What is Classical Education?

Classical education is rooted in the ancient traditions of Greece and Rome, developed over centuries of Western scholarship that led to the Renaissance, the Enlightenment, and the formation of the modern democratic world. At its core, a classical education promotes academic excellence through the study of a great books curriculum (reading Homer, Shakespeare, Dickens, Austen, Fitzgerald, etc.), fluency in mathematics, the mastery of language (starting with Latin and Greek), deep understanding and enthusiasm for the sciences, and a love of the arts. Classical education encourages not only the development of knowledge but also the cultivation of wisdom and virtue in order to live a purposeful and inspired life.

Central to the aim of a classical education is the development of character and virtue in students. The curriculum of a classical school is infused with lessons on themes such as courage, justice, temperance, and wisdom, all inspired by classical literature and philosophy. By studying these exemplars throughout history, students learn to engage deeply with the human experience and ponder the question first posed by the ancient Greeks: what does it mean to live a good life?

These foundational principles of classical education—the cultivation of wisdom, the formation of character, and the drive for personal excellence—manifest themselves in several distinctive ways that set classical schools apart from conventional education.