A new Catholic high school opens next week in Framingham — and it is part of a growing network of schools that aim to give parents more of a say in their children’s education.
The Chesterton Academy of the Immaculata is part of the Chesterton Schools Network, which started with a single school in Minnesota more than 15 years ago.
Since then, it says it’s grown to nearly 70 schools around the world.
Nathalie Calvo, co-founder and board chair at the Framingham school, said that the network of schools started to take off in 2020.
“I think [parents] wanted something that transcended standardized testing and fostering really a lifelong love of learning focused on the intellect and the character,” she said. “So really developing virtue — which is something the Catholic schools have that reputation for. Focusing [on] the whole person, not just the test scores.”
She said the parents worked to find a headmaster to fulfill their vision, then help out more behind the scenes in areas like fundraising once the school is up and running.
Schools in the Chesterton network focus on a wide range of topics. Curricula typically focus on the Western canon with works by authors like Homer, Shakespeare and Charles Dickens. Every student takes choir.
Tens of thousands of Massachusetts students attend parochial and private schools, but they account for just about 7% of all students — down from 13% 40 years ago, according to state data. Enrollment has been declining in recent years, though it leveled out when the pandemic hit.
In Framingham, the last co-ed Catholic high school before Chesterton closed seven years ago.
Chesterton Schools Network is looking to be part of the rebound. The Framingham school is the first in Massachusetts, but there’s already a Chesterton School in Rhode Island that opened in 2023 and two are scheduled to open in Connecticut next year.
“The parents are really taking a role in creating these schools,” Calvo said. “And that’s, I would say, unique about the network as well. The network helps to equip parents so that they can bring this education as an option to their families.”
Enrollment is currently very low. Calvo said that they’d “love to get to about 10 to 15” students, though they’re not quite there yet. But they are encouraging anyone interested to reach out and apply. She said that many schools in the network start small and grow in subsequent years.
Tuition is $10,500, which headmaster Ed Caughlan said is more affordable compared to other local options. Along with the curriculum, he touted the school’s size as a strength.
“Because it’s a small school, you’re not gonna get lost in the shuffle, you’re not gonna be another number, you’re not gonna deal with a lot of the bullying and drama that people suffer through in high school,” he said.
“We have teachers that care about the kids and a small group of students with fun activities. Some days set aside called ‘house days’ where we don’t have classes, we just do fun, community-building things,” Caughlan added. “It’ll be a really great experience. It’s different, but I think in a very positive way.”
