New classical Christian academy planned for Bakken in fall of 2026
It all began with what you might call some good, old-fashioned divine intervention.
A new educational venture is taking shape in the heart of Stanley, North Dakota, as Christian Crossroads Academy prepares to open its doors in the Fall of 2026.
Spearheaded by a well-known local family, the school aims to bring the classical Christian education model to the region, joining a growing national and statewide movement that emphasizes academic rigor, critical thinking, and a biblical worldview. With a repurposed lumberyard at the corner of Highways 2 and 8 as its future home, the academy is designed to offer families an alternative to traditional public and traditional private schooling.
“The whole concept of classical Christian Academy is a wave that is building momentum across the nation as parents are continuing to look for educational choices,” said Danita Bye, Administrator and Board Member. “So, this is a trend that’s not only sweeping the nation but is sweeping North Dakota as parents are looking for educational choice and how to equip students to excel in academics, think critically, and then live and be taught from a Biblical worldview.”
The origins of Christian Crossroads Academy are rooted in something that might be coincidence, or maybe more accurately -- part of a greater plan.
“We had someone who was a well-respected part of the Stanley community who needed to make some business changes,” recounts Bye, “and he called my dad and said, would you like to buy my building? I’m making some changes. And my dad said, yes, that’s a perfect place for a Christian school. And he came home and said, ‘we’re putting a classical Christian school right there on the corner of two and eight.’ How about that?”
Nationally, the classical Christian education movement is experiencing significant growth. According to a 2024 market analysis by Arcadia Education, enrollment in Christian and Roman Catholic classical schools is projected to increase by 20-30% over the next decade, with average school sizes expected between 250 and 420 students. The Association of Classical Christian Schools (ACCS), one of the largest advocacy organizations for this model, has seen its membership double over the past decade, with over 250 new classical schools opening since 2020. In 2023 alone, the Missouri-based Herzog Foundation supported the opening of 29 Christian classical schools nationwide, with 39 more launched in 2024.
Title: New classical Christian academy planned for Bakken in fall of 2026
Publication: McKenzie County Farmer
Author: Steve Hallstrom
Date: May 27th, 2025
Read the article: https://www.watfordcitynd.com/latest-news/new-classical-christian-academy-planned-for-bakken-in-fall-of-2026