Students from all educational backgrounds — homeschool, public school, private school, or co-ops — who desire an education that forms the whole person, not just prepares for the next test.

    •    We focus on learning how to learn, not simply memorizing information.

    •    Our curriculum allows knowledge to cascade naturally, building webs of understanding across subjects.

    •    Every student participates in shared lectures, followed by small group preceptorships where they process the material at a pace appropriate to them.

    •    We emphasize both intellectual formation and practical wisdom.

Phronesis means “practical wisdom.” This class combines deep readings and philosophical reflection with real-world preparation — from classic texts to practical tasks like financial literacy, responsible technology use, and decision-making in daily life.

We use straightforward evaluations that reflect where a student is. Our goal isn’t to rank students against each other but to help each one grow into adequation — the proper alignment of mind to reality.

    •    2025-2026: Part-time launch year, two days per week.

    •    2026-2027 and beyond: Full program running four days per week, six hours per day.

    •    We also anticipate some à la carte lecture options for families needing greater flexibility.

To prepare students for real life, not simply for one career or one set of answers.

We form students who can grow, adapt, and flourish even as the world changes — because they are grounded in truth, trained to think clearly, and equipped to engage reality fruitfully.

Our name reflects both our Catholic roots and our educational mission. Under the title Mother of Good Counsel, the Church has long honored the Blessed Virgin as a model of wisdom, discernment, and perseverance — guiding her children along difficult paths with clarity and trust in God’s providence. Saints like Thomas Aquinas and John Henry Newman remind us that true education seeks not only knowledge, but right judgment ordered toward truth. Pope Leo XIII himself entrusted schools to Our Lady under this title, recognizing her patronage over both intellectual formation and practical wisdom. At Mother of Good Counsel, we place our work under her care, asking her intercession as we guide students to see, judge, and act with wisdom.

Mother of Good Counsel is in the process of securing private accreditation and state approval for all students to be eligible for Iowa’s ESA (Educational Savings Account) via the Odyssey portal.

We are optimistic that we will achieve this for the 2026-2027 school year. There will be additional announcements on this matter in the autumn or early winter of 2025.