Sometimes the best way to move forward is to look back. That’s a lesson Catholic schools can learn from Sacred Heart Academy in Grand Rapids, MI.

In 2013, Sacred Heart was on the brink of closing. Enrollment in the K–8 school had plummeted to fewer than 70 students. Fr. Robert Sirico, who became a pastor at Sacred Heart Parish in 2012, wanted to try something new to see if the school could be revitalized.

Fr. Sirico hired Sean Maltbie as the first headmaster as the school transitioned to a classical model. Sean didn’t have the typical background for a head of school—he’s a former federal prosecutor who had a 30‐​year career in the Air Force and Air National Guard. When diocesan officials commented that Sean didn’t have formal education credentials, Fr. Sirico quipped, “Of course not. I wasn’t looking for that. I was looking for somebody who could get things done, and I figured a former federal prosecutor might be the man for the job.”

In Fall 2014, Sacred Heart Academy started the school year using a new—and yet old—approach. The classical education model is really a return to what Catholic education was for generations. There is an emphasis on quality literature, Latin, history, and culture, as the school seeks to partner with parents to educate and pass the faith along to their children. Another significant change was instituting daily Mass each morning, which includes the school as well as families and the wider parish community. For children in kindergarten and pre‑K, Sacred Heart uses a Montessori approach.

In addition to moving to a more traditional academic model, Sacred Heart began offering courses for homeschooling families. These Classical Enrichment Courses meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays so homeschool families can receive support while retaining the freedom and flexibility of homeschooling. Sean says that inviting homeschooling families into the school community brought an infusion of energy. The homeschool program uses multi‐​grade clusters separate from the full‐​time school offerings, although some classes and activities are held together.

The new model—a solidly Catholic classical education with homeschool offerings—quickly bore fruit. From fewer than 70 students in May 2014, the school welcomed nearly 200 students, including 93 homeschoolers, in fall 2014. Sacred Heart began adding one high school grade each year starting with 9^th grade in fall 2015.

Sacred Heart offers more than academics. There are athletic opportunities each season, including volleyball, basketball, and baseball. There is also a theater arts program that includes middle school and high school plays.

After several years of steady growth, SHA experienced a burst in 2021–22—adding 120 students in one year. There are now around 400 full‐ and part‐​time students at Sacred Heart Academy, pre‑K through 12^th. Sean says the student body is typically drawn from a 30–40 minute radius in all directions, although some travel an hour each way. The Diocese of Grand Rapids Catholic Schools office provides transportation assistance to families in some areas, and many families carpool.

The transformation of Sacred Heart Academy shows how much growth is possible when a school offers something valuable and unique for local families.