Our Story
A Vision That Became a Thriving Community
What began as a bold idea among local families has grown into a mission-driven school grounded in truth, discipline, and purpose.
Cornerstone Classical Academy was founded by families who believed education should do more than prepare students for tests. It should cultivate virtue, develop wisdom, and inspire a lifelong pursuit of what is good, true, and beautiful.
What started as a grassroots effort quickly gained momentum. Through strong leadership, community support, and a shared commitment to classical education, Cornerstone opened its doors and began forming students through a time-tested model rooted in the liberal arts.
Today, the school continues to grow, expanding its reach and impact while remaining anchored in the same principles it was founded on.
Serving 1,000+ students across Northeast Florida
"What started as an idea is now a growing community shaped by purpose.”
learn the truth. do the good. love the beautiful.
Our Foundation
Mission
The mission of Cornerstone Classical Academy is to sharpen the minds and cultivate the hearts of students, through a content-rich classical education in the liberal arts and sciences, with instruction in the principles of moral character, civic virtue, and knowledge of truth.
Vision
Cornerstone Classical Academy envisions growing to become a wellspring of future leaders for the Jacksonville area, the nation, and the world. Every student of the Academy will build a solid foundation of knowledge, discipline, virtue, and character which flow forth from their understanding of the Western Tradition that supports our civil society, its history, virtues, universal discoveries. Our students will be equipped to make the world a better place, through their academically-intensive instruction in the core disciplines of math, science, literature, and history, as well as their development of analytical faculties to examine the values relevant to each.
Our Purpose
Cornerstone Classical Academy (CCA) exists to create a community of scholars who will develop to become well-rounded, lifelong learners with a passion for academic excellence and will receive academically-rigorous training in the core subjects to build a foundation of thorough knowledge.
The school uses time-tested pedagogical methods to give young people the knowledge their minds crave and the discipline that calls forth the best in them.
CCA is dedicated to the universal, eternal truths, that humankind has searched for since the dawn of time. Its scholars will step into an intellectual tradition that dates back millennia.
They will survey the great books, thoughts, theories, and principles that have been discovered across the world and learn to determine for themselves what values and beliefs they will subscribe to and defend.
These scholars will be challenged to master the foundational disciplines of math, science,
literature, and history, but they will also pursue knowledge and experience in art, music,
language, culture, logic, and rhetoric. Together, these pursuits will bolster their understanding of the fundamental building blocks of human inquiries into truth, itself.
Then scholars will go on to develop high-level skills in logic and argumentation so that they may contribute meaningfully and virtuously to the great discourses of the future.
On top of that foundation, these scholars will learn to discover the ethical underpinnings and philosophies that inform scientific, mathematical, and other discoveries of universal truth. Lessons will highlight virtues and moral principles to train scholars, the nation’s future leaders, to understand their civic duty so they may one day offer their very best to our country.
Graduates of the school will have a strong sense of responsibility, a deep knowledge of the academic subjects, and a well-honed passion for learning and pursuing the truth, goodness and beauty in any and all future endeavors.
CCA aims to create a generation of well-educated, lifelong learners who will look back on their years in grade school with fondness for the academic discipline and hard-won knowledge they gained.
These will be the leaders and workers of tomorrow who will guide our country and our society into a rapidly-changing future. By giving them the tools and the confidence to confront tomorrow’s challenges, our school can do its small part toward ensuring a fairer, better future for the United States and the world.
School Virtues
Integrity
We are principled individuals, who make consistently good choices in keeping with our knowledge of right and wrong. We seek the wisdom of others in cases of moral uncertainty.
Responsibility
We are willingly accountable for what we do and say, and we seek to learn from our mistakes.
Self-Government
We take responsibility to govern ourselves, our thoughts, and our actions in an upstanding manner as citizens who protect our culture of independence and autonomy.
Respect
We believe all people have inherent, human value deserving of kind and just treatment. Our attitude toward others and their property reflects the way we wish to be treated, regardless of individual differences.
Courage
We always do what we know to be right despite fear, hardship, and opposition. We resist negative peer pressure, defend our rights and the rights of others, and encourage others to do the same.
Perseverance
We apply consistent effort to the best of our abilities, regardless of the level of difficulty. We respond creatively to overcome obstacles and ask for help when necessary.
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Humility
We are free of arrogance and cherish the unique qualities of others. We strive to do our best regardless of recognition.
Our Story
A vision rooted in truth, good, and beauty.
Cornerstone Classical Academy was founded in 2018 by a dedicated group of Jacksonville parents and professionals whose expertise spanned the fields of law, medicine, business, finance, and education.The school equips students with a classical liberal arts and sciences education that cultivates virtuous living, civic responsibility, and a deep appreciation of the history of Western Civilization.This commitment is tantamount to preserving liberty and self-government in our community, state, and nation. As such, the United States Constitution serves as the bedrock of the Academy’s mission. The founding board members saw a distinct need for a publicly-funded classical education option in our community.
A Classical Approach to Education
Our approach is rooted in a time-tested model of education that develops students through structured stages of learning, building both knowledge and the ability to think deeply and communicate clearly.
Grammar School
(Elementary)
Students build a strong foundation through reading, memorization, and core knowledge.
Logic School
(Middle)
Students develop reasoning skills, learning to analyze, question, and think critically.
Rhetoric School
(High)
Students refine their ability to communicate, write, and express ideas with clarity and confidence.
