Rather than requiring a specific number of credits in typical academic areas, CTA requires that students pass the requirements in seven basic academic goals. The belief is that students should acquire a basic body of knowledge in major academic areas in order to graduate from high school. The goal program also allows a student to proceed toward graduation at a rate suitable to their backgrounds, abilities and motivation. Students who attend CTA for three or four years are also expected to specialize in two goal areas, whereas one and two year students need only specialize in one.
Students must demonstrate a proficiency level in each of the eight goals. This may be accomplished in various ways: passing tests, writing papers, or creating art portfolios. In order to graduate, students are required to complete a major research paper and their Philosophy of Life project.
A transfer student is given the opportunity to demonstrate proficiency in classes he has had prior to coming to CTA. Therefore, some students may move more rapidly through the goals than others, depending on their previous backgrounds and motivation. Sometimes students with particularly poor backgrounds may have to spend a little more time at CTA in order to become proficient. Faculty advisors are assigned to all students in order to help them plan a yearly class schedule, which will lead to a successful high school graduation and subsequent college preparation.