A Catholic high school is coming to Grand Junction for the first time in the city’s history. Chesterton Academy, founded by local families after years of planning, will welcome students this fall with a classical education model rooted in faith and traditional learning.
Local Families Build What Grand Junction Never Had
Grand Junction has never offered a Catholic high school option, leaving families with limited choices once their children completed eighth grade. A group of parents and educators decided to change that.
Chesterton Academy will open its doors in fall 2025, marking a historic milestone for Catholic education in the Grand Valley. The school represents years of grassroots effort by families committed to providing faith-based secondary education in their community.
Brian Sargent, who spent 25 years teaching at Palisade High School, now serves as the school’s headmaster. He’s leading the charge to bring classical Catholic education to the region.
The school will begin with approximately 10 students and plans to expand gradually each year. This measured approach allows the institution to build a strong foundation while maintaining the quality and intimacy of a classical education environment.
Classical Curriculum Focuses on Timeless Subjects
The academy will offer a distinctive curriculum centered on classical education principles. Students will study subjects often absent from modern public school programs.
Key subjects include Latin, theology, philosophy and the study of classical texts. This approach aims to develop critical thinking skills and ground students in Western intellectual tradition.
The Chesterton Academy model has gained traction nationwide among Catholic families seeking alternatives to conventional education. Schools in this network emphasize reading primary sources, engaging in Socratic dialogue and developing moral reasoning alongside academic skills.
Parents like Aric Rastrelli, a board member and father of four, have invested significant time in establishing the school. All of his children attended Holy Family, a Catholic K-8 school in Grand Junction, creating a natural progression into high school.
“It’s just kind of a grassroots, homegrown school that we can start and get the ball rolling and start this educational process,” Rastrelli explained about the community-driven initiative.
Spiritual and Academic Formation Combined
Unlike secular schools, Chesterton Academy integrates Catholic faith formation throughout its educational program. The dual mission addresses both intellectual development and spiritual growth.
Sargent emphasizes this balanced approach in the school’s mission. The academy aims to service students spiritually and academically, recognizing these dimensions as complementary rather than separate.
The curriculum structure reflects this integration:
- Morning prayers and Mass attendance
- Theology courses examining Catholic doctrine and Church history
- Philosophy classes exploring ethical questions through a Catholic lens
- Classical literature studied with attention to moral themes
- Service learning connected to Catholic social teaching
This holistic model differs significantly from religious education programs offered as supplements to secular schooling. At Chesterton Academy, faith permeates the entire educational experience.
Community Impact and Student Development
School leaders envision graduates who contribute meaningfully to the Grand Valley beyond their academic achievements. The focus extends to character formation and civic engagement.
Rastrelli articulated this vision clearly. “The students that come out of these Chesterton academies are virtuous, strong, faith-filled, community-focused, compassionate people. So the Grand Valley is going to see just a wonderful, wonderful result when these kids start being able to be active in the community.”
The small initial enrollment allows for personalized attention and mentorship relationships between faculty and students. This intimacy reflects the classical education emphasis on dialogue and personal formation rather than standardized testing and large class sizes.
The school has secured space inside First Methodist Church, demonstrating the ecumenical cooperation possible when communities share educational goals. This partnership provides the physical infrastructure needed while the school establishes itself.
Enrollment remains open for families interested in the fall 2025 semester. The school’s website provides application information and details about tuition, financial aid and the academic program.
The opening of Chesterton Academy fills a long-standing gap in Grand Junction’s educational landscape. For Catholic families who previously had to choose between public schools or relocating to areas with established Catholic high schools, this represents a transformative option. As the school grows in the coming years, its impact on both students and the broader community will become increasingly visible, potentially inspiring similar educational initiatives throughout Western Colorado.
What are your thoughts on classical Catholic education coming to Grand Junction? Share your perspective in the comments below.
