Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. As part of the admissions process, a placement exam assesses the academic fit and determines appropriate placement for incoming students. 

Yes, but due to the model of our school, we are unable to admit transfer students after the start of the school year. It is essential that all applicants complete the admissions process and attend our New Student Orientation in August in order to prepare for the unique partnership with Veritas.

Yes, Veritas Academy students are required to take Latin. The grammatical structure of English is based on Latin, as is about fifty percent of English vocabulary. Consequently, the study of Latin tends to expand students’ vocabularies, as well as enhance their grammar skills. Latin also prepares children for the study of other foreign languages—French, Spanish, and Italian are all related to Latin. Contrary to popular belief, the study of Latin also guards against arrogance. In his studies, a child begins to recognize that his world, his language, his vocabulary, and his way of expressing himself are only one way of living and thinking in a big, complicated world. Finally, the very process of learning Latin is a rigorous exercise that requires mental gymnastics that strengthen the mind.

Yes, students at Veritas Academy wear school uniforms. The specifics of the uniform policy, including where to buy, and dress code are included in our Back-to-School Checklist each summer as families begin to prepare for the fall.

Because of the nature of the university-model, the cost of tuition for a full-time student is less than a traditional private school.  However, our desire to attract and retain the very best teachers is reflected in our tuition as well. View the latest Tuition and Fees schedule.

No, a board of men and women from this community independently governs the school. For more information about the board, please see Our Leaders.

Yes, Veritas Academy is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation formed in Texas and governed by an independent school board.

While our model is not a fit for everyone, it is our desire to bless families by serving as many of their children as possible. Once a family has been accepted and gone through the admissions process with one child, they do not need to go through the family interview a second time. Applications will be sent via the School Memo in November and placement testing takes place in January. Although sibling acceptance is not guaranteed, they do receive priority consideration. Sibling admission decisions are communicated in February so you can make informed decisions for your whole family during re-enrollment.

Yes, both parents must wholeheartedly agree with, genuinely live by, and willingly sign our Mission; Statements on Faith, Life, and Conduct; and Family Commitment. As a discipleship school, Veritas is committed to ministering to and partnering with Christian families to reinforce the Biblical worldview instilled in children at home and in church. We are only able to effectively support families when unified in our core beliefs and values. It is neither our desire nor our role to be the primary influence in your child’s life, but rather to complement your efforts in discipling your child. You can find our Mission and Statements on Faith, Life, and Conduct here.

Due to the model of our school, we are unable to admit students after the start of the school year. It is important that all applicants go through our complete admissions process and attend the New Student Orientation to prepare them for the unique partnership Veritas offers. We will not accept applications for admission after the start of our annual Paideia Conference in the beginning of August.

Veritas keeps an active wait pool rather than a waitlist. If we do not have any openings in your child’s grade level but believe your student and family are a good fit, we will keep your child’s application active until the start of our annual Paideia Conference. If a seat does not open up before the first day of Paideia, your child’s application will become inactive. Admissions begin anew each year, so you will need to complete the application process again in order to reapply the following year.

After being offered admittance and completing enrollment for the upcoming year, families may apply for Tuition Assistance. Veritas uses an independent, third-party to recommend need-based financial grants. All Tuition Assistance is funded through operating surpluses and donations.

By August 31st, applicants for PreSchool must be three years of age, applicants for PreK must be four, and applicants for Kindergarten must be five. We hold tightly to these requirements and recommend that applicants with birth dates in any of the summer months consider waiting until the following year.

No, a Kindergarten Readiness Assessment is required for all students interested in attending Kindergarten. These assessments, which help both the administration and parents determine an appropriate fit for the student, take place during the school day in February and March. Students who are not yet ready for Kindergarten may have the option to repeat PreK.

To protect our limited class time, we do not allow class observations. However, our Admissions Office is available to schedule a campus tour and answer your questions while you get a glimpse of the classrooms and community of Veritas.

Generally speaking, we do not offer part-time enrollment. Our classes strategically connect to provide students with a comprehensive foundation, and by electing to only take some courses at Veritas, students miss the benefits of an integrated classical education.

Veritas Academy is generally not equipped to provide special assistance to students with severe learning disabilities that require help beyond what a parent is normally able to give at home or through other means. However, in some limited cases involving certain learning differences, the school is able to provide Veritas families with access to additional support services on campus. Learning Support Services are provided at an additional cost to students with medical diagnoses of learning differences (e.g., dyslexia, dysgraphia, etc.) and allow them to receive personalized accommodations within the classroom. Veritas also attempts to provide access to additional support for its families who adopt internationally.

We value your time and desire to make the best educational decisions for your family. To ensure you are well informed about the unique and inspiring approach to education at Veritas, it is important for you to:

• hear an overview of the school’s model, mission, academics, and opportunities directly from school administrations (Open House)
• discern if our heart for discipleship and education is consistent with that of your family’s (required reading)
• have a personal opportunity to discuss the compatibility of your family’s goals with the school’s methods and philosophy, while receiving valuable feedback for optimal grade level placement at Veritas (placement testing and family interview)

While the process may seem lengthy, each step is implemented to assist you in learning more about the school and your role in the parent/school partnership that is essential to Veritas. Through this process, we are both better equipped to partner in training the hearts and minds of your children for the glory of God through a classical, Christian education.

UMS and homeschool co-ops should not be equated. Homeschool co-ops are a good way for homeschooling families to pool their resources and expertise for specific and usually short-term study projects. One parent, for instance, may be especially proficient in math or science and teach a group of students that subject for a period of time. Generally speaking, homeschool co-ops are age-integrated, specialized, parent-run, and do not simulate a college structure. In some cases, co-ops also take over the primary responsibility of teaching certain courses instead of integrating the teacher and parent effectively for each course as is done in the University-Model^®. UMS is also different by virtue of having specific grade levels, consistent accountability from semester to semester, a full spectrum of courses complete with prerequisites and diploma plans, and a professional administration and faculty responsible for curriculum and instruction who partner with parents to deliver some instruction in the lower schools.

Parents need not have teaching experience. Veritas Academy takes the lead in the area of academics. New concepts are introduced and taught at school by paid professional faculty while the application of the concept often takes place at home, much like that of college studies. Veritas Academy teachers provide detailed course overviews and online assignment sheets each week while maintaining open lines of communication. Parents act as co-instructors under the guidance and direction of the classroom teacher. In addition, the academy offers training to parents in various areas including academics and character development. Finally, bear in mind that as a child progresses to higher grade levels, the academic role of the parent gradually migrates from that of co-instructor to proctor/mentor, so that by the time a student graduates he is prepared (trained and experienced) to assume the individual responsibility required for success at the collegiate level.

A rule of thumb at university-model schools is that for every hour spent in the classroom, an additional hour to hour-and-a-half on each core subject (math, language arts, science, and history) is required in the “satellite classroom” at home. This rule, of course, varies according to the need and increases a bit as students progress to higher grades. If a student is academically strong in a particular area, perhaps less time will be needed. If a student is weak in a subject or the subject is particularly challenging, then more time will be needed. Parents need to be alert to each of their children’s individual needs and lead them accordingly in the structuring of their time.

Probably not. One of the most important ingredients in the success of the university model is an available parent who can assist and properly work with the student. For a family in which both parents work outside the home on a full-time, or almost full-time, basis, a more traditional 35-40 hours/week school is probably a better choice.

Communication between teachers and parents plays a large role in a UMS, and there are several ways that clear communication takes place. First, each course is described, along with its prerequisite and parent role, in the school catalog. The parent role is defined for each course so that parents understand the required level of assistance for their children. Vitally important are the weekly lesson plans and assignment sheets that are prepared by the classroom teacher and made available to parents and students online. Instructions to parents are included as part of these assignment sheets, as are long-term study projects that are forthcoming. Parents are also invited to communicate any of their questions back to the teacher as needed.

Yes, our academic standards meet or exceed the requirements for grade levels in the public schools in Texas as published by the Texas Education Agency.

Our course offerings meet and exceed college standards, and our students are attractive to colleges because of their strong work ethic, successful study habits, leadership skills, and character as demonstrated through various student activities. In addition, the senior thesis program allows each student to conduct individual research before they graduate, another point that sets our graduates apart. Veritas offers a robust college counseling program, and 90-95 % of Veritas students go directly into four-year higher education institutions. Please see our College Advising page for more information.

Without exception, they report that they were extremely well-prepared for their freshman college classes. First, they were prepared by the university-model system itself. The schedule, work ethic, and independent study skills were dynamics to which they were already accustomed. Second, they were prepared academically: the Veritas course content was consistently more than adequate to prepare students for college. It also has not been uncommon for Veritas graduates to begin college with several college credits already on their transcripts, having placed out of certain courses by virtue of their high school preparation.