Frequently Asked Questions

Fiat Classical Academy is slated to open in August 2024 for ninth and tenth grade. One grade level will be added each year until 9-12th grades are served.

We will be located on the St. Mary’s parish campus in Aurora, Indiana, where we will be renting space. This location is ideal for residents of Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. Due to the unique nature of Fiat Classical Academy, we anticipate having students from several counties in the Tri-State area.

The Holy Spirit has been moving in profound ways in southeastern Indiana. This is fertile soil for responding to God’s generosity with a resounding, “Yes!” It’s also an underserved area. The closest private high schools are 24 miles away in Ohio and Kentucky. Because Dearborn County is part of the Tri-State area, it also makes it an accessible location for residents of Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky who are seeking a classical education faithful to the Church.

You can learn more about our founding Board of Directors here. We have been consulting with the Institute for Catholic Liberal Education, a leading national expert on classical education, as well as headmasters from across the country, since the summer of 2022.

Fiat is “let it be done” in Latin and refers to God’s utterance at the dawn of creation, “Let there be light,” Mary’s superabundant “yes” to becoming the Mother of God, Jesus’ profound gift of self on the cross, and the invitation offered to each of us to respond, “Amen” to all that God offers us.

Yes! Fiat Classical Academy is a Private Association of the Faithful in the Archdiocese of Indianapolis with the apostolate of a Catholic high school. Our faith is central at Fiat Classical Academy and transforms our academics, extracurriculars and school culture. All faculty and staff are required to take an annual Oath of Fidelity to the Magisterium at the beginning of each academic year.

Simply put, we think that a classical education is the education of the Church. A classical education is a thoroughly human, substantial, transformative education. The content of classes is complemented by teaching methods that acknowledge every young man or woman as someone created in God’s image and likeness. We have found no better way to share the legacy of our faith and the rich inheritance of our ancestors’ search for truth. You can read more about the hallmarks of classical education here.

There are innumerable resources available, and we are always happy to point you in the direction of a good book, article or podcast. To get you started, we recommend the article “A Case for Classical Education” from First Things. Michael Van Hecke, president of the Institute for Catholic Liberal Education, has an hour-long interview on EWTN about the power of Catholic classical education to preserve a Catholic vision in a secular world. If you would really like to dive in, check out an online video series by Dr. Christopher Perrin called ParentU: Is Classical Education Right for Your Child?.

Many students enrolled in classical high schools throughout the country were not classically educated in grade school. We walk with our students to become familiar and comfortable with a different method of learning. We are confident that the joy and wonder that a classical education fosters will resonate with our students. Additionally, we are hoping to offer summer camps to junior high students to introduce them to a classical education experience.

We hope that our website has provided you a glimpse of the many ways we are unique and yet inheritors of a great tradition and a form of education that is time-tested. From our presence in Dearborn County to our curriculum offerings, Adamello Days, approach to student life and faith, and emphasis on teaching the art of living, there is nothing locally available quite like Fiat Classical Academy.

Parents are the primary educators of their children. We know that whatever is taught within the walls of FCA requires support at home. We view FCA as an extension of the domestic church. We offer opportunities for parents to continue their own education and formation. FCA encourages regular communication between parents and teachers, both for parents to understand what their children are learning and for teachers to serve their students more fully.

Tuition for the 2024-2025 has been set at $7,750. We are committed to offering an affordable education. Since we do not anticipate having the ability to offer financial aid in our inaugural year, this was taken into account when setting tuition. For Indiana residents, we plan to be recognized as a recognized school for the SGO and School Choice programs.

When we are a more established school, we hope to offer scholarships. Initially, our fundraising is directed toward opening. We know that scholarships and financial aid are important to many of our families and seek to serve them as we are able. We are also actively pursuing becoming a recipient of the State of Indiana’s school choice and SGO programs. Additionally, our vision is to establish particular scholarships for Ohio and Kentucky residents who are not eligible for Indiana’s school choice and SGO programs.