In addition to its dedication to Christian ideals, the Allen School had a threefold mission centered on the “industrial, mental, and physical.” Industrial refers to vocational training provided to students, which revolved around the training of teachers, but also included classes related to domestic tasks, such as cooking and sewing. While the value of an industrial education for Black students was certainly debated, notably between Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. DuBois, the Allen School did function as a normal school. But it also offered a variety of classes, including ones related to religion, business, music, the sciences, and foreign languages.
