Springfield Catholic Diocese Looking at 'Classical' Approach to High School Education

Families across central Illinois are weighing a proposal from the Catholic Diocese of Springfield to establish a new classical high school in downtown Springfield, Capitol City Now – News, Weather & Events for Springfield IL reported.

The diocese is currently gauging interest through church bulletin surveys regarding the potential project, which would utilize the former Cathedral School building. Unlike the region’s existing Sacred Heart-Griffin high school, the proposed institution would operate under the governance of Bishop Thomas Paprocki and feature a distinct curriculum rooted in a historical framework.

Diocese officials expect to evaluate community feedback for several weeks before determining whether to move forward with the plan. If approved, the institution could open as soon as 2027.

The old Cathedral School — Photo: nprillinois.org

The proposed curriculum organizes learning chronologically rather than around isolated academic subjects. Mark Newcomb, director of the Department for Catholic Education in the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois, detailed the four-year progression for students.

Freshman year would focus on the ancient world, followed by the medieval world for sophomores. Juniors would study the age of renaissance, global exploration, and reformation, while seniors would examine the modern world.

“Unlike a traditional high school curriculum organized primarily around individual academic subjects, Fulton Sheen Academy would approach learning through the lens of historical periods, integrating literature, mathematics, art, and science into the study of different eras,” Newcomb said.

Diocese of Springfield exploring creation of classical Catholic high school — Boos Exotics

Proponents describe the model as a departure from standard educational methods. Newcomb argued that modern classrooms are frequently shaped by a utilitarian philosophy that emphasizes grades and career preparation over intellectual curiosity.

“The point of classical education is to really be at that point of wonder and looking at what God has folded into the of creation, what God is continuing to do in that creation,” Mark Newcomb, director of the Department for Catholic Education in the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois, said.

“Frequently what happens in the bulk of education in America today, it’s very informed by the philosophy of John Dewey, and it’s frequently very utilitarian. You need to learn this so you can get a good grade, so you can get a degree, so you can get a career, so you can get a job, so you can get money to get stuff, right?” Newcomb said.

Plans for the facility remain provisional as church leaders collect responses from parishioners and families. Organizers have indicated that the school could launch with as few as 20 students, and the curriculum has reportedly drawn inquiries from individuals outside the Catholic faith.

The proposed name honors the late Bishop Fulton Sheen, a prominent television ministry figure and Catholic priest whose cause for canonization is underway. Meanwhile, diocesan leaders continue to review survey data from church bulletins across the capital city to decide the project’s viability.