School Information, Tuition, and Enrollment
OUR FOUNDING
Our school was co-founded in 2008, and we are currently entering our 15th year of operation.
ENROLLMENT
Our enrollment is between 145 and 155 students, with a student-to-teacher ratio of 15:1.
TUITION RATE
Our 2024-2025 projected tuition is $9.500. We believe every Catholic family should have a choice to send their children to a Catholic school that prepares students for college and for life. The cost to educate a student at Chesterton Academy next year is projected to be $14,000. 100% of our students will receive an automatic subsidy of $4,500. At a projected tuition rate of $9,500, Chesterton Academy’s tuition rate still remains one of the lowest in the Twin Cities.
Our annual enrollment/re-enrollment fee is $500.
TRANSFER STUDENTS
Chesterton Academy welcomes transfer students each year who come from public, private, homeschool, and online high school environments. Our Academic Dean works closely with each transfer student to ensure their success as they transition to Chesterton.
STUDENT BACKGROUNDS
Our students come from a wide range of educational backgrounds, including parochial K-8 schools, public schools, charter schools, homeschool, and online high schools. 67 zip codes and 52 parishes are represented in our student body.
Admissions
WHAT ARE THE MAIN FACTORS FOR ACCEPTANCE BY THE ADMISSIONS COMMITTEE?
– Legacy
– Standardized test(s) taken in middle school (if a transfer student, the continuation of test results)
– Star Math and Reading test offered by Chesterton Academy
– Alternative math and reading assessment (if needed)
– Three teacher recommendations (Literature, Math, Other)
– Behavior, attendance, modifications/accommodations required at previous school
– Essay
– Headmaster meeting
– Official transcripts for Grades 6-8 (if a transfer student, the continuation of transcripts)
– A completed applicant file with official transcripts, test scores, and recommendations.
It’s critical for Chesterton Academy to have students who will be set up to have a successful experience and will partake in its existing culture.
DOES LEGACY PLAY A ROLE IN THE ADMISSIONS PROCESS?
Yes, legacy is a strong factor; however, legacy does not grant automatic admission.
WHAT IS THE CURRENT ENROLLMENT CAPACITY FOR EACH GRADE?
Two sections. Annual enrollment limits will fluctuate, but two sections will be a threshold used most often.
DOES ONE’S CAPACITY TO PAY TUITION HAVE A DIRECT IMPACT ON THE ACADEMIC ACCEPTANCE OF A STUDENT?
No. A student will be reviewed by a committee of educators who look over the completed application file (grades, behavior, attendance) and will give a recommendation without any knowledge of the applicant’s financial capacity.
MERIT AWARDS
Scholarship are available through several different merit awards, including our Peacemaker Award, St. Cecilia Music Award, the Dale and Laura Ahlquist Performing Arts award, Blessed Fra Angelico Art award, Shepherd Award, and All-Star Awards. If interested in learning more about these opportunities, please contact Mr. Jeff Mitchell at jmitchell@chestertonacademy.org.
Admissions Process
EARLY ENGAGEMENT
If you have a prospective student in 6th-8th grade, it’s a perfect time to get on our early engagement list to have prioritized communication about our school and the admissions process. We want to make the admissions process as easy and stress reduced as possible. We have found that by starting the process early it can make the admissions process that much clearer no matter which school you discern is best for your son/daughter. Please click here to fill out a brief form. Feel free to request a tour, attend daily Mass, catch a class play, attend an open house, or enjoy a choir concert.
EARLY ENROLLMENT
Typically our rising 9th grade admissions process opens in September. Entering the early enrollment process for you; if you’re a legacy family, we are one of the priority schools you are discerning, want to guarantee a seat if academically eligible, and receive the most financial support in merit/need based. The deadline is December 31st for an application and the majority of the admissions process to be complete.
STEP-BY-STEP PROCESS
– Fill out an inquiry
– Shadow for the day OR shadow during one of our our adventure shadow day’s (October)
– Assessment test and essay (An additional assessment may be required)
– Complete application
– Official middle school transcripts
– Three teacher recommendations (Literature, Math, Other)
– Financial documents (Questionnaire and potentially TADS)
– Student questionnaire
Once the majority of the items above are complete a headmaster meeting is scheduled with the student and parent. The academic process and notification period is typically complete in January. The financial award letter and contract is sent out in February.
Financial Aid and Merit Awards
This year, over $1,000,000 of automatic subsidy and financial aid will be distributed among qualified families. To be qualified for aid, a family must complete a 3rd party assessment tool (TADS) to determine appropriate need levels. In addition, a student’s grades, attendance, behavior as well as a parent’s ability to meet fundraising, or volunteer hours, impacts the amount of annual aid offered.
WHEN WILL A FAMILY KNOW HOW MUCH FINANCIAL AID THEY WILL RECEIVE?
A family can begin the application process at any time, but no formal financial offer will be given until an academic acceptance letter has been sent to and accepted by the family. A family must submit a completed financial aid survey as well.
DOES ONE’S CAPACITY TO PAY TUITION HAVE A DIRECT IMPACT ON A STUDENT ACTUALLY BEING ENROLLED AT CHESTERTON ACADEMY?
Yes. Each year the pool of funds available for financial aid will vary due to enrollment and fundraising efforts. The school is committed to investing in the returning students first, and then the remaining funds will be shared among the incoming new students and families. Once a student is granted an official acceptance letter and commits to Chesterton, the family’s financial aid request will be reviewed. It is possible that an accepted applicant will need to reject the acceptance offer based upon the financial aid awarded.
IF A FAMILY HAS ACCEPTED THE SCHOOL’S ADMISSION OFFER AND WROTE A $500 CHECK, BUT WAS UNABLE TO ACCEPT THE SCHOOL’S FINANCIAL AID PACKAGE, WILL THE $500 ENROLLMENT FEE BE REFUNDED?
Yes.
MERIT AWARDS
Scholarship are available through several different merit awards, including our Peacemaker Award, St. Cecilia Music Award, the Dale and Laura Ahlquist Performing Arts award, Blessed Fra Angelico Art award, Shepherd Award, and All-Star Awards. If interested in learning more about these opportunities, please contact Mr. Jeff Mitchell at jmitchell@chestertonacademy.org.
Life at Chesterton Academy
DAILY SCHEDULE
8:00 AM 1st Period
8:50 AM 2nd Period
9:40 AM 3rd Period
10:30 AM 4th Period
11:25 AM Mass
12:05 PM Lunch
12:25 PM Lyceum
12:50 PM 5th Period
1:40 PM 6th Period
2:30 PM 7th Period
3:20 PM School Dismissed
LUNCH
Students bring their own cold lunch and may use school microwaves to heat meals. They may also pre-purchase cheese pizza to enjoy on Fridays.
SACRAMENTAL LIFE
We attend Holy Mass every day at 11:25 AM at St. Gabriel’s Catholic Church in Hopkins, right next door to Chesterton Academy. Adoration and Confession are also available to our students.
1 in 8 male graduates enter the seminary to discern the priesthood.
Six all-school and grade-level retreats are held throughout the year for personal and spiritual formation.
HOUSES
Our House system draws on the 1,000 year-old tradition of Christian education exemplified in the colleges at Oxford and Cambridge. Each student is assigned to one of four houses for their tenure at Chesterton. Students have the opportunity to lead as a House Prefect or Captain. Houses organize activities and competitions centered on social, spiritual, service, and scholarship.
At a special ceremony during All-School Orientation, new students are sorted into their houses and are welcomed by their new housemates. Once a house has been chosen for a student, they will remain in that house until they graduate (sibilings are automaticlly put into their family’s house).
FOREIGN LANGUAGE
We offer Latin, Italian, and Spanish for foreign language classes.
HOMEWORK
Chesterton Academy works to limit assigned homework to an hour and a half of homework per evening. We seek to be efficient in the learning process such that students have time in the evenings to spend with their family and to commit to extracurricular activities and after-school jobs. We also build the class schedule to include two Lyceum (free) periods per week to accommodate our students. They may use this time to study, make up work, meet with faculty or take a break as needed.
SPORTS
Our students participate in a wide variety of sports, including the following: Soccer, Volleyball, Cross Country, Bowling, Basketball, Wrestling, Baseball, Track and Field, and Ultimate Frisbee.
CLUBS & ACTIVITIES
Chess Team, Mock Trial, Robotics, Chamber Choir, Prayer Team, Crusaders for Life, Schola (Men’s and Women’s), Rome and Assisi Pilgrimage, Swing Dance Team, and more.
Preparing for Your First Day
TRANSPORTATION
The school provides an interactive map prior to the beginning of the new school year. The map helps families easily connect with one another in their geographic area.
SCHOOL UNIFORMS
The tradition of school uniforms goes back to Medieval times when caps and gowns were required at universities. Thus, all students regardless of background would dress alike, and all would show an outward sign of their dedication to the task of learning together within the university community. In other words, from the very beginning, uniforms have been in support of three goals: modesty, professionalism, and community, or school spirit. Our uniform policy aims at the same three goals.
SUMMER READING
Chesterton students are required to read one classical work over the summer each year. Reading assignments and study guides are available online. All students will have a quiz on their assigned book within the first week of the school year in their literature class.
SCHOOL SUPPLIES
The school supply list is released over the summer together with details on summer reading assignments.
STUDENT ORIENTATION
New students are required to attend a two-hour orientation session in uniform. Students will meet with the Deans, review their class schedule, get a tour of the campus and set up their lockers.
All students are required to attend All-School Orientation in uniform. During this time they will meet the faculty, attend Mass, receive their schedule and books, participate in house sorting and house meetings and more. These two events required events are held on the Thursday and Friday before the first full day of classes the following Monday.
PARENT WELCOME BACK NIGHT
All parents are required to attend Parent Welcome Back Night held on the Thursday before the first full day of classes. During this time we will be providing important details for the school year. After the meeting all are welcome to attend a social to catch up with old friends and meet new ones.