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Classical schools are restoring the once-common practice of formal Latin education nationwide.

The study of Latin, though considered an obscure subject in modern education, is an essential component of classical education. In today’s digital age, many people question the relevance of learning Latin. However, just a few decades ago, it was a crucial part of American classrooms.

Understanding Latin was fundamental to mastering English, appreciating Western civilization’s history and literature, and comprehending Romance languages. Even today, Latin’s influence can be found indirectly in many major Western languages, including English.

Grammar & Latin in Linguistics

Classical education underscores grammar concepts. In Lower School language arts classes, students learn English grammar concepts. In Middle School, Latin class becomes the main focus to refine and expand their understanding of grammar. Learning Latin exposes students to similar grammar structures in a new language, which helps them solidify their grasp of general linguistic structures.

Once the Latin requirements are fulfilled, high-school students can opt to further their foreign language studies in Spanish, French, German, Italian, Chinese, and Japanese through a language lab format.

For those seeking more advanced studies, there are opportunities to study Ancient Greek and Hebrew either through independent study or dual enrollment.

Linguistic Foundation

Literature & History

Broad Application

Test Performance

Why Study Latin?

More than 50% of English words have Latin origins. Studying Latin not only improves one's understanding of English vocabulary but also establishes a strong foundation for learning other Latin-based languages.

Latin studies help students engage deeply with the foundational literature of Western culture.

Learning Latin helps with teaching how to interpret terminology in scientific, legal, and academic fields.

Latin students observably often score higher on standardized tests like SAT and ACT.

Grade-Level Breakdown

With Latin education at Heritage, students are not just studying a language. They’re diving into a rich tapestry of culture, history, and linguistics.

3rd Grade

  • Introduction to Latin
  • Capitalizes on students’ natural proclivity for memorization
  • Acquire grammatical forms via chants and stem endings
  • Boost vocabulary acquisition

4th Grade

  • Expand Latin vocabulary
  • Initiation into Latin sentence translation

5th Grade

  • Advanced study of English and Latin grammar
  • Explore storylines of the Iliad and the Aeneid

6th Grade

  • Dive into major events in Roman history
  • Learn past tense verbs: imperfect, perfect, and pluperfect tenses
  • National Latin Exam participation

Middle School

  • Further expansion in vocabulary and grammar
  • New verb tenses, declensions, and pronouns are introduced
  • Longer, more complex passage translations
  • 8th graders are initiated into the study of participles and passive verbs

High School

  • Advanced Latin: Use of the language to appreciate Roman literature in its purest form
  • Grammar Deep Dive: Learn advanced grammatical constructions
  • Literary Exploration: Delve into different styles of prose, poetry, and authentic Latin literature
  • Senior Year Capstone: A special topic class tailored to students’ interests. Topics can range from specific authors, pieces of literature, historical events, philosophical concepts, religious themes, notable historical figures, or specific literary genres