a tuition-free public charter school
AN AMERICAN CLASSICAL EDUCATION
American Classical Academy Rutherford (ACAR), in partnership with Hillsdale College, provides a tuition-free, classical liberal arts education to students grades K-7 serving the residents of Rutherford County, TN in the 2026-27 school year. We will be adding a grade each year until K-12 is served.
Now accepting applications for 2025-26 and 2026-27
Aiming for the good, true, and beautiful
our mission & vision
The mission of American Classical Academy Rutherford is to train the minds and develop character in students through a content-rich Classical Education in the liberal arts and sciences utilizing instruction in the principles of moral practices and civic virtue. We aim to cultivate student longing for what is Good, True, and Beautiful. We prioritize explicit phonics, grammar, writing, the Western classical literary and philosophical canon, primary resources, math, science, history, Latin, music, art and various other content areas in a manner that seeks to enable students to effectively engage with the great thinkers and conversation of the Western Tradition.
A Well-Rounded Course of Study
At ACAR, knowledgeable, compassionate and wonderful teachers use traditional teaching methods to instruct students and foster moral integrity, decorum, respect, discipline, and a commitment to thoughtful inquiry, reason and imagination.
Content-Rich
Our curriculum provides a solid foundation of core knowledge and exploration of Western Civilization.
Tuition-Free
We provide a tuition-free education for all students in Rutherford County, TN.
Our Classical Curriculum
HILLSDALE K-12 CURRICULUM
Our curriculum places a strong emphasis on language, content-rich subjects, a solid foundation of core knowledge, and an in-depth exploration of the historical, literary, and scientific legacies of both the United States and Western civilization. It has been thoughtfully chosen to cater to the diverse needs of all our students. The following elements are at the heart of our curriculum:
- A Well-Rounded Course of Study
- Rooted in Human Nature
- Moral Formation
Our Location
American Classical Academy Rutherford is located at 2 Ingram Blvd, La Vergne, TN in the old Ingram office building. Our refurbished location offers a vibrant and versatile learning environment. The campus will be designed to include specialized facilities to meet the school’s growing needs. Rutherford’s campus will ultimately serve students from kindergarten through high school.
What makes American Classical Academy Rutherford unique?
Join us for a weekly tour held every Tuesday at 9:00 AM and every Thursday at 1:00 PM.
English 
Spanish 
Arabic