Course Guide (Rhetoric School)

While it is well and good to espouse an attractive theory of education, how do we know that the program we offer is adequate for the challenges facing today’s high school graduates? This question is a complicated one, as the tendency of many schools is to reduce their definition of quality to one or two benchmarks. Test scores and college admission are two common criteria used to judge the effectiveness of college preparatory schools. You may also find schools where the focus is more on subjective measurements regarding the faith or character of their students.

Trinity employs a combination of measurable criteria to verify quality academics and to ensure that the education our students receive will allow them as many options for further study as their aptitude and ambition provides.

Internal Measurements

• Curriculum Goals. Our curriculum and instructional goals for each course in the Rhetoric School is documented in specific, standardized forms in each subject area. Faculty members are evaluated on their ability to demonstrate achievement of these goals.
• Mastery. Mastery of both the content and the skills assigned to each course is expected of students and measured using assessments that are appropriate to each discipline. The faculty is trained to expect quality work from each student, as they gain the tools necessary for achieving those high standards.

Individualized Evaluation

As stated above, our goal is to shape integrated thinkers who can articulate both what they know and the significance of what they know. The faculty is trained to evaluate the quality of thinking that students demonstrate as they listen, participate in classroom conversations, and submit work, which requires synthetic thinking and the application of genuine understanding.

External Measurements

• College admissions tests, SAT I/SAT II/ACT/Advanced Placement Exams, and the National Latin Exam. As our students enter into advanced studies in high school, Trinity offers students the opportunity to take Advanced Placement courses when they correspond to our course content goals.
• Nationally Recognized Achievement Programs. Beginning in ninth grade, Trinity students take the PSAT, the practice test given prior to the SAT.
• Accreditation. Trinity is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), the standard regional accrediting body in California. WASC accreditation requires an ongoing improvement process, connecting Trinity to an enormous network of accredited schools throughout the country that are engaged in similar improvement initiatives.

College Admission

• University of California Standards. Trinity’s graduation requirements meet and exceed minimum requirements for admission to the state’s two university systems. Trinity coursework is certified by the UC system, ensuring that students receive full credit for courses offered within the university systems’ a-g requirements.
• Selective Admissions. Trinity is a college preparatory school with a program of study designed to prepare students to achieve their academic potential. We know that Trinity students will aspire to attend colleges and universities across the nation. One significant measure of academic success is in the whole package (transcripts, test scores, activities, character) they turn in when competing for college admissions. Trinity students will have outstanding opportunities in their educational future.

Community Indicators

• Parent Satisfaction. We believe that parents are drawn to Trinity because their goals for their children’s education align with the school’s mission. Trinity is characterized by a highly engaged parent body, which contributes significantly to the expectation for quality academics. We listen carefully to parent concerns.  Correspondingly, when parents are happy with their student’s experience, it makes us that much more confident in our work.
• Graduates’ Experience. As our students move from Trinity to other schools, we expect to track their experience to learn how we can better equip future classes for similar challenges. Our goal is that every graduate can testify to being overly prepared for the next stage of their education.