great Conversation with authors from throughout the ages and honing their communication skills as they study math, science, Bible, writing, and foreign languages. Throughout the school, you will find that Christ is central and students view all that they are studying through the lens of Scripture.
Please let us know how we can help you as you consider educational options for your child. I would be delighted to meet you and give you a glimpse of a Providence education, where we are training students to impact their culture for Christ.
God’s blessings,
-Alicia Williamson
Director of Admissions
Application Process
Application Process
This is an overview of just some of the details we put into our students’ education. Our Admissions Office is currently open and meeting with families interested in a Providence education for their children. Please complete the schedule a tour form so that we can begin working with your family!
The priority deadline for the 2021-2022 school year is January 31, 2021.*
*Applications received after this deadline will be processed on a rolling, space-available basis. Waiting pool applications will be accepted after a grade is filled. If a place becomes available in a previously-closed grade, all applicants in the waiting pool for that grade will be notified on the same date and given 72 hours to activate their application if they are interested. All activated waiting pool applicants will be considered together.
Applications for the 2020-2021 school year are still being accepted on a rolling basis for any remaining openings or wait pools in grades with no openings.
Please contact the Admissions Office to inquire about availability in specific grade levels.
Providence Classical School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school administered programs.
Pre-Kindergarten Application
Step 1:
Visit: The application process begins with a visit to the school. There are two options for your visit: an individual meeting and tour with our Director of Admissions, or a school preview. The meeting will last about an hour and will include an overview of classical and Christian education, information about a Providence education, a facility tour, and classroom visits. Our school preview is scheduled during the month of January. At a school preview, you will have the opportunity to hear about a classical and Christian education from our headmaster, principals, and students in various grades. Teachers from multiple grade levels will be available to talk with you about our program and you can tour our facilities. Please let us know if you are planning to attend a preview by contacting the Admissions Office.
Step 2:
Explore: In order to more fully understand classical and Christian education, please read all of the information included in your admissions packet. We highly recommend you also begin reading books from our suggested reading list. Both parents of all Pre-K applicants are expected to read Shepherding a Child’s Heart.
Step 3:
Apply: Pre-K applicants are required to turn 4 by September 1st. To apply, please complete the ADMISSIONS APPLICATION. As part of the application, you will also need to submit a teacher referral from your child’s current teacher, a copy of the Parent-Student Handbook Agreement, and the $160 application fee.
Step 4:
Assess: No individual academic assessment is required for children applying for pre-kindergarten. If the child is currently in school, the admissions director may schedule a school visit for observation.
Pre-Kindergarten applicants will be asked to come to school for a group interview. In the group interview, students will listen to a story read by one of our kindergarten teachers, then will work in centers (puzzles, blocks, etc.) with a small group of other applicants. During that time you will have the opportunity to hear from our Grammar School principal about our discipline policies at PCS.
Step 5:
Interview: Once you have completed steps one through four, we will contact you to schedule your family interview. Both parents, along with students applying for admission, will meet with members of our admissions committee (usually the admissions director, headmaster, grade level principal, and teacher) on a Tuesday afternoon for about forty-five minutes. In the interview, the conversation will focus on four areas: understanding of classical and Christian education, commitment to academic excellence, a pursuit of biblical conflict resolution, and your spiritual journey. Through the interview process, we wish to understand your family’s goals and priorities and do our best to see that your family will thrive as a part of the Providence community.
Kindergarten Application Process
Step 1:
Visit: The application process begins with a visit to the school. There are two options for your visit: an individual meeting and tour with our Director of Admissions, or a school preview. The meeting will last about an hour and will include an overview of classical and Christian education, information about a Providence education, a facility tour, and classroom visits. Our school preview is scheduled during the month of January. At a school preview, you will have the opportunity to hear about a classical and Christian education from our headmaster, principals, and students in various grades. Teachers from multiple grade levels will be available to talk with you about our program and you can tour our facilities. Please let us know if you are planning to attend a preview by contacting the Admissions Office.
Step 2:
Explore: In order to more fully understand classical and Christian education, please read all the information included in your admissions packet. We highly recommend you also begin reading books from our suggested reading list. Both parents of all Kindergarten applicants are asked to read Shepherding a Child’s Heart.
Step 3:
Apply: Kindergarten applicants are required to turn 5 by September 1st. To apply, please complete the ADMISSIONS APPLICATION. As part of the application, you will also need to submit a teacher referral from your child’s current teacher, a copy of the Parent-Student Handbook Agreement, and the $160 application fee.
Step 4:
Assess: Once your application is received, we will contact you to schedule your child’s kindergarten readiness assessment. This is a one-on-one assessment that covers six areas of child development: number concepts, auditory skills, paper/pencil skills, language concepts, visual skills and gross motor skills. The assessment will take about forty-five minutes, and will typically be scheduled on a weekday morning.
Kindergarten applicants will also be asked to come to school for a group interview. In the group interview, students will listen to a story read by one of our kindergarten teachers, then will work in centers (puzzles, blocks, etc.) with a small group of other applicants. During that time you will have the opportunity to hear from our Grammar School principal about our discipline policies at PCS.
The admissions director may also schedule a school visit and observation for those applicants currently enrolled in a school.
Step 5:
Interview: Once you have completed steps one through four, we will contact you to schedule your family interview. Both parents, along with students applying for admission, will meet with members of our admissions committee (usually the admissions director, headmaster, grade level principal, and teacher) on a Tuesday afternoon for about forty-five minutes. In the interview, the conversation will focus on four areas: understanding of classical and Christian education, commitment to academic excellence, a pursuit of biblical conflict resolution, and your spiritual journey. Through the interview process, we wish to understand your family’s goals and priorities and do our best to see that your family will thrive as a part of the Providence community.
First-Sixth Grade Applications
Step 1:
Visit: The application process begins with a visit to the school. There are two options for your visit: an individual meeting and tour with our Director of Admissions, or a school preview. The meeting will last about an hour and will include an overview of classical and Christian education, information about a Providence education, a facility tour, and classroom visits. Our school preview is scheduled during the month of January. At a school preview, you will have the opportunity to hear about a classical and Christian education from our headmaster, principals, and students in various grades. Teachers from multiple grade levels will be available to talk with you about our program and you can tour our facilities. Please let us know if you are planning to attend a preview by contacting the Admissions Office.
Step 2:
Explore: In order to more fully understand classical and Christian education, please read the information included in your admissions packet. We highly recommend you begin reading books from our suggested reading list. Both parents of Grammar School applicants are expected to read Shepherding a Child’s Heart.
Step 3:
Apply: To apply, please complete the ADMISSIONS APPLICATION. As part of the application, you will also need to submit a teacher referral from your child’s current teacher, a copy of the Parent-Student Handbook Agreement, and the $160 application fee.
Step 4:
Assess: Once your application is received, we will contact you to schedule your student’s school visit. He or she will visit the school on a Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. While on campus, the applicant will spend the day experiencing a typical day at PCS while shadowing a student in his or her current grade level. He or she will also take a diagnostic test in math, grammar, and reading, as well as provide a writing sample during their visit. On rare occasions, a student will not be able to complete the testing during their visit and will be asked to schedule a separate time to come and complete the assessment.
Step 5:
Interview: Once you have completed steps one through four, we will contact you to schedule your family interview. Both parents, along with students applying for admission, will meet with members of our admissions committee (usually the admissions director, headmaster, grade level principal, and teacher) on a Tuesday afternoon for about forty-five minutes. In the interview, a conversation will focus on four areas: understanding of classical and Christian education, commitment to academic excellence, a pursuit of biblical conflict resolution, and your spiritual journey. Through the interview process, we wish to understand your family’s goals and priorities and do our best to see that your family will thrive as a part of the Providence community.
Seventh – Twelfth Grade Applications
Step 1:
Visit: The application process begins with a visit to the school. There are two options for your visit: an individual meeting and tour with our Director of Admissions, or a school preview. The meeting will last about an hour and will include an overview of classical and Christian education, information about a Providence education, a facility tour, and classroom visits. Our school preview is scheduled during the month of January. At a school preview, you will have the opportunity to hear about a classical and Christian education from our headmaster, principals, and students in various grades. Teachers from multiple grade levels will be available to talk with you about our program and you can tour our facilities. Please let us know if you are planning to attend a preview by contacting the Admissions Office.
Step 2:
Explore: In order to more fully understand classical and Christian education, please read all the information included in your admissions packet. We highly recommend that you begin reading books from our suggested reading list. The parents of Upper School applicants are expected to read Age of Opportunity.
Step 3:
Apply: To apply, please complete the ADMISSIONS APPLICATION. As part of the application, you will also need to submit a teacher referral from your child’s current teacher, a copy of your child’s most recent report card, a copy of your child’s most recent achievement test results, a copy of the Parent-Student Handbook Agreement, and the $160 application fee.
Step 4:
Assess: Once your application is received, we will contact you to schedule your student’s school visit. He or she will visit the school on a Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. While on campus, the applicant will spend the day experiencing a typical day at PCS while shadowing a student in his or her current grade level. He or she will also be able to begin the diagnostic test in math, grammar, and reading, as well as provide a writing sample during their visit. Some students will need to schedule an additional visit to the school to complete this testing.
In some cases, we may require that an upper school applicant take the ISEE test. To register, visit www.iseetest.org. Providence Classical School’s ISEE code is 447508.
Step 5:
Interview: Once you have completed steps one through four, we will contact you to schedule your family interview. Both parents, along with students applying for admission, will meet with members of our admissions committee (usually the admissions director, headmaster, grade level principal, and teacher) on a Tuesday afternoon for about forty-five minutes. In the interview, the conversation will focus on four areas: understanding of classical and Christian education, commitment to academic excellence, the pursuit of biblical conflict resolution, and your spiritual journey. Through the interview process, we wish to understand your family’s goals and priorities and do our best to see that your family will thrive as a part of the Providence community.
In some cases, upper school applicants will also interview with our headmaster or Upper School principal. This interview will last about thirty minutes and will take place during school hours.
Tuition & Financial Assistance
We commend you for seeking a Christian education for your children. We, as you do, desire to be good stewards of God’s finances. This schedule of tuition and fees has been carefully developed to enable the school’s mission to continue. Please click the link to view and print the schedule.
- Information about FACTS
- Tuition Insurance Information
- Before and After Care is expected to be offered in the 2021-2022 school year
Financial Aid
Financial Aid Applications for the 2021-2022 school year will be accepted February 1, 2021 through February 28, 2021. Applications received after this deadline will only be considered as funds are available. If you completed the financial aid application before submitting an admissions application, you will only receive a preliminary notification of whether you qualify for an award. This notification is not a formal award offer and does not guarantee admission to PCS. Please contact the Admissions Office with questions.
Providence F.A.Qs
How is Providence different from other schools?
Some Christian schools label themselves as such by merely including a Bible class in the curriculum. At Providence Classical School, a Christian worldview permeates everything we do, teach, think, and say. Biblical thinking is integrated into every subject.
How rigorous is the academic program?
Providence Classical School seeks to set standards of education that will stretch students to reach their full potential. We are committed to a rigorous academic program that promotes academic excellence infused with spiritual growth and the training of Christian character.
Is Providence Classical School accredited?
Providence has been an accredited member of the Association of Classical and Christian Schools (ACCS) since 2006. For more information on ACCS and the accrediting process, visit the ACCS website at www.accsedu.org.
Is Providence associated with a denomination or a local church?
Providence Classical School is an interdenominational school that is not affiliated with a particular church. We strive to build a distinctively Christian institution committed to the Word of God as the sole authority for all walks and areas of life.
What are the requirements for teaching at Providence?
All Providence teachers must have at least a Bachelor’s degree. Some teachers have education degrees; however, most have degrees in their areas of expertise. All teachers must have a vibrant faith in Christ, a love for children, and a passion for their subject. Intellectual curiosity and a passion for classical and Christian education are also essential.
How are teachers trained to teach classically?
New teachers at Providence attend regional classical teacher training courses. In addition, all teachers progress through a formal professional development program, including reading requirements, faculty discussions, and classroom observations.
Why has Providence chosen to teach Latin?
PCS begins teaching Latin in the third grade and continues through the ninth grade because of its value for training the mind to think well. Not only does Latin build students’ English vocabulary and grammar, it also strengthens the brain’s ability to process new concepts, particularly other modern languages.
Are fine arts programs available?
Yes, all students in kindergarten through 6th grade have both music and art classes each week. Beginning in 7th grade, choir and art classes are available as electives.
What sports are offered?
In both middle school and high school, students may participate in cross country, basketball, track, golf, and tennis. We also offer volleyball for middle school and high school girls. PCS offers middle school and high school baseball teams.
What other extracurricular activities are offered?
Grammar school students may participate in Math Olympiad and Choir. In the upper school, extracurricular activities include yearbook, student council, Science Olympiad and mock trial.
What is the House System?
The house system, based on the system used in British boarding schools, is used in the upper school to foster community and provide mentoring and leadership opportunities for students. 7th- through 12th-graders are divided into four houses: Dragon, Gryphon, Leviathan, and Phoenix. House activities include an annual upper school retreat, house games, and chapels and lunches together.
