Preparing for Life
School Profile 2026–2027
Veritas Scholars Academy (VSA) is a K–12 classical Christian school with a biblical emphasis. Accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.
Leadership
- Marlin Detweiler
President - Laurie Detweiler
Executive Vice President - Dr. Robert J. Cannon
Headmaster - Tom Garfield
Dean of Academics - Laura King
Dean of Students
Contact
2578 Horseshoe Road
Lancaster, PA 17601
717.519.1974
www.VeritasPress.com
School number: 392122
200+
teachers, two-thirds with advanced degrees
1,200
full-time students*
17:1
student/teacher ratio
19
National Merit Finalists since 2013
*Part-time students account for over 10,000 registrations.
The School
Founded in 2006, Veritas Scholars Academy (VSA) is a K–12 non-denominational classical school with a biblical emphasis located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Our school aims to graduate young men and women who think clearly and listen carefully with discernment and understanding; who reason persuasively and articulate precisely; who are capable of evaluating their entire range of experience in the light of the Scriptures; and who do so with eagerness in joyful submission to God. We aim to find them well prepared in all situations, possessing both knowledge and the wisdom to use it well.
Accreditation and Membership
VSA is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools and is a member of the Association for Classical and Christian Schools (ACCS). Forty-nine secondary courses are university-level, and 85 secondary courses qualify for Honors credit.
Students and Faculty
VSA has over 200 teachers and 1,200 full-time students. Part-time students account for over 10,000 registrations. Two-thirds of the faculty hold advanced degrees. Our student/teacher ratio is 17:1.
Academic Program
Academics at VSA follow the classical pedagogy of the first three of the seven liberal arts—the trivium of grammar, dialectic, and rhetoric. The grammar stage coincides with grades K–6 and focuses on absorbing facts, mastering language, and basic math. Latin is an important part of this stage. The grammar stage is foundational to more advanced study beginning in the secondary school. Students in grades 7 through 9 study critical reasoning and argumentation within the confines of challenging academic content. Study of formal and informal logic is crucial. Students in grades 10 through 12 study rhetoric, which leads to the capstone senior thesis course, which includes preparation and presentation of an extensive position paper before a panel of experts. Grades 7–12 include an extensive and cohesive Great Books program called Omnibus, issuing English, history, and religion credits. Latin studies continue while Greek and modern foreign language study are added.
Highest Honors Program
The VSA Highest Honors Program is by invitation only for VSA 9th through 12th grade Honors students who have been recognized for their excellent academic record and demonstrated abilities. The Highest Honors Program challenges students to maximize their potential by placing them in challenging courses and enriching their experience through extracurricular activities.
Rank in Class
Because our graduating classes are small, our programs highly rigorous, and our range of grades narrow, it is our policy to not rank our students.
Graduation Requirements
Students begin earning credits toward graduation in the 9th grade. A minimum of 25 credits are required for graduation. Our Standard requirements are:
| Subject | Credits |
|---|---|
| English | 6 |
| History | 4 |
| Language | 3 |
| Logic & Rhetoric | 3 |
| Math | 3 |
| Religion | 4 |
| Science | 3 |
| Electives | 2 |
*Honors students require an additional credit in Rhetoric, Math, and Science as well as higher level coursework in each discipline. Honors students must maintain a grade of 80% or higher in every subject to receive an honors level diploma.
Grading
| Percentage | Grade | Unweighted | Weighted |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100–90 | A | 4.0 | 5.0 |
| 89–80 | B | 3.0 | 4.0 |
| 79–70 | C | 2.0 | 3.0 |
| 69–0 | F | 0.0 | 0.0 |
2025–26 Standardized Test Scores
| Test | VSA | National |
|---|---|---|
| SAT* Math | 611 | 518 |
| SAT* ERW | 645 | 533 |
| ACT Composite | 26.4 | 19.4 |
Courses
H Honors U University level AP Advanced Placement * Included in the Omnibus Great Books program
English
- Business and Technical Writing H/U
- Composition I
- Composition II H
- Creative Writing H
- Fiction Writing Workshop H/U
- Fairy Tales H/U
- Journalism H
- Literacy Analysis Through Short Stories H
- Novels of Jane Austen H/U
- Poetry H/U
- Science Fiction: A Christian Perspective H/U
- Shakespearean Literature H/U
- *World Ancient Lit I H
- *World Ancient Lit II H/U
- *World Medieval Lit I H
- *World Medieval Lit II H/U
- *U.S., British & Modern Lit I H
- *U.S., British & Modern Lit II H/U
History
- Western Civilization H
- *World Ancient History I H
- *World Ancient History II H/U
- *World Medieval History I H
- *World Medieval History II H/U
- US History H
- *U.S., British & Modern History I H
- *U.S., British & Modern History II H/U
Religion
- *Doctrine & Theology I–VI H
- Apologetics H/U
Language
- French I–II H
- French III–IV H/U
- German I–II H
- German III H/U
- Greek I–II H/U
- Latin I
- Latin II H
- Latin III: Christian or Classical Authors H/U
- Latin III: Virgil H/U/AP
- Hebrew H/U
- Mandarin Chinese I & II H
- Spanish I–II H
- Spanish III–IV H/U
Logic & Rhetoric
- Debate H
- Logic I
- Logic II H
- Rhetoric I H
- Rhetoric II H/U
- Senior Thesis H/U
Mathematics
- Algebra I
- Geometry
- Algebra II H
- Pre-Calculus
- Pre-Calculus w/ Trig H/U
- Calculus I & II H/U/AP
- Statistics H/U
- Business Math H/U
- Problem Solving: Mathematical Reasoning H/U
Science
- General Science
- Physical Science
- Biology H
- Chemistry H
- Organic Chemistry H/U
- Anatomy & Physiology H/U
- Physics I H
- Physics Calculus-Based H/U
- Physics II H/U
- Marine Biology H/U
- Introduction to Biotechnology H/U
Electives
- Art History H/U
- Art Studio I
- Art Studio II H
- Art Studio III H/U
- Artificial Intelligence H
- Biblical Archaeology H/U
- Biblical Literacy: Survey of the Bible H/U
- Computer Programming C# H/U
- Computer Programming Python H/U
- Economics H/U
- Film & Worldview H/U
- Intro to Theater
- Music Appreciation
- Philosophy H/U
- Psychology H/U/AP
- Systematic Theology H/U
- US Government H/U
- World Religions H
Colleges
Following are some of the colleges and universities to which VSA graduates have been accepted.
- Abilene Christian University
- Anáhuac México
- Anderson University
- Arizona Christian University
- Auburn University
- Austin College
- Baylor University
- Belhaven University
- Belmont University
- Bethel University
- Bethlehem College & Seminary
- Biola University
- Boston College
- Boston University
- Boyce College
- Cairn University
- Calvin University
- Cedarville University
- Clemson University
- College of William and Mary
- Colorado Christian University
- Colorado State University
- Columbia International University
- Columbia University
- Concordia University
- Cornell University
- Covenant College
- Dallas Baptist University
- Dartmouth
- Dordt University
- Drexel University
- Eastern University
- Embry-Riddle University
- Florida State University
- Fordham University
- Geneva College
- George Washington University
- Georgetown University
- Gordon College
- Grand Canyon University
- Grove City College
- Harding University
- Harvard University
- Hillsdale College
- Houston Baptist University
- Indiana University
- International Christian University
- James Madison University
- John Brown University
- Lee University
- Lehigh University
- LeTourneau University
- Liberty University
- Messiah University
- Michigan State University
- Milligan University
- Mississippi College
- MIT – Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Montana State University
- Moody Bible Institute
- New Saint Andrews College
- NYU – New York University
- Ohio State University
- Oklahoma Baptist University
- Oral Roberts University
- Oregon State University
- Patrick Henry College
- Penn State University
- Pensacola Christian College
- Pepperdine University
- Point Loma Nazarene University
- Princeton University
- Providence Christian College
- Purdue University
- Reformation Bible College
- Regent University
- Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
- Rhode Island School of Design
- Rice University
- Samford University
- Southern Methodist University
- St. John’s University
- Temple University
- Tennessee Tech University
- Texas A&M University, College Station
- Texas Christian University
- Texas Tech University
- The Citadel (SC)
- The King’s College
- The Master’s University
- Trinity International University
- Unibe (Dominican Republic)
- United States Air Force Academy
- United States Naval Academy
- U.S. Military Academy West Point
- University of Arizona
- University of Arkansas
- University of California, Berkeley
- University of California, Davis
- University of California, LA
- University of California, Santa Cruz
- University of Dallas
- University of Denver
- University of Florida
- University of Georgia
- University of Hawaii
- University of Illinois
- University of Iowa
- University of Mary Hardin-Baylor
- University of Maryland
- University of Miami
- University of Michigan
- University of Minnesota
- University of Nebraska
- University of NC at Chapel Hill
- University of Nevada, Las Vegas
- University of North Texas
- University of Notre Dame
- University of South Carolina
- University of St. Andrews (Scotland)
- University of Tennessee
- University of Texas at Austin
- University of Toronto
- University of Utah
- University of Virginia
- University of Washington
- University of Wisconsin
- Vanderbilt University
- Villanova University
- Wake Forest University
- Waynesburg University
- Westmont College
- Wheaton College
- Yale University