Abstract: A system and a method for training and classification using an optimized classification schema using an ensemble of cascaded classifiers is disclosed. Each of the cascaded classifiers is characterized by a set of classifier parameters and the classifiers which are not the first in a cascade are associated with one or more thresholds used to determine when to execute them according to a confidence measure computed by a preceding cascaded classifier. The optimization comprises a genetic algorithm applied to a set of ensembles of classification and parameters and the set of scores, into a pool of ensembles and associated scores. The scores may be based on associated classification quality and cost.