Two Central Oregon mothers, both of whom home-school their children, started wondering last year how they would handle high school. Then they discovered the Chesterton Schools Network, and decided to open a Catholic high school in the region.

Parents Natasha Rider and Mary Claire Jones held an information night in October to see if there was enough interest from other parents to pursue opening a school. Central Oregon doesn’t have a Catholic high school, so this gives families another secondary schooling option.

The work took off, and organizers hope to open Chesterton Academy of Mater Dei in fall 2025. It will be a private school requiring tuition, though officials plan to keep the cost affordable. Most Chesterton Academies charge tuition between $6,000 and $8,000, as well as book and supply fees.

“I don’t think any of us said ‘Let’s start a high school today,’” said board Chair Kevin Smith. “But all of us were called to do it, to bring this school to Central Oregon.”

Region ready for Catholic high school

Organizers believe students from St. Thomas Academy and St. Francis of Assisi School — both pre-K-8 schools operated by the Diocese of Baker — will feed into the new high school. There is little competition from Trinity Lutheran School due to the schools’ different focuses.

“It’s a fantastic opportunity for the city of Bend,” said St. Francis Catholic School Principal Julie Manion. “There’s a lot of people who’ve wanted this for a long time.”

The Chesterton Schools Network uses a classical education model that includes a heavy focus on liberal arts. Students will take art, drama and philosophy in addition to math and science. Computers won’t be used in the classroom. Organizers want to make sure students gain confidence through activities like drama. The school will teach theology and will begin each day with Mass.

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Smith became involved in the project after the information night. There was enough interest among parents to get started. The Chesterton Schools Network provides a lot of expertise, he said.

The Chesterton Schools Network provided an 18-month timeline with goals for the Central Oregon team, setting them on track to have a school open by fall 2025. Each school in the network is allowed to use Chesterton’s branding and marketing, though it doesn’t provide financial assistance. The network also provides the curriculum.

Two parents wanted more options for high school and co-founded the first Chesterton Academy in 2007 in Minnesota. In 2013, the network was formed to help create other schools around the world. The network now boasts over 50 schools worldwide. The school in Central Oregon will be the fifth Chesterton school in Oregon. Each school is required to go through the process of becoming a 501(c)(3), and the network guides its members through a joint accreditation and recognition process with the National Association of Private Catholic and Independent Schools, and the Cardinal Newman Society.

Around 35 people in Central Oregon are working to get Chesterton School of Mater Dei off the ground, which includes marketing, fundraising and otherwise spreading the word about the new school. The team is currently focused on solidifying the school as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, said Smith.

The school will accept students who are not Catholic, he said. The plan is to start small and grow over the years in a location that everyone in Central Oregon can reach. Smith estimated the school ultimately would have 200 students total.

It’s too early to begin looking for a location, however. Organizers are confident they will find one.

“We want to give the community another option for school in Central Oregon; Trinity’s busting at the seams,” said Smith. “Students will be knowledgeable, have wisdom, and think on their own.”

The team will hold more information nights in the fall.