Manhattan Catholic Academy

Chesterton students participate in a wide variety of sports, including soccer, boys and girls volleyball, cross country, basketball, wrestling, track and field, and ultimate frisbee.

We also offer a variety of clubs, including chess team, mock trial, robotics, chamber choir, prayer team, Crusaders for Life, men’s and women’s schola, and swing dance.

We also partner with our public high schools to ensure spots on teams.

Yes. Schools following the Chesterton model have a strong track record of college acceptance, including competitive universities and faithful Catholic institutions.

We will pursue recognized accreditation pathways and ensure our curriculum meets or exceeds college entrance requirements, including:

• Four years of core academic subjects
• Strong writing, reading, and analytical skills
• Standardized testing preparation (ACT/SAT where appropriate)
• Transcripts, course descriptions, and counselor recommendations

Universities care deeply about rigor, coherence, and intellectual formation, all strengths of classical education. Graduates of classical schools are consistently well prepared for higher education and often stand out for their clarity of thought, disciplined study habits, and moral maturity.

Through a partnership with the Franciscan University of Steubenville, juniors and seniors can often earn up to 36 transferable college credits by passing exams aligned with the Chesterton curriculum. That’s more than one full year of college.

The school day runs from 8:00 a.m. to 3:20 p.m. Students begin each morning with a brief assembly, followed by Daily Mass. Class periods follow a schedule comparable to other local high schools. At times, certain subjects (such as literature seminars or science courses with laboratory work) may meet for extended or double periods to allow for deeper study. Students should plan to bring their own lunches each day.

Classical education forms the whole person through the liberal arts, great books, and the integration of faith and reason. It emphasizes clear thinking, strong communication, and moral formation, not just information.

Teachers guide students through thoughtful questions and discussion rather than lectures alone. Students learn to think critically, articulate ideas clearly, and respectfully engage differing viewpoints.

Yes, absolutely. STEM subjects are an essential component of our curriculum. Chesterton Academy’s science curriculum uses classical and college-preparatory texts that take students through earth science, biology, chemistry, and physics. Mathematics instruction takes students through Euclidean and analytical geometry, algebra II, trigonometry, and calculus.

Tuition and fees are projected at approximately $10,000 per year. We are committed to keeping the school accessible through careful budgeting, donor support, and need-based assistance as available.

A student does not need to be Catholic in order to attend. However, it is important for families to understand that the fullness of the Catholic faith will be joyfully modeled and taught in all things, across all subjects, and to all students. In addition, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is central to the life of the Academy. Daily attendance is required and is considered an integral part of the curriculum and the complete formation of the student.

We provide reasonable academic accommodations within our capacity as a small school, working closely with families. Each situation is considered individually and transparently.

Discipline is formative, not punitive. Clear expectations, consistency, and respectful correction help students grow in responsibility, self-discipline, and virtue, in partnership with parents. There will be a demerit system, but we believe in working with kids, not against them.

All Chesterton students are required to wear school uniforms. Both young men and young women wear a navy blazer with the school crest and a white oxford shirt. Gentlemen wear gray dress slacks with a tie and black dress shoes, while ladies wear a modest knee-length skirt with navy socks or tights and black dress flats. Hair, jewelry, and accessories should be simple and professional. A complete description of the uniform and grooming guidelines can be found in the Family Handbook.

Although we recognize the undeniable role of technology in education and our world, we intend to be a “low screen” environment, with heavy emphasis on written materials and classroom discussion. Smartphones and other personal electronic devices will not be allowed and must be stowed during the school day.

G.K. Chesterton is considered one of the world’s most outstanding men of letters of the early 20th century. An accomplished essayist, novelist, and poet, he wrote roughly one 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.