Discover Chesterton.

Our Model of Education

Inspired by Saint Pope John Paul II, we take as our motto Cultura Vitae, the culture of life. We make it our mission to prepare our students to triumph over the materialism and despair that pervade our culture and to accept our Lord's offer to have life and have it abundantly. Our classical curriculum combines a broad liberal arts education with a strong emphasis on the cultivation of Christian virtues and an appreciation of beauty.

The Three Pillars

  • We teach the classics of Western thought from physics to philosophy, and the interrelationship of the great ideas; teaching students not merely what to think but how to think.

  • We help students grow in the four cardinal virtues of prudence, temperance, fortitude and justice, which we believe are the foundation of leadership.

  • Our students come to understand and embrace the truth of why they exist: to know God, to love Him, and to serve Him in this world and be happy with Him forever in the next.

 Our Patron

G.K. Chesterton

The Chesterton Schools Network is named for the great English writer and Catholic convert, G.K. Chesterton (1874- 1936). Chesterton is our school’s patron because he exemplified the Catholic faith through a life filled with joy, wonder, and gratitude.

Chesterton was considered one of the world’s most outstanding men of letters in the early 20th century. An accomplished essayist, novelist, and poet, he wrote a hundred books on all different subjects. In 1922, he shocked the literary establishment by converting to Catholicism. He was later eulogized by Pope Pius XI as “a gifted defender of the faith,” and there is presently a popular movement to have him canonized. He not only represents the fullness of faith and reason, but also Catholic joy and common sense.

Blessed Carlo Acutis

Born in 1991, Blessed Carlo Acutis is on track to become the first Millennial saint!  He provides our students with a contemporary and relatable example of how to live for Christ every day while successfully navigating today’s modern world. 

Although he enjoyed soccer, making movies with his friends, and playing video games, his priority in life was living in a manner pleasing to God.  He had the wisdom and discipline to limit himself to only one hour of video games per week so that he could devote more time to exploring his true passion: the Holy Eucharist.  In fact, he traveled the world with his parents to investigate Eucharistic Miracles and document them on a website he created so that he could share them with the world.  He said, “if we get in front of the sun, we get sun tans; if we get in front of the Eucharist, we become saints.”  Ultimately, this is what we desire for our students: to become saints.

At age 15, Carlo was diagnosed with a severe form of leukemia and died just one week later.  Despite his short time on Earth, he displayed a wisdom, temperance, faith, hope and charity that all Catholics should emulate.  As he lay dying in the hospital, he offered his suffering for the Pope and the Church.   He told his mom “I am happy to die because I have lived my life without wasting even a minute of it doing things that wouldn’t have pleased God.” 

Students at Chesterton Academy of Blessed Carlo Acutis will have the distinction of receiving an outstanding academic and spiritual education that will guide them toward sainthood under the patronage of Blessed Carlo Acutis. 

“Our aim has to be the infinite and not the finite.  The infinite is our homeland.  We have always been expected in Heaven!” - Blessed Carlo Acutis

Image Credit: Dobroš, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Chesterton Schools Network

We are part of the Chesterton Schools Network based in Minneapolis. An apostolate of the Society of Gilbert Keith Chesterton, the Chesterton Schools Network aims to inspire and encourage parent-led Catholic schools across the nation. The Network offers consulting services, templates for evaluating interest and operating a school, and the Chesterton Academy curriculum framework.

Board of Directors

  • Jana Thomas

  • Katie Jones

  • Arlen & Julie Engbarth

  • Jo Ann Hargis

  • Aric & Ashley Rastrelli

  • Sonia Gutierrez

  • Vince Stone

Videos