A “classical education” began about 2500 years ago in ancient Greece and continued to develop through ancient Rome and the Renaissance. It involves a three-part process of training the mind and using traditional standards of teaching, curriculum, and discipline. A classical education holds that humans are thinking creatures and are naturally curious. It values knowledge for its own sake and prepares students to be “good” or virtuous citizens.  

The early years of a classical education (K-4) are spent acquiring basic skills and facts; establishing a firm foundation from which to pursue further study. In the middle grades (5-8), students learn to think through the facts; the evidence and apply logic. In the upper grades (9-12), students learn to reach conclusions, through thoughtful criticism and analysis, and support those conclusions in persuasive writing and speech. This classical pattern is called the Trivium.