Catching Up on Latin

The Real Concern

Latin is often the biggest hesitation for families considering classical education. If your child has never studied it, the idea of jumping into a class where other students have years of experience feels daunting.

We hear this all the time. And we get it - Latin is not something most schools teach, so there is no reason your child would have had exposure to it.

The good news: Latin is a logical, systematic language. Students who are willing to put in the work can make real progress, even starting later than their peers.

Why Latin Is Worth the Effort

• Vocabulary: Over 60% of English words have Latin roots. Students who study Latin understand words from the inside out.
• Analytical thinking: Latin grammar is a system of logic. Parsing sentences trains the same skills used in math, science, and formal reasoning.
• Test performance: Latin students consistently perform well on vocabulary-heavy standardized tests.
• Other languages: Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese - they all come from Latin. Students who know Latin pick up Romance languages much faster.

How Saints Helps Students Catch Up

We do not expect every student to arrive with Latin experience. Here is how we approach it:

• Individual assessment: We talk with your family about your student's background and goals
• Wheelock's Latin: Our curriculum is structured and sequential - students can start at the beginning regardless of age
• Parent partnership: The tutorial model means parents can reinforce Latin study at home on off-days
• Classica LMS: Assignments and progress are tracked so everyone stays on the same page

Some students catch up in a semester. Others take longer. The important thing is progress, not perfection on day one.

Frequently Asked Questions