Fort Wayne’s new classical school is flourishing, and about to open its library to the public this fall. Redeemer Classical School volunteers have been working for two years to gather, clean, catalog, and organize several thousand classic works, with a focus on the “golden age of children’s literature” from the 1940s through the 1980s.
During those decades, U.S. children’s publishing flourished, especially in lively, well-written works of American history, a legacy slipping away as many schools and libraries shift to digital materials and an increasingly prejudiced view of Christianity and Western Civilization. In keeping with its mission to honor and revive that cultural inheritance, Redeemer Classical School staff and volunteers have been searching the country for these increasingly rare, high-quality books, to preserve them for another generation.
“Our American and Lutheran forefathers have given us and rich and precious heritage, and every Christian child deserves the opportunity to make these family treasures his own,” says school headmaster Nathaniel Pullmann.
The school also earned accreditation from the Consortium for Classical Lutheran Education this spring, followed by National Lutheran School Accreditation. The brand-new school continues to grow quickly, doubling in enrollment each fall since its first school year in 2017-18, when it had just one classroom. The demand for enrollment required waitlisting applicants for the first time this summer.
Redeemer also hired a new teacher for fall, who brings experience from Texas and Michigan classical schools supervised by Hillsdale College. Classical schools are expanding across the country as parents seek a robust curriculum and an orderly, joyous school atmosphere wholly centered on Christ that fosters a love of history, languages, music, literature, art, and the sciences.
This year Redeemer Classical also joins the Lutheran Schools Partnership as a full member, with gratitude to LSP staff for their support throughout the challenging process of opening a new school.
Last summer and this summer, Redeemer Classical raised approximately $5,000 to create and improve its “natural playground” made of predominantly handmade wood and stone materials, such as a dry river bed and an outdoor classroom, and designed for free play. Residents of the local ’07 neighborhood have recommended the playground’s fresh design as inspiration for an upcoming revamp of a Fort Wayne city park.
The school’s next big project is raising approximately $10,000 to construct a new sign along the busy West Rudisill Boulevard that runs in front of the joined church and school buildings. Their new accreditation also qualifies Redeemer Classical donors for state tax credits that fund scholarships to help low-income families attend this high-quality school. Call (260) 255-6375 to find out how you can help with both.
Redeemer’s library is free to students’ families and available with a $5 monthly membership for anyone else. To receive advance notice of the library’s grand opening, and hear more about Redeemer Classical, sign up for our free email newsletter here. New email subscribers receive a free list of recommended classic books to read with children ages 3 to 7.
Redeemer Classical School 