Riverton Classical Academy is a tuition-free public charter school offering an American classical education. The school will be centrally located in Heyburn to serve Minidoka and Cassia counties, opening in August of 2027. Riverton will open with grades K-7 and add a grade each year until K-12 is served.
Mission & Vision
Our mission is to train the minds and improve the hearts of students through a classical, content-rich curriculum that emphasizes virtuous living, traditional learning, and civic responsibility. Our vision is to form future citizens who uphold the ideals of our country’s founding and promote the continuation of our American experiment—through a classical, great books curriculum designed to engage the student in the highest matters and the deepest questions of truth, justice, virtue, and beauty.
Photo (right) by Jeremy Searle
History
In 2022, Ali Peterson was inspired and determined to venture into the charter school realm to bring school choice to the Mini-Cassia area. With the support of her husband and family, she launched a local charter school effort. Early in 2023 she hosted the first meeting at her home.
While attending the state’s Charter 101 training that spring, Ali and other early supporters took a detour to Fruitland, ID to tour Treasure Valley Classical Academy and were introduced to Hillsdale’s American classical education model and American Classical Schools of Idaho. Ali and the other early group members knew that this was the school model they wanted to bring to their community. They returned home and hosted community meetings focused on this classical education charter school model.
In June of 2023, Steve Lambert, Principal of Treasure Valley Classical Academy, came to Burley to present on the mission, curriculum, and virtues of American classical education. Shortly thereafter, a committed founding group began meeting regularly. The founding group held their kick-off community information session in November of 2023. A month later, over 300 children were signed up as “intents-to-enroll” in Riverton Classical Academy.
The founding group’s momentum continued in 2024 as they explored land options for Riverton’s home. In March of 2025 the Brice family graciously donated 17.3 acres in Heyburn for the school’s building. In the summer of 2025 Matt Seely was hired as the founding principal and Hillsdale College accepted Riverton Classical Academy as a supported founding effort.
OUR LOGO
Name: Riverton Classical Academy (RCA). “Riverton” is the original name of the City of Heyburn. RCA will be built in centrally located Heyburn to enable us to serve students from all over the Mini-Cassia area.
Torch: The torch symbolizes three main objectives of RCA’s mission and vision. Education comes from two Latin roots – educere (to lead forth) and educare (to train, to nourish, to bring up):
- As a torch lights the way forth, our vision is to lead students toward the highest matters and the deepest questions of truth, justice, virtue, and beauty.
- As a torch allows one to lead the way, our mission is to train and inspire students to be civically responsible leaders in our nation and in their communities.
- As a torch is used to light a fire, we aim to light a desire for learning in every student. A desire that will lead them to learn what is true, do what is good, and love that which is beautiful.
Mountain, Fields, and River: These main features represent the Mini-Cassia area. They are much of what makes it a wonderful place to live, work, and play. RCA began as a local effort – founded by those who love our community and want to see it flourish. Additionally, agricultural fields represent fertile soil in which plants grow to maturity. RCA will offer a morally and intellectually rich environment in which we will cultivate the growth and character of our students.
Six Sides: The six sides of our logo represent the six core virtues we will teach and instill in students at RCA: Courage, Courtesy, Honesty, Perseverance, Self-Government, Service.
Motto: Virtus, Scientia, Felicitas. These Latin words describe the ultimate aim for every RCA student: Virtus = virtue, goodness, and excellence of moral character; Scientia = knowledge; Felicitas = a state of happiness, contentment, and success
