Homeschool parents searching for the best middle and high school programs want more than just a curriculum—they want a homeschool education that will equip their students for life. CC’s Challenge program offers exactly that: an investment in knowledge, character, and lifelong learning. But like any wise investment, the greatest rewards take time to mature.
At first, the Challenge journey may feel overwhelming, but like any wise investment, the greatest returns take time. Parents may wonder if the effort is worth it. The answer? Absolutely! The dividends of Challenge extend far beyond weekly assignments, shaping students into capable learners and leaders.
Let’s explore the rich dividends of a Challenge education and why staying the course is one of the best investments you can make for your child’s future.
What Is Challenge?
Classical Conversations’ Challenge homeschool program is a long-term investment in a student’s education and character. Designed to glorify God through a classical, Christian approach to learning, the Challenge years yield valuable returns by equipping middle and high school students with critical thinking skills, strong communication abilities, and a deep understanding of ideas.
Within a supportive community, students work in partnership with a Director and their parent-teacher, who make consistent contributions to their education through hands-on practice and meaningful discussions.
The Challenge program consists of six levels, each building upon the next, ensuring that students continue to grow their intellectual and personal assets:
- Challenge A & B (Middle school, equivalent to 7th and 8th grade) – Students must be at least 12 years old to enroll.
- Challenge I-IV (High school) – Offering a progressively rigorous academic experience.
What Do the Challenge Programs Have to Offer
Each Challenge level represents a stage in a student’s homeschool educational portfolio, building habits of ownership, discipline, and leadership. The themes of each level reflect the growing investment students make in their learning and the wisdom they acquire in return:
- Challenge A – Attention Leads to Ownership
- Challenge B – Ownership Builds Discipline
- Challenge I – Discipline is the Cornerstone of Freedom
- Challenge II – Freedom Provides Opportunities for Noble Choices
- Challenge III – All Choices Bring Consequences
- Challenge IV – Understanding Consequences Defines Leadership
With a curriculum rich in award-winning literature, primary documents, formal logic and debate, and interdisciplinary discussions, Challenge offers a robust and time-tested return on investment. Students don’t just accumulate knowledge; they learn how to wisely allocate their intellectual resources, ensuring long-term success.
Navigating the Challenge Journey
For parents new to Challenge, the initial buy-in can feel overwhelming. They wonder if they have what it takes to support their student, how to balance the workload, and whether their child is adequately prepared. They are looking for reassurance that their investment of time, effort, and trust will yield a worthy return.
If you find yourself asking these questions, take heart—Challenge is a long-term strategy, not a short-term transaction. Growth happens over time and the dividends increase with each passing year. If you stay the course, you and your student reap the full rewards of a Challenge education.
Learn the 7 things parents need to know/do to make the most of Challenge on the Everyday Educator podcast.
The Lasting Dividends of a Challenge Education
A Challenge education gives a student more than proficiency with a battery of subjects; this long-term investment equips our students for life by providing them with the skills of learning and leading. These skills don’t come as a lump-sum payout upon graduation; rather, they accumulate over time, compounding in value and yielding a robust return on investment long after the formal schooling years are over.
The Educational Portfolio: Skills a Challenge Education Cultivates
1. Time and Task Management
Managing time and responsibilities wisely is a key investment in a student’s success. These skills ensure that students can make the most of their available resources.
- Accurately assess the workload
- Develop strategic plans to complete tasks
- Devise a system to learn anything
- Balance multiple responsibilities
- Prioritize tasks with discernment
2. Academic and Intellectual Growth
A strong academic foundation is one of the most valuable assets a student can acquire. The ability to think critically, write persuasively, and research thoroughly pays dividends in higher education and beyond.
- Research ideas thoroughly
- Write and revise extensively
- Think clearly and analytically
- Persevere through challenges
- Form sound arguments
3. Communication and Presentation
The ability to communicate well is a lifelong currency. These skills equip students to express themselves confidently and receive feedback with grace.
- Deliver presentations with poise
- Offer constructive feedback
- Receive criticism with class
- Engage in meaningful conversations
4. Cultural and Artistic Appreciation
A homeschool education that includes an appreciation of beauty and ideas enriches the mind and soul. These skills develop an understanding and love for beauty in the arts and ideas.
- Study and enjoy great art, music, and literature
- Recognize and make connections between ideas
5. Personal Discipline and Balance
Challenge teaches students the importance of a well-balanced life, ensuring they don’t overspend their energy in one area while neglecting another.
- Tackle difficult tasks with perseverance
- Value the necessity of rest
- Play with enthusiasm and joy
6. Spiritual Development
Above all, Challenge invests in the most important treasure—a student’s love for God and His creation. This return is eternal.
- Grow in faith and wisdom
Conclusion
The Challenge journey, like any worthwhile investment, requires patience and perseverance. These benefits of a homeschool education are not reaped all at once, or in even strides, or without regression. They are not always apparent, not always appreciated, and not always attained easily. Like many objects of beauty, they are almost always viewed more clearly from a distance than from proximity.
Stay the course. Trust the process. One day, when you look back from a distance, you’ll see that every challenge, every effort, and every lesson was part of a rich and rewarding investment—one that continues to yield dividends for a lifetime.
Need more Challenge resources? Check out these CC gems:
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