Chelsea Academy (Top Ranked Private School for 2026)

View full size Get directions

REQUEST INFO

SAVE SCHOOL

About the School

Chelsea Academy is the Shenandoah Valley's K-12 Catholic school offering a robust program of study in the Liberal Arts tradition and founded on the 4 Pillars of Faith, Academics, Friendship, and Adventure.

Quick Facts (2026)

Top Ranked VA School
Grades: Kindergarten-12
Enrollment: 225 students
Application Deadline: None / Rolling
Source: ✓Verified school update

School Rankings

Chelsea Academy ranks among the top 20% of private schools in Virginia for:

School Facts

School Membership(s)School Assoc.

National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA)
VISA - Virginia Independent School Association

Religious Affiliation

Catholic

Grades Offered

Grades Kindergarten-12

Students By Grade

View Data

Distribution of Students By Grade
Grade	Chelsea Academy
Kind	13
1	11
2	13
3	11
4	15
5	18
6	21
7	18
8	21
9	22
10	21
11	26
12	15

Download Table: Download as CSV | Download as XML | Download as JSON

Download Full School Data: Full School Dataset XML | Full School Dataset JSON

Note: Data may not be displayed on any public-facing website or service that replicates or resembles a school search or review portal without prior written permission. See our Terms of Service.

Year Founded

2008

Student Body

Total Students

225 students

Student Body Type

Co-ed

% Students of Color

15%

State avg.: 31%

Academics & Faculty

Total Classroom Teachers

16 teachers

Student-Teacher Ratio

14:1

National avg.: 11:1

% Faculty w/Advanced Degree

38%

List of Courses Offered

Link to List of Courses

Advanced Courses

Honors EnglishHonors French

Honors HistoryHonors Latin

Honors ScienceHonors Theology

Average SAT score

1350

(Out of 1600)

Matriculation DataMatric. Data

View Matriculation Data

Classroom Dress Code

Formal

uniform

Tuition & Acceptance Rate

Admission Deadline

None / Rolling

Tuition Notes

K-5 $9,445 6-8 $11,150 9-12 $13,585

Admissions Director

Therese Zepeda

Application URL

Online Application

Sports

Total Sports Offered

5 sports

Sports

BasketballCross Country

RugbySoccer

Volleyball

Extracurriculars

Total ExtracurricularsTotal Extra-curric.

8 extracurriculars

ExtracurricularsExtra-curric.

Club or Organization:

Chess ClubJournalism/Yearbook Club

Service ClubSwing Dance Club

Arts and Music Programs:

High School PlayMiddle School Play

Schola CantorumSchola Club

School Notes

No cell phone policy/Low technology classrooms
Competitive Interscholastic sports teams
Outdoor adventures - hike, camp, canoe
On-site chapel, weekly all-school Mass

In 2008, the founders of Chelsea Academy came together to build a Catholic school that would help students and families across four key dimensions. These four pillars continue to guide a Chelsea education today:FAITH FRIENDSHIP ACADEMICS ADVENTURE
Mission
Chelsea Academy seeks to form confident young men and women educated in the liberal arts tradition and the Catholic faith from Kindergarten through 12th grade. The Academy is committed to promoting and cultivating in its students the life of the mind and the love of truth; an appreciation for the natural world and the heritage of human achievement; enduring friendships; a spirit of adventure; and the virtues of honesty, diligence, courage, piety, and personal responsibility. Through an ethos shaped by Catholic teaching and devotions and a balanced curriculum that includes the humanities, sciences, the arts, and athletics, Chelsea Academy provides students with opportunities for developing themselves into adults who are capable of making positive contributions to their families, places of work, and communities.
Philosophy
The purpose of a true education is to develop in a person a habit of being and a "culture of the Word." This arises both as a natural duty of parents to educate their children and as a solemn duty of the Church being faithful to her Lord.Such an education demands that students be introduced to and given the tools to apprehend all of reality-both in its natural and supernatural aspects. The very grammar of reality arises through the creative work of God who creates by "speaking" into existence all things. God's self-revelation of Jesus Christ being the Word of God adds to our understanding that "all things were made through him" and that as the Divine Logos all truth, goodness, and beauty finds its origin and end in him.Hence, a "culture of the Word" is, a set of concrete conditions whereby parents, faculty, students, and staff-together in a community of friendship-seek God.This is accomplished, firstly, with the recognition of God as our Father who is, therefore, due our worship and love.Secondly, it is the training of the intellect to seek the truth about things and to understand each of those things in the greater context of the symphony of reality.This implies the cultivation of awe and wonder at this symphony-its beauty, goodness, and the inexhaustibility of its contemplation.This understanding of things both natural and supernatural takes into account the unique creation that is the human person and concomitantly raises the question as to how one should act.A training in virtue then, rooted in the natural light of reason and given confirmation by Divine Revelation, gives students the tools to utilize their freedom in a way that conforms them more closely to Jesus Christ: to have the courage to overcome their fallen natures (a lifelong project), to choose wisely and act rightly in a variety of circumstances, to engage the wider culture with confidence and conviction, and to love God and neighbor more perfectly.As our patron, St. Thomas More put it:[T]o put virtue in the first place, learning in the second; and in their studies to esteem most whatever may teach them piety towards God, charity to all, and Christian humility in themselves-These I consider the real and genuine fruits of learning, and I would maintain that those who give themselves to study with such intent will easily attain their end and become perfect.
The Chelsea Name & St. Thomas More
Chelsea Academy takes its name from the house at Chelsea of sixteenth-century statesman, scholar, andmartyr Thomas More. Chelsea is located on theThames, then, just outside of London.A man of great learning and virtue, More established at Chelsea a home in which he sought to teach his children "piety towards God, charity towards all, and Christian humility in themselves." As a leading Christian humanist of his day, More provided a classical education for all of his children and others of his household, most notably his daughter Margaret, who excelled at Latin. The great humanistErasmus, who often visited More and his family at Chelsea, described his household (in the words of a More biographer) "as Plato's Academy on Christian footing."More was canonized by Pope Pius XI in 1935, four hundred years after his execution by King Henry VIII. Chelsea Academy offers an education that is inspired by the life and writings of St. Thomas More.
Motto:Domine ut videam
These words from the Gospel of St. Luke Domine ut videam(Lord, that I may see) are both a prayer and a reminder of whatlies at the heart of education. Seeing involves recognizing, making distinctions, and understanding reality. Young children learn to distinguish a maple tree from an oak through careful observation. Older students are taught to see what Homer sees. For people of all ages, the effort made to see is the first step toward gaining knowledge about the world. As C.S. Lewis writes, "In coming to understand anything we are rejecting the facts as they are for us in favor of the facts as they are." We are learning to see. The blind man's prayer also reminds us that we must look to God in order to see fully. Faith in the unseen leads to the gift of sight.WithDomine ut videamas its motto, Chelsea Academy seeks to assist its students in seeing things both earthly and eternal.

Source: Verified school update

REQUEST FREE INFORMATION

Frequently Asked Questions

What schools are Chelsea Academy often compared to?

Chelsea Academy is often viewed alongside schools like Dominion Ridge Academy by visitors of our site.

What sports does Chelsea Academy offer?

Chelsea Academy offers 5 interscholastic sports: Basketball, Cross Country, Rugby, Soccer and Volleyball.

What is Chelsea Academy's ranking?

Chelsea Academy ranks among the top 20% of private schools in Virginia for: Highest average SAT score and Largest student body.

When is the application deadline for Chelsea Academy?

The application deadline for Chelsea Academy is rolling (applications are reviewed as they are received year-round).

School Calendar

View the Chelsea Academy yearly calendar below. Note key dates such as:

Event

Date

Labor Day - School Closed

September 07, 2026 (Monday)

Thanksgiving Break

November 25, 2026 (Wednesday)

Thanksgiving Break

November 26, 2026 (Thursday)

Thanksgiving Break

November 27, 2026 (Friday)

Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception - School Closed

December 08, 2026 (Tuesday)

School Reviews

5.00 out of 5 (5 reviews)

5 12/13/2024

As a former homeschooler, Chelsea was my first experience with school, and I can't imagine a better school to be that first experience. At Chelsea, I learned to write well and to think, and I made many friendships I still have today. The community was authentically Catholic, and the teachers were beautiful examples of the faith, whose dedication to their students was inspiring. Chelsea became my home, one which I have since returned to as a teacher. Even a decade later, Chelsea still has the same vibrant community and passionate Catholic identity that I loved as a student.

- Posted by Student/Alumni - Bernadette

5 12/13/2024

I attended Chelsea Academy for 9 years, graduating in 2022. Throughout my time there, I encountered passionate and inspiring teachers and a community of students unique for their ability to form enduring and irreplaceable bonds. The most important gift given to me by Chelsea was their integration of sports, arts, and academics with the truths of the Catholic Faith. The wide breadth of experiences I had at Chelsea, from the soccer team to the fall hike to drama to rigorous academics, showed how the Catholic faith can permeate and transcend all parts of life. This gift has stayed with me as I pursue a biology degree at the University of Virginia and hope to attend veterinary school. I am grateful to the community of teachers who inspired a love of truth, beauty, and goodness in all things, and the wonderful group of peers who I continue to call dear friends.

- Posted by Student/Alumni - James Schwartz

5 11/22/2024

Chelsea Academy has made my life easier. The academics prepared me to study accounting at George Mason University and the connections through the school landed me a job as a staff accountant in Culpeper, VA. I enjoyed playing multiple sports while there, I took advantage of the art courses taught by a professional painter, and my time singing in the choir after school set me up to sing for large events throughout Northern VA. The most important gift from this school was the formation I received allowing me to become an rational Catholic that not only could maintain a firm understanding of complex theological matters, but also write quickly and concisely as a working adult. Thank you Chelsea Academy and all who support her growth, I would not be the man I am today without your support.

- Posted by Student/Alumni - James Lee

5 11/22/2024

Chelsea is a rigorous liberal arts school that provides a strong Catholic education. It is very small, but the community is wonderful, and I've made many wonderful friends in my time there.

- Posted by Student/Alumni - Olivia Z

5 11/22/2024

I attended Chelsea Academy for nine years and graduated in 2022. During my time at Chelsea, I made friends for life and enjoyed competing in soccer, basketball, and cross country. I am currently a junior at Purdue Global University and have found that the mathematics and liberal arts programs at Chelsea have prepared me well for my current studies.

- Posted by Student/Alumni - Anna

Endorse Chelsea Academy. Endorsements should be a few sentences in length. Please include any comments on:

Quality of academic programs, teachers, and facilities
Availability of music, art, sports and other extracurricular activities
Academic or athletic awards

Recent Articles

August 25, 2026

Will This Curriculum Still Matter in 2035?

Learn how to evaluate future-ready private school curricula for 2035, focusing on durable knowledge, critical thinking, AI literacy, adaptability, communication, creativity, and real-world learning before choosing a school.

August 25, 2026

Private Schools for Creators, Trades & Startups

Explore how private schools support non-traditional career paths in creative industries, skilled trades, and entrepreneurship, plus what families should evaluate when choosing specialized programs for future-ready students today.

August 25, 2026

First 90 Days at Private School: Parent Guide

Learn how to read your child’s first 90 days at private school, distinguish healthy adjustment from genuine struggles, and know when academic, social, or emotional concerns require action.

Request Info

Email:

Name of parent:

Student first name:

Student last name:

Student date of birth:

Student is:

Male

Female

Currently in grade:

Seeking entry for grade:

Target start date:

Please briefly describe academic, athletic, and extracurricular interests of the student:

Home address:

City:

Country:

State:

Zip: (enter "N/A" if not applicable)

Phone:

Save this data and create your user profile. Create your own user account so you don't have to re-type your user data each time you request information. You'll also be able to track your information requests, get reminded of application dates, and more!

Username:

Password:

Did You Know?

The average private school tuition in Virginia is $15,582 for elementary schools and $18,825 for high schools (read more about average private school tuition across the country).

The average acceptance rate in Virginia is 79% (read more about average acceptance rates across the country).