Choosing the Right High School

Top 10 Criteria for Choosing the Right High School

Choosing a high school can be a difficult process.  Chesterton Academy of Buffalo is pleased to assist parents by outlining vital benchmarks of successful schools.  We sincerely hope the following criteria will help you as a parent discern the best environment and curriculum for your child.  May God bless your journey and know that we are here to help.

Your Next Steps

Apply Today

Our Freshman and Transfer Student application process is based on a rolling admissions timeframe. In other words, students may apply to Chesterton Academy at any point throughout the year. However, it is highly recommended that students apply prior to January 31st in order to be eligible for our merit-based scholarships and maximum financial aid awards. Our application may be completed online or downloaded and mailed to the school.

Throughout the application process, our Headmaster or Admissions Director will meet one-on-one with you and your student to develop a customized academic plan, explain the enrollment process and answer any questions you may have. Please click on the button below to apply today.

Enrollment and Re-Enrollment

For every new student enrollment and/or re-enrollment, there is a $250 registration fee. This fee is rolled into the annual tuition cost of $8,275 per student. Our enrollment form and fee may be completed and paid directly online.

TADs Tuition and Financial Aid Registration

Click on the button below to sign-up for a payment schedule or to complete a Financial Aid Application.

Tuition and Aid

An Affordable Education

Tuition & Fees

Chesterton Academy of Buffalo is committed to offering an outstanding high school education at an affordable cost to families. Tuition for the 2024-25 academic year is $8,275 per student with a $275 book and activity fee. Families with siblings at Chesterton Academy receive a generous tuition discount.

Because tuition does not cover the full cost of an education at Chesterton, families are expected to assist in fundraising and various school activities throughout the school year. Please see our handbook for details.

Financial Aid

Scholarships and tuition assistance are available to families who apply and qualify for aid. Chesterton Academy utilizes the services of TADS to help us allocate fairly our limited aid dollars. The student application process must be completed in full before being considered for tuition assistance. Please apply for financial aid prior to January 31st in order to qualify for maximum benefits as we allocate funds on a first come, first served basis.

Need Based Scholarships

The following scholarships are available for the 2024-2025 school year for either new freshmen or current students:

  • Russell J Salvatore Scholarship partnered with Chesterton Academy for high-potential students with economic need. Same student may receive up to four years in total.
  • Bison Fund – offered independently through Bison Fund application process.

For more detailed information regarding the aforementioned scholarships and awards, please call the main office at 716/674-8101.

Scholarships and Awards

The following scholarships are available for the 2024-2025 school year:

  • Chesterton Works of Mercy Scholarship – Annual scholarship for one student who has documented an extra-ordinary commitment to Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy. This scholarship is not dependent on financial need and may be available for multiple years. Click HERE for application form and details.
  • St. Thomas More Guild of WNY High School and College Scholarship – One $1,500.00 scholarship will be awarded to a student attending a Catholic high school in the Diocese of Buffalo. Click HERE for application information. One $2,000.00 scholarship will be awarded to a student attending either a Catholic college or an ABA accredited law school. The student should be domiciled in the Diocese of Buffalo and be a practicing Catholic.

Incoming freshmen are eligible for the following scholarships:

  • Chesterton Merit  Scholarship – Three students will be invited to compete for a $1,000 4-year scholarship offered to one incoming freshman that achieved high honors in both 7th and 8th grade (as indicated on official school transcript), submitted a superior writing sample and applied prior to January 31st.
  • St. Thomas More Guild of WNY High School Scholarship – One $1,500.00 scholarship will be awarded to a student attending a Catholic high school in the Diocese of Buffalo. Click HERE for application information.

For more detailed information regarding the aforementioned scholarships and awards, please call the main office at 716/674-8101.

Admissions Events

Frequently Asked Questions

Life at Chesterton

Chesterton works to limit assigned homework to an hour and a half to two hours per evening. We seek to be efficient in the learning process such that students have time in the evenings to spend with their family and extracurricular activities or jobs. We also build into the class schedule free periods throughout the week so students may use this time to study or take a break as needed.

7:50AM Homeroom

8:00AM Mass

8:40AM 1st Period

9:28AM 2nd Period

10:16AM 3rd Period

11:04AM 4th Period

11:51AM 4th Period (Lunch)

12:29PM 5th Period

1:17PM 6th Period

2:05PM 7th Period

2:50PM Dismissal

Students bring their own lunch and may use school microwave to heat meals. Pizza and snacks are available on various days throughout the week for purchase.

Students are assigned their house and are announced the first day of school. Once a house has been chosen for a student, they will remain in that house until they graduate.

Chesterton welcomes transfer students each year who come from public, private, and homeschool environments. Our Headmaster, Academic Dean and Guidance Team work closely with each transfer student and their family to ensure their success as they transition to Chesterton.

Preparing for Your First Day

Students who live within a 15 mile radius of Chesterton may receive busing according to their home public school district. Applications for transportation are required each year and are approved by the student’s home public school district. Students outside the 15 mile radius are responsible for their own transportation.  Many families form carpools to share transportation.  Please ask the main office for more details.

The tradition of school uniforms goes back to Medieval times when cap and gowns were required at universities. Thus, all students regardless of background would dress alike and all would show an outward sign of their dedication to that university. Our school uniform policy supports three goals: modesty, professionalism and unity/school spirit.

Chesterton students are required to read one classical work over the summer each year.

The school supply list is released in July together with details on the summer reading assignments and uniform policy.