Sacred Heart of Jesus
Classical Academy
Serviemus Domino — We will serve the Lord
Staunton, Virginia
Serviemus Domino — We will serve the Lord
Staunton, Virginia
The Three Pillars
Intellect
We teach the classics of Western thought from physics to philosophy, and the interrelationship of the great ideas — teaching students not merely what to think, but how to think.
Character
We help students grow in the four cardinal virtues of prudence, temperance, fortitude, and justice — which we believe are the foundations of true and lasting leadership.
Spirituality
Our students come to understand and embrace the truth of why they exist: to know God, to love Him, and to serve Him in this world and be happy with Him forever in the next.
Who We Are
Sacred Heart of Jesus Classical Academy is a classical school, grounded in the Catholic faith. We aim to help students recognize the true, imitate the good, and adore the beautiful, falling in love with the source of all three — God himself.
Our purpose is to prepare students to triumph over the materialism and despair that pervade our culture and to accept our Lord's offer to have life, and have it abundantly (John 10:10).
We believe Sacred Heart is not just about educating students to do something after they graduate, but to become someone great now — a beloved child of God. We help students become fully alive in their faith and develop joy, wisdom, and virtue through our three pillars: Intellect, Character Formation, and Spirituality.
The mission of Sacred Heart of Jesus Classical Academy is to partner with parents to raise a generation of joyful leaders and saints educated in the classical liberal arts tradition and the truths of the Catholic faith.
Sacred Heart recognizes that parents are the primary educators of their children. Our faculty, working with parents and continually drawing on the wellspring of faith and reason, seek not only to equip students with the knowledge needed to excel in life, but to nourish them with the love of wisdom and virtue needed to live well.
We provide an integrated, classical, liberal arts curriculum drawing on the great Catholic scholars throughout Church history, the Great Books of Western Civilization, and robust Socratic dialogue — so that students may glorify God in all things.
With Gratitude
We sincerely thank ALL of our donors for making our school possible. In a special way, we thank those who have contributed $10,000 or more to bring Staunton a classical high school joyfully rooted in the Catholic tradition:
$10,000 & Above
Life at Sacred Heart
Our Story
Founded in 2025, Sacred Heart of Jesus Classical Academy is a Catholic classical school rooted in the Great Books tradition. We are committed to forming students who know what is true, can discern what is good, and love what is beautiful.
As a member of the Institute for Catholic Liberal Education, we uphold the highest standards of classical formation — preparing students not merely for college, but for a life of virtue, faith, and meaning.
Read Our Full Mission
Wisdom of the Ages
For the correct analogy for the mind is not a vessel that needs filling, but wood that needs igniting…
— Plutarch
Three things are necessary for the salvation of man: to know what he ought to believe; to know what he ought to desire; and to know what he ought to do.
— St. Thomas Aquinas
You can't get second things by putting them first; you can get second things only by putting first things first.
— C.S. Lewis
Since love grows within you, so beauty grows. For love is the beauty of the soul.
— St. Augustine of Hippo
A dead thing can go with the stream, but only a living thing can go against it.
— G.K. Chesterton
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides.
— Matthew 6:33
Mark Your Calendar
Join us for a beautiful evening beginning with Holy Mass, followed by a joyful ice cream social. Come meet fellow families, share in the faith, and celebrate the community we are building together at Sacred Heart of Jesus Classical Academy.
Register Interest →Welcome to the Sacred Heart family! Join us for a warm and informative afternoon where students and parents will receive schedules, textbooks, and a full introduction to the school's culture, traditions, and expectations. A wonderful opportunity to meet classmates and faculty before the first day of school.
Schedule a Visit →Welcome to the first day of a great adventure! Students arrive to begin their journey in classical Catholic education at Sacred Heart of Jesus Classical Academy. Come ready to learn, make new friends, and embrace the life of the mind and the spirit.
Learn More →Meet the Team
Headmaster
Dr. Day devoted 15 years to serving as a professor of political science at Western Illinois University. During that time, he served for four years as Director of the St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Newman Center. He also spent seven years as a teacher and Director of Academics at a classical K–12 school. While there, he helped the school expand from a K–8 into a full K–12 program. He later became the Founding Headmaster of Chesterton Academy of Vero Beach, where he successfully helped build and launch one of the Chesterton Academies. Both he and his wife are converts to the Catholic Church and are raising their six children in the Faith. Four of their children are homeschooled, and two will be attending Sacred Heart. Dr. Day and his entire family are excited about being closer to family while helping to grow Sacred Heart of Jesus Classical Academy.
11th and 12th Grade Humanities
Dr. Zvengrowski grew up in the Canadian city of Calgary, where he became intrigued by the history of the American Civil War while attending college as an undergraduate. He received a doctoral degree in American history from the University of Virginia, and he wrote a book about the Civil War: Jefferson Davis, Napoleonic France, and the Nature of Confederate Ideology, 1815–1870 (Louisiana State University Press, 2020). He has also worked as an editor for the Papers of George Washington. He, his wife, and their four children are parishioners at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Waynesboro, Virginia. His hobbies include drawing, gardening, J.R.R. Tolkien lore, and sourdough baking.
9th and 10th grade Humanities
Ms. Zigadlo studied Business Management and English at Christopher Newport University and later earned a Master's in Pastoral Theology from Saint Joseph's College of Maine. She has spent several years in college campus ministry, walking with students in their spiritual and personal growth. She is passionate about helping others fall in love with prayer, the beauty in everyday life, and a willingness to say yes. She has found most of her own formation happened in quiet time spent in Adoration. On a slow day, you will usually find her working on a sewing project, getting lost in an adventure story, or out paddle boarding—preferably somewhere with no shortage of sunshine.
Mathematics and Natural Philosophy
Mr. Wilson is the youngest of eight siblings, many of whom have devoted themselves to teaching and other educational vocations. A recent graduate of Benedictine College, Mr. Wilson earned both a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy. During his time at Benedictine, he cultivated a wide range of talents and interests, serving as a member of the wrestling team, performing as a violinist in the college orchestra, and leading as Head Mentor of the Sheridan Honors Institute. Outside the classroom, Mr. Wilson enjoys designing intricate replicas of medieval crossbows and other historical weapons using K'NEX, as well as participating in a variety of sports.
Music
Mr. Kirkland studied music and majored in piano performance at Emory University. It was there that he came into contact with the rich musical heritage of Western culture and the prominent role of the Church in its development, which only strengthened his desire to evangelize through beauty. His encounter with the Extraordinary Form during this time also had a profound impact on his understanding of the role of music in the liturgy and of the late Pope Benedict XVI's "hermeneutic of continuity." Such music, he realized, could not simply be relegated to classrooms and concert halls. He founded chant scholas at his home parish, St. Francis of Assisi, as part of his larger mission to rebuild the Church by responding to the Second Vatican Council's call to preserve this "treasure of inestimable value." He is now the Director of Music at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, where he integrates what is learned in the classroom with the living worship of the Church. Daniel grew up in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley in Staunton and has always loved the tranquility of the countryside, whether enjoying a good hike in the mountains or swimming in a lake or river. He also enjoys board games, chess, playing the accordion, Gilbert and Sullivan, and philosophical discourse.
Various Disciplines
At various times we will invite honored guests to give a talk to our students.
Join Our Community
Applications are open for the 2026–2027 school year. We invite you to schedule a shadow day and experience classical Catholic education firsthand.
Get in Touch
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