Inspired by declining test scores, a Wisconsin parent starts Milwaukee area classical school, NorthShore Classical Academy, aiming to offer parents a new choice for students beginning in Fall 2026.
The school, which has not yet opened, has already drawn attention and praise from President Donald Trump who applauded the school for raising up “the next generation of Americans to lead lives of purpose and honor.”
NorthShore Classical Academy is a private, non-profit high school participating in one of Hillsdale’s K-12 programs. Hillsdale offers various levels of affiliation within their program. NorthShore participates at the Hillsdale College Curriculum level which they described as the following:
“What sets us apart is that Hillsdale College’s 9-12 curriculum is content-rich, balanced, and strong with emphasis upon the four (4) core disciplines of math, science, literature, and history, with attention to music, art, physical education and ancient and foreign languages.”
Responding to parents’ desire for choice in Wisconsin public education, Northshore seeks to prepare students for various life and career paths including college preparation, career technical education, military leadership, and entrepreneurship.
The birth of the new school is a part of a national trend of parents looking for ways to educate their children outside of public schools. (RELATED: Did Wisconsin Gov Hopeful Really Call Letting Prisoners Out “Sexy”?)
In Wisconsin, inconsistent test scores and overall ratings have been critiqued, citing a deeper analysis of the data which some say do not align with the positive or neutral ratings given to a particular school.
The Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty (WILL) similarly critiqued the 2024-2025 report card highlighting several Milwaukee area schools that received scores indicating they “exceed standards” for English Language Arts (ELA), only to find that the percentage meeting ELA expectations is less than 20%.
Dissatisfied with the lack of transparency and quality in education, some parents are seeking private or micro-schools that better tailor students’ education to the individual. Among them is mother and entrepreneur Cheryle Rebholz, who serves as Founder and Board of Directors President for NorthShore.
Rebholz initially pursued a charter school with her idea, but was denied her application which she details in the school’s FAQ section of their website. She is nearing the culmination of years of work to bring the classical education model to students in the Milwaukee area after the first attempt failed.
At the encouragement of her community and fellow parents, Rebholz sought other ways to make her vision a reality and used the framework for the charter school to gather the private funding needed to make NorthShore Classical Academy a reality.
In a video posted to Facebook, NorthShore Vice President Inna Turner gives a tour of the school’s future classrooms, describing the design and finishes as intended to create a quiet and welcoming environment free from distractions.
The school is set to open September 2026. Parents may submit their information to be notified when the future open enrollment period begins. (RELATED: ICE Relocates Milwaukee Office to New Northwest Side Facility)