Chesterton Academy of Mary Star of the Sea will begin classes in the fall of 2027.

We are gathering information on prospective students and families interested. We will officially accept applications once we are closer to opening, and have found a Headmaster, as he will be heavily involved in this process, likely late 2026 or early 2027.

While we have not secured a specific campus, we are actively engaged in exploring options in the Melbourne, FL area. Filling out an interest survey helps us gauge where our potential future students reside, which we factor into our decision-making when looking at potential school locations.

Chesterton Academy of Mary Star of the Sea is part of the Chesterton Schools Network, a collection of over 50 classical high schools, all following the same model and curriculum.

In 2007, Dale Ahlquist and Tom Bengtson co-founded the first Chesterton Academy high school in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Each had young families and were seeking an alternative to the existing high school options available to them.

The two men had a simple mission: to offer a classical, integrated high school education that was faithful to the Catholic Church and affordable for families of average means.

Looking to G.K. Chesterton as the model for a complete thinker and modern defender of the faith, they named the school Chesterton Academy. Inspired by Pope Saint John Paul II, they took as their motto Cultura Vitae, the culture of life.

After the success of this school, families began reaching out, asking to replicate the successful model in their own area. Soon, Chesterton Academies began opening across America.

Today, there are 50 high schools operating within the Chesterton Schools Network in the U.S. and Canada, with with several additional schools slated to open soon.

(Chesterton Academy high schools have also opened in Italy, Sierra Leone, and Iraq.)

With over 1,000 graduates across Network schools, the Chesterton Academy model is proven and effective at forming smart, joyful, and holy young men and women.

While the exact amount of our tuition depends on costs related to securing a campus and necessary faculty, we aim to keep costs relatively low compared to nearby private schools. Our current tuition estimates range from $8,000 per student to $12,000 per student.

We are currently working with step-up so that Chesterton Academy of Mary Star of the Sea will be eligible to receive step-up funds on the opening day of our school, in fall 2027.