Academics

School of Rhetoric

The Good Man Who Speaks Well

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Welcome to the School of Rhetoric!

The School of Rhetoric is the capstone of the Regents education. Our students are developmentally ready to learn how to speak eloquently, with poise, good diction, and a winsome presence. But that isn't enough. Rhetoric is, "the art of effective or persuasive speaking or writing," and "language designed to have a persuasive or impressive effect on its audience". A good rhetorician can be a dangerous person using their rhetoric skills for selfish pursuits. An excellent education is incomplete without the proper moral framework. Our purpose is to train future leaders to use a Christian worldview and their technical skills to go out into the world and become culture changers. Regents equips students to lead others in the sciences, arts, business, politics, and humanities to what is true, good, and beautiful.

Josh Simmons
Head of School of Rhetoric

Josh Simmons, Head of Rhetoric

The Capstone of the Regents Education

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What does this look like at Regents?

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Harkness Tables

Much of our students' learning is around oval Harkness Tables in discussion (and sometimes argument!) with one another and teachers.
Humanities

Our students work and rework themes written on subjects in the Humanities until both the form and substance of their thoughts are eloquent and persuasive.
Math & Science

Even in math and science courses, students learn to express their understanding of difficult concepts with words as well as through successful calculation and experiment.

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Senior Thesis

In what has become a meaningful rite of passage, each senior, in public, presents and defends a researched thesis before a panel of informed judges.

You can watch the thesis presentations here
The "Great Conversation"

Our students examine the Western tradition of art, history, literature, theology and philosophy chronologically, recognizing the "Great Conversation" of the ages-and considering what it means to participate in it.

Redeeming Sports for Christ

Athletics
We strive to be our very best in all that we do, working hard to honor our Lord. We won’t apologize for wanting to “win”, but we’ll continue to spend more time talking about the process rather than the outcomes. We will be modest in victory and gracious in defeat.
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Student-Led

Clubs & Activities
Students have the opportunity to join several clubs - or start one of their own! Our student led clubs offer a wide range of interests from spikeball to business investments to chess.
Future After Regents

College Advising
The chief goal of the College Advising Office is to give each student and his or her family tools adequate to the task of finding the right match – that institution best suited to offer academic and personal challenges appropriate to the student’s abilities following graduation from Regents.
Field Trips & Travel

Europe Trip
Eleventh graders cap off three years of Western civilization studies by traveling to Rome, Florence, London, and Paris. All Regents field trips are included in the cost of tuition in order to ensure that every student receives the benefit of our “traveling classrooms.” Rhetoric students also travel to Washington, D.C., serve in cities in Texas, and more.
A Reflection of the "True, Good, & Beautiful"

Fine Arts
School of Rhetoric students participate in a robust number of Fine Arts activities including theatre, band, orchestra, choral music, visual arts, and dance.
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The Oval Table of Discussion

Harkness Table
The ongoing format of the Humanities classes is discussion based learning around the Harkness table. The reason for the oval table is that in the development of meaningful discussion and the ability to speak well, it is essential to be able to make eye contact with those who are listening.
The Capstone of a Regents Education

Senior Thesis
The senior thesis represents the culmination of a Regents student's education--the good person speaking well. This thesis is a twenty minute presentation, followed by a challenging twenty minutes of question and answer on a controversial and scholarly topic.
Together, One Campus

K-12 Program
Because grades K-12 are together on one campus, the School of Rhetoric students have a unique opportunity to mentor grades K-8 in their journey. Programs such as 'Kinder Buddies' foster student-student interaction between and among all grades.
A Close-Knit Group

Advisory
Upon entering the School of Rhetoric, each student joins an advisory, a close-knit group that he or she will belong to all four years of their high school experience.
An Interactive Resource

Writing Center
The Regents Writing Center is a resource available to all students in the Schools of Logic and Rhetoric. Staffed by faculty and student tutors, the RWC offers student writers one-on-one help with any writing assignment, in any subject, at any stage of the writing process. The goal of the RWC is not only to produce better papers, but also to produce better writers; to that end, the help students receive is non-directive and interactive.

School of Rhetoric Leadership

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Joshua Simmons

Head of School of Rhetoric

Read Bio
Josh Simmons has been teaching at Regents since 2006. Originally from the Houston area, he moved to Austin from Philadelphia where he'd attended seminary and been teaching history. At Regents he's taught 9th grade history, 9th literature, 11th history, 11th apologetics, and 12th history (1 semester). He has served as the humanities department chair and currently serves as the Associate Head of the School of Rhetoric. Josh enjoys reading, playing soccer and pickleball, and time with his family (1 wife, 2 dogs, 3 kids).
Rose Usry

Associate Head of School of Rhetoric; Thesis Chair

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Learn More About Our Academics

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Dive Into The School of Rhetoric's Education

Course Catalog

Classical.
Christian.
Community.

3230 Travis Country Circle
Austin, TX 78735

P (512) 899-8095 | F (512) 899-8623

Notice of Non-Discriminatory Policy

Regents School of Austin does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin in the administration of its educational, admission, financial aid or employment policies, or any other programs administered by the school.

School of Rhetoric

The Good Man Who Speaks Well

List of 1 items.

Welcome to the School of Rhetoric!

Josh Simmons, Head of Rhetoric

The Capstone of the Regents Education

List of 1 items.

What does this look like at Regents?

List of 3 items.

Harkness Tables

Humanities

Math & Science

List of 2 items.

Senior Thesis

The "Great Conversation"

Redeeming Sports for Christ

Student-Led

Future After Regents

Field Trips & Travel

A Reflection of the "True, Good, & Beautiful"

The Oval Table of Discussion

The Capstone of a Regents Education

Together, One Campus

A Close-Knit Group

An Interactive Resource

School of Rhetoric Leadership

List of 2 members.

Joshua Simmons

Rose Usry

P41A3267

Learn More About Our Academics

List of 1 items.

Dive Into The School of Rhetoric's Education

Notice of Non-Discriminatory Policy