Achievements

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” -Aristotle

Hillsdale Master Teachers

Each year, Hillsdale College's K-12 Office selects teachers from around the network to lead and support teachers in each academic subject. Teachers are selected through a rigorous application, including multiple recommendations, essays, and interviews. Master Teachers serve to improve the quality of the curriculum and the teaching across the network by writing and developing new curricula, and helpful guides, hosting monthly conference calls, writing blog posts, and personally mentoring teachers all across the country.

  • Mr. Battaglia

    Master Teacher of Latin and History

  • Mrs. Moschel

    Master Teacher of Lower Grammar School

  • Mr. Punt

    Master Teacher of Music

  • Miss Teska

    Master Teacher of Visual Arts

Henry Salvatori Prize - 2025 & 2022

The Hillsdale College K-12 Education Office awarded its 2025 & 2022 Henry Salvatori Prize for Excellence in Teaching to Seven Oaks Classical School in Ellettsville, Indiana.

"Seven Oaks Classical School represents the best in American classical K-12 education - a noble mission, inspiring leaders, a talented faculty, a robust curriculum, supportive parents, and eager students," said Dan Coupland, Hillsdale College professor of education and member of the Salvatori Prize Committee.

The Salvatori prize has three objectives: to focus attention on teaching, which is the core ingredient of effective education reform; to support deserving schools with funds for books, equipment, and other educational material; and to promote the principles of classical liberal arts education.

The first Henry Salvatori Prize for Excellence in Teaching was presented in the fall of 1996. In 2022, a $25,000 award is made payable to the winning school's tax exempt 501 (c)(3) institution, in 2025, the award was increased to $40,000. This money may be used for books, equipment, and other educational material.

The Scholar’s Cup

The Scholar's Cup is an academic competition hosted by the Barney Charter School Initiative. Schools in this network across the United States are invited to submit one sample from each grade level (K-12) of the highest quality work in a specific subject area challenge.

Challenges have included anything from science lab reports, original Latin poems, artwork from a specific historical period, or a narrative of an important battle with a hand-drawn illustration accompanying it.

Seven Oaks Classical won the Scholar's Cup in May 2022, after entering this contest for the first time.

In 2023, we secured the 2nd place position.

2025 Indiana SRO of the Year for Region 9 - Officer Jeff Baker

Seven Oaks Classical School is proud to announce that Officer Baker, our outstanding School Resource Officer (SRO), has been honored as the Indiana School Resource Officer of the Year for Region 9 by the Indiana School Resource Officer Association (INSROA). Region 9 consists of 7 counties: Brown, Monroe, Bartholomew, Jackson, Johnson, Lawrence, Morgan.

This prestigious award recognizes Officer Baker’s exceptional dedication to the safety, well-being, and daily lives of our students and staff. More than just a protector, Officer Baker is a familiar and trusted presence on campus—building relationships, supporting students, and contributing to a strong, positive school culture.


Indiana French Teacher of the Year 2023!

Congratulations Madame Kinser!

Every year, during the Indiana Foreign Language Teaching Association conference, all constituent groups convene to put forth nominations for the Teacher of the Year Award. Diana Kinser, a dedicated French teacher at Seven Oaks, received a nomination from her fellow educators within the Indiana Chapter of The American Association of Teachers of French. The Teacher of the Year Award encompasses four distinct categories: Rising Star (three years or less of teaching experience), Overall K-8 French Teacher of the Year, Overall Secondary French Teacher of the Year, and Overall University Level Teacher of the Year. This year, Madame Kinser not only secured a nomination but also earned the coveted title of Overall French Teacher of the Year in the K-8 Category through a majority vote.

Test Scores

At Seven Oaks we focus on real learning, not test preparation. When it comes to standardized tests, our goal is to pay as little attention to them as possible so that we can focus on what really matters - real learning, real teaching. We want to give students the gift of a rich, coherent curriculum that feeds their minds and imaginations – not test prep. 

But even though we don’t care much about standardized tests, our test scores continue to go up. IREAD, ILEARN, SAT, AP – all tell the same story: As our school matures, the knowledge and habits our students are learning is translating to measurable academic success.

2024 Le Congrès Winners

Student Successes

  • 3 Lilly Community Foundation Scholarship Semi-Finalists

  • Winner of a patriotic essay contest

  • National Hispanic Recognition Award

  • Bloomington Young Woman of the Year

  • 2 Eagle Scouts

  • 2 Gold Award Girl Scouts

  • Learning on Location Scholarship

  • Multiple French Awards at Le Congres

  • 1 Student accepted into the IUHPFL Study Abroad program

  • 1st place at the Regional Algebra II competition

  • 3rd place at the Regional Comprehensive Math competition

  • 100% college placement for those who wished to pursue higher education

  • 100% pass rate on iRead3 in 2023