While the specifics varied regionally and over time, the core curriculum generally revolved around:
* Religious instruction: This was paramount, aiming to instill piety and moral virtue based on Protestant Christianity (primarily Puritan and later other denominations). Reading and writing were often taught primarily to facilitate Bible study.
* Classical learning: This encompassed the study of Latin and Greek, along with rhetoric, logic, and classical literature. The goal was to cultivate intellectual discipline and prepare students for leadership roles in church and state. Mathematics and science were less prominent, though they began to gain some ground later in the colonial period.
It's important to note that access to these institutions was largely restricted, with opportunities skewed towards wealthy white males. The education provided was not intended for the general population.