The Honors Academy at North Hills Christian School inducted Derik Aguilera, Colby Edmonds, Camantha-Rea Lyerly, Audrey McGrail and Greyson Pressley.  They joined Ethan Aguilera, Brittney Hogan, Avery McGrail, and Jordan Plummer.

This rigorous and challenging “school within a school” program is reserved exclusively for academically gifted students who successfully progress through the program’s admission process.

The program is designed to provide for the deep study of the great works of Western Civilization, development of lifelong learning skills, as well as thinking and eloquent expression of ideas through an academically rich liberal arts curriculum.

In addition to two years of humanities at the honors level (a blend of English and history with emphasis on Western heritage), this program requires four AP courses; at least three years of foreign language; honors level courses in logic, rhetoric (eloquent expression), and the great philosophers; as well as the option of additional honors, AP, and dual enrollment courses. The program frequently utilizes the study of real books and primary sources over textbooks or abridged reading materials.

Kay Paul, NHCS English instructor noted, “As a former home school mother who used the classical approach to teach my own children, I cannot adequately express how excited I am about the school’s transition to this model of learning. I am confident that North Hills’ students of today and tomorrow will be thoroughly equipped to make a significant contribution to the Rowan-Salisbury community.”

Leslie Pullen, Upper School Principal, also underscored the importance of a classically-geared, rigorous academic program.  “We are committed to producing students who are cultural, academic and social leaders.  In order to do that, students must not only be trained with twenty-first century job skills, but they must also be prepared to deeply strategize, think, and communicate in a culture that desperately needs those skills.  The classical and liberal arts approaches underscore the importance of teaching students to love the art of learning.”

North Hills already offers a full college preparatory program with college acceptances that include some of the area’s most prestigious universities and colleges, including UNC-Chapel Hill, Wake Forest University and Wofford College. The students will have performed more than 6,000 hours of community service in Rowan County throughout the course of their high school careers.  The existing high school program continues alongside The Honors Academy.