That's a real shame, isn't it? There was a time in this country when anyone who truly wanted to be considered educated devoted themselves to studying the Great Books and the trivium (Grammar, Logic, and Rhetoric). I'm just glad that there are teachers out there who are dedicated to keeping this tradition alive.
The teacher who founded this charter school wanted to open it in my county. He was constantly thwarted, not only by school officials but by town planning boards which changed their policies overnight about where alternative schools could be built. It must have been very frustrating for him. People in my county just love their cutting-edge, progressive, multi-culti public schools, and the feeling is that if parents aren't happy, there are always private schools. Unfortunately for so many parents, they are paying such high school taxes, there is no money left over for private school tuition. So much for public school choice.
He finally gained permission to open it in the next county in an old Georgian-style mansion. It attracts the children of immigrants and lower middle-class blue-collar workers, as well as minority children from the inner city. They do quite well on their state-mandated tests.