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About Us
Chesterton Academy is named for the great English writer and Catholic convert, G.K. Chesterton (1874- 1936). Chesterton is a model for our school because he exemplified the Catholic faith through a life filled with joy, wonder, and gratitude.
Chesterton was considered one of the world’s most outstanding men of letters in the early 20th century. An accomplished essayist, novelist, and poet, he wrote a hundred books on all different subjects. In 1922, he shocked the literary establishment by converting to Catholicism. He was later eulogized by Pope Pius XI as “a gifted defender of the faith,” and there is presently a popular movement to have him canonized. Our school has chosen him for its patron because he not only represents the fullness of faith and reason, but also Catholic joy and common sense.
Chesterton Academy of Buffalo exists to encourage young adults to seek truth and encounter Jesus Christ.
To form joyful disciples through an outstanding, integrated education centered on the Incarnation of Jesus Christ, with G.K. Chesterton as a model of lay spirituality.
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.
We help students grow in the four cardinal virtues of prudence, temperance, fortitude and justice, which we believe are the foundation of leadership and emotional maturity.
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.
Dr. Theresa Updike
Chairman
Paul Friedman
Secretary
Dr. Paul and Dr. Theresa Updike
Mrs. Lenore Uhrich
Dr. Rose Hershenov
Mr. Michael Hahn
Mr. Daniel Lawson
Mr. Michael Wright
The Chesterton Academy Network continues to grow and expand. For more information on locations near you, click below.
Be part of a faith-filled community shaping future leaders through classical education. Explore career opportunities where your talents can make a lasting impact.
Dear Parents and Friends,
At Chesterton Academy of Buffalo, we believe that education is not merely the transmission of information—it is the formation of souls. As Chair of the Board and as a fellow Catholic parent, I want you to know how seriously we take the call to guide your children toward truth, virtue, and a deep encounter with Jesus Christ.
In a world where noise and confusion often drown out clarity, our school offers something rare: a Christ-centered education that marries the timeless richness of the classical tradition with the vibrant life of our Catholic faith. We are committed to being Catholic, classical, and affordable—because truth should never be out of reach.
We ground our work in five core values:
Inspire Wonder
Your children should marvel at God’s design in math, literature, science, and art. We want them to say, “Wow… and thank you, Lord,” often.
Lead with Humility
As Christ washed the feet of His disciples, so too we aim to serve—each other, our students, and our mission—with joy and selflessness.
Cultivate Beauty
Whether in a liturgy, a painting, a well-formed argument, or a kind act, beauty elevates us. We strive to shape an environment that draws hearts toward God.
Uphold Faith and Reason
We reject the modern lie that these are opposed. As St. John Paul II wrote, “Faith and reason are like two wings on which the human spirit rises to the contemplation of truth.”
Illuminate Minds
Rigorous academics are not an end in themselves, but a path to truth. We prepare your children to think well and stand firm in a world that often resists both.
Chesterton himself wrote, “The object of opening the mind, as of opening the mouth, is to shut it again on something solid.” We hope our students learn to open their minds in wonder—then close them around eternal truths.
Thank you for considering Chesterton Academy of Buffalo. Know that we pray for you, and we are honored to be partners in the sacred task of raising saints.
— A Message from Dr. Theresa Updike, Chair of the Board
Cecilia Bowen, ’18 Valedictorian, is currently working as an LPN at Buffalo General Hospital. We wish to congratulate Cecilia on her recent marriage to her high school sweetheart, Charles Noonan on September 4, 2021 at St. Louis R.C. Church. Many Chesterton graduates joined the couple in celebrating their nuptials. We are thrilled for the newleyweds and pray for a lifetime of blessings!
My four years at Chesterton Academy allowed me to better appreciate and grow in my faith and helped me gain a more complete understanding of the Catholic teachings and beliefs. This also allowed me to more effectively engage in deeper conversations with my fellow students and friends.
“This program is a very challenging field of study and requires constant effort and dedication. However, I was prepared for the rigors of college in numerous ways by my time at Chesterton Academy of Buffalo. In particular, the study of Latin for three consecutive years and becoming familiar with the root language of the scientific community, enabled me to easily adapt to learning medical terminology, thus giving me a “head start” with material in my field.”
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