No, it is an independent, parent-led high school grounded in the Catholic faith, operating on the premises and with the support of St. Mary Catholic Church in Corvallis.

However, the school is deeply rooted in the Catholic faith. Every teacher, administrator, and Board member takes an Oath of Fidelity to the Magisterium of the Catholic Church.

Chesterton Academy operates fully within the Catholic intellectual tradition, given our faithful Catholic faculty and thoroughly Catholic curriculum. 

(It's also worth noting that the Chesterton Schools Network, the umbrella organization which supports our school, is governed by a canonically recognized Private Association of the Faithful, which was approved by Archbishop Bernard Hebda of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, MN. So, the umbrella organization over us does have official canonical support.)

Yes. We do require four years of Catholic theology, the curriculum is infused with Catholic thought, and all students are required to participate in school events, including Mass, retreats, and other prayer services. However, all are welcome to attend! (Our current student body includes students from Anglican and evangelical backgrounds.)

While the Oregon Department of Education does not oversee private schools, we are a registered school in the Corvallis School District.

In addition, as a member school of the Chesterton Schools Network, we are in the process of being certified by the network at the three-year mark for network compliance.