According to Pew Research, in a comparison of 72 nations, the US fell from 6th place in math performance in 1997 to 38th place in 2017. Yet, by 2017 the US government was spending $12,800 per student. In 2019, the average Math SAT score across the nation came in at 528 out of a total 800. In the same year, classical schools saw an average score of 611 with similar results in reading, writing, and the sciences. For centuries, the kind of education we call classical has produced superior educational outcomes often with far fewer resources.

So what is it about classical education that makes such a difference for students and parents? In short, classical education succeeds with tried and true methods of teaching and learning, many of which have been used for centuries or more, and all of which are rooted in what we know about human nature and how and why children learn. In this keynote address, Dr. Jonathan Yonan will examine the values and virtues that make classical education the best possible educational option for students and families.

This lecture was delivered live at the Fall Classical Summit, a regional classical conference held at Thales Academy Apex Junior High-High School on October 7, 2022.