Frequently Asked Questions
Where will CABMM be located?
This is not only the question of the month, but it’s usually the first question most everyone asks – and understandably so. Place gives a tangible sense of reality and permanence. The Chesterton Schools Network encourages teaching truth, beauty, and goodness in places that indeed embody these characteristics. We are in ongoing conversation with local priests as well as working with a realtor to find our first home for CABMM.
Our ideal location will be in New Haven (close to a Catholic church!), within a 30-minute driving radius from Madison to the east, Trumbull to the west, and Cheshire to the north. As we will be starting with one class of about 15 students, the space does not have to be too large. If the opportunity arises to be in a building that would allow for future expansion, we will happily consider this. If you have leads, please send them our way! In order to rent a space we will also need funds – another good reason to please give today!
As important as finding our first Chesterton Academy campus is, we know the Lord will provide just as He has on a daily basis since we embarked on this project. One of the founding board members of the Chesterton Academy of St. Louis told us they did not have a lease signed until the month before they opened their doors! That’s obviously neither ideal, nor our goal, but an example that all will be provided for in His time if God wills it.
What will annual tuition be, and will there be scholarships available?
Affordable tuition is a key component of every Chesterton Academy’s pro-life commitment. The annual tuition will be approximately $10,000 per student – which is about 50% less than local benchmark schools. Part of our mission is to provide an exceptional education at a tuition level that is affordable for families of average means, with scholarships available to those who demonstrate need. The Chesterton Schools Network recommends that we fundraise an additional 10-15% of total tuition revenue in order to provide need-based financial aid to families who can’t afford full tuition. Also, because tuition does not cover the full cost of an education at Chesterton, families (whether they receive aid or not) are expected to assist in fundraising and recruiting efforts throughout the school year.
The trade-off for low tuition is a no-frills environment. Chesterton schools operate in modest buildings, yet inspired by classic British academia, are made beautiful through books, sacred images and student art. Sports and extra-curricular activities are largely organized and funded by parents and volunteers. Administrative and overhead expenses are kept to a minimum. Students learn to take initiative and discover they can do a lot with a little. The modest Chesterton Academy environment is an important antidote to the pervasive materialist and consumer culture students face today.
The Chesterton Academy sounds wonderful, but my children are still little and high school is far away.
This is more of a statement than a question, but we hear these words all the time when we talk about this project with others. And to be perfectly honest, this is the same thought half of the Core Team had when the idea to launch the school in New Haven was made public last October. We too have children of various ages, some of whom will not directly benefit from Chesterton Academy for many years. But the answer to “why give our time now?” is that someone has to start the school, and today there is a critical mass of interested parents. We trust that the Holy Spirit is guiding this initiative and have faith that we will succeed if it is God’s will. We welcome the support of others who are willing to make an investment of their time today to benefit the long-term future of our community, so that New Haven’s Chesterton Academy will exist on a sound footing and be there to help meet the educational and spiritual needs of Catholic families and the culture beyond for many years to come.