KA Aristoi Classical Academy, Katy’s original charter school, continues its ascendency. As earth movers and construction crews are laying the foundations of Aristoi’s new K-12 campus on Morton Road, the school’s young scholars are besting the state’s top private school students in academics, bringing home two gold medals from a recent statewide competition.
On April 29, students from dozens of Texas private schools converged on the campus of Texas Christian University in Fort Worth for the Private Schools Interscholastic Association’s (PSIA) annual competition. The competition brings together elementary and middle school students who have earned a first or second place finish at regional meets. Events range from timed drawing and writing to advanced math and poetry recitation.
Aristoi 6th grader Nora Benton and 8th grader Andrew Nurre beat out peers from Lutheran South, First Baptist, and Kinkaid to advance to the state competition, Miss Benton in an event called Ready Writing and Mr. Nurre in Modern Oratory. At the state level they faced students from private schools all over Texas. Miss Benton drew on her classical training in writing and rhetoric, while Mr. Nurre was helped by his experience in theater—he is currently rehearsing his role as Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof, this year’s installment Aristoi’s annual 8th grade musical—to present an original speech dealing with United State’s responsibility to address international conflicts.
Mr. Nurre took home a second place silver medal in the highly competitive Modern Oratory category as a 7th grader at last year’s state completion. Since then he has gained a bit of height and can now add a state gold medal to his growing list of accomplishments.
