•Holy Family Classical Academy will open in fall 2025, offering a Catholic classical curriculum for grades K-3, with plans to expand.
•The community has already raised $86,200 to support the school’s founding, with a goal to surpass $100,000.
•Long-term plans include a K-8 school building on the Holy Name of Jesus campus and future high school development.
Catholic education is taking a significant step forward in Niceville with the Holy Family Classical Academy (HFCA) announcement. Supporters say they will open the school for the Fall of 2025 on the campus of Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church. During an all-call meeting held Sunday, community members gathered to celebrate the exciting news and the school’s upcoming launch.
While they still need the blessing of the Diocese’s Bishop, William Wack, before they will proceed – HFCA’s inaugural year will offer a Catholic classical curriculum for grades K-3, with the potential to expand if enrollment allows. Applications for enrollment are expected to be available in January 2025.
The long-term vision for the academy includes expanding to a K-8 school, complete with a new building on the land behind the Holy Name of Jesus campus. Plans also include developing a high school, with grades 9-12 to be added as part of the academy’s growth. The complete year-one launch plan and details on future expansions are outlined in a presentation shared with attendees during the meeting.
You can see those plans here:
One of the highlights of the meeting was the overwhelming financial support from the community. Since the announcement, HFCA has received $86,200 in financial commitments, a key step toward making the school a reality. Organizers expressed their gratitude to all who have pledged support, emphasizing the importance of these contributions in helping create an environment where children can grow both academically and spiritually, rooted in Catholic faith. If you want to donate – the link is here.
With just under $14,000 needed to reach the milestone of $100,000 raised, HFCA is calling on the community to continue its support. Those interested in contributing financially can do so through a link the school’s organizers provided.
In addition to financial contributions, the academy is also seeking spiritual support. Community members interested in joining the school’s prayer team are invited to connect with Mrs. Pia Elsesser, who is leading the Prayer & Helping Hands Committee. The team’s first prayer intention is for Bishop Wack to give his blessing for Holy Name of Jesus to officially host the school.
“Thank you from the bottom of our hearts to everyone who has given of their time, talent, and treasure already,” HFCA organizer Jeff Witt said in an email. “Much more to come, and we can’t wait to take the next steps together.”
For more information on Holy Family Classical Academy and to stay updated on its progress, visit Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church’s website.
Key Details:
• HFCA will open in fall 2025 for grades K-3, with plans to expand.
• The school will follow a Catholic classical curriculum.
• Nearly $86,200 has been raised so far, with a goal to surpass $100,000.
• Applications for enrollment will open in January 2025.
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