Private school organizers to host event Thursday
MEQUON — The group of Ozaukee County residents behind the proposed nonprofit, private school are inviting community members to learn more about its progress from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday at River Club of Mequon, 12400 N. Ville Du Park Dr., Mequon.
After their charter school proposal was rejected by the state last year, former Mequon-Thiensville School Board member Cheryle Rebholz and other organizers are moving forward to develop the NorthShore Classical Academy, a private Hillsdale Curriculum school serving grades nine through 12. Thursday’s fall fundraising kick-off event, which is the school’s third sponsored fundraising event, will include:
A review of curriculum and values
Experience “a day in the life of a 10th grader”
The building fundraising efforts and ways people can donate
Target launch dates and how children can become students “I am happy to share that we are in the process of identifying a building and actively fundraising with some very positive results,” Rebholz told the News Graphic. “My original desire is to offer the first of its kind Classical High school in Ozaukee County.”
The event will also include light appetizers, beverages and a cash bar.
According to the NCA, the Hillsdale Curriculum is content-rich, balanced and strong, with emphasis on the four core disciplines of math, science, literature and history, with attention to music, art, physical education and ancient and foreign languages. If approved, it would be the first private high school in the county and the first in the state to be a Hillsdale Curriculum school.
“As a private school, we will have freedom to operate autonomously and to educate and equip our children without the hindrance of government oversight,” according to an NCA Board of Directors statement.
NCA would begin as a nonvoucher school, meaning it would be supported by tuition and philanthropy. It has received its first substantial grant and is seeking donations to help reach its $3 million goal. During this planning year, hiring a head of school and a human resources manager to plan the school opening, recruiting school staff and contracting professional development are among the school’s numerous tasks.
“We are also in need of an Angel donor or lead donor for a school facility as we currently have no school building,” Rebholz said.
She and her team hope to open NCA for the 2025-26 school year.
Before creating the NCA, discussions regarding a charter school — public, nonsectarian schools created through a businesslike contract or “charter” between the charter governance board and the sponsoring school board or other chartering authority — began in November 2021 after Rebholz and three others failed to oust four Mequon-Thiensville School Board members in a recall election. The four cited declining test scores among students as one of the many issues.
Having Mequon in mind as its first location choice due to it being logistically in the middle of the five school districts, Rebholz and organizers passed the first stage of approval in April 2022, but in December, they were denied by the Wisconsin Office of Educational Opportunity Advisory Council due to a lack of detail in the school’s application.
“The state may have told us ‘no’ as a charter school, but you, our children and our community have told us ‘yes’,” according to the NCA board.
Rebholz noted that reapplying for charter school status to the OEO’s Advisory Council was not viable because of the political climate and pressure not in favor of the school.
To stay informed about NCA, go to https://ncawi.org.