The classical instructional method is based on 3 stages of learning, known as the TRIVIUM.

These stages correspond to a child's natural stages of development and potential, and each stage builds on the one before. Young children are uniquely adapted to memorize. Therefore, in the elementary GRAMMAR stage, students learn mostly through memorization and imitation, acquiring loads of information pertinent to whatever subject they are learning. Early adolescent children become argumentative, challenging ideas that are presented to them. Therefore, in the middle school LOGIC stage, students acquire reasoning skills through the study of logic, thereby applying their minds to questioning and understanding. Older adolescents are full of ideas about themselves and the world. Therefore in the high school RHETORIC stage, students analyze philosophy, ethics, and principles of speech, thereby preparing themselves as leaders who are able to speak to the truth.

At every stage, the classical literature of the Western world and language, such as Latin and (eventually) Greek, is infused, inviting students into a deep historical perspective. Each subject is taught rigorously with the purpose of mastery, understanding, usefulness, and excellence, so that each student feels confident in using what he has been taught and enjoys it.