Amid growing enrollment and expanding program needs, the Heritage Academy has moved to a new home in Kalispell.  

The academy, a hybrid private and homeschool program referred to as a microschool, is now at Easthaven Baptist Church, 2010 Whitefish Stage Road. In addition to using the church facilities, the academy added a modular building, its second, to house its fine arts classes into two rooms.   

The portable building and costs associated with the move were funded in part through a $100,000 grant from the Gianforte Family Foundation. 

Currently, Heritage Academy has an enrollment of 291 students — an increase of 30 students over last year — and the K-12 Christian, classical school has a waitlist.  

“We’re going through some growing pains for sure,” said Facilities and Development Director Josh Lancaster. 

In preparing for a future expansion, the academy has acquired a 24-acre property roughly six miles north of Easthaven Baptist Church, in Whitefish, with plans to build a permanent campus.  

The academy is “working strategically to increase our capacity to serve more families,” Lancaster said. 

Despite a 7% decrease in the homeschooling population valley wide compared to 2024, over the past 10 years, homeschool enrollment has grown by 66% (376 students), according to the 2025 Flathead County Statistical Report of Schools. 

A date hasn’t been set for construction on the new facility to begin. First, a capital campaign needs to be planned, Lancaster said.   

HERITAGE ACADEMY follows the University-Model program where students attend two days of teacher instruction at the facility each week. During the other three days, students complete a directed course of study at home under parental guidance.  

“It’s a very rigorous program,” Lancaster said, noting that coursework encompasses five full days of schooling. 

The academy also offers K-8 conservatory program once a week that covers writing, art, music and science geared toward students who are doing more homeschooling on their own. While the academy is always looking for potential teachers to join the staff, he said they are specifically looking for teachers for the conservatory program. 

The academy also offers opportunities outside the classroom, including annual student retreats, science camps and history field trips. 

“Our approach across all programs emphasizes spiritual formation and growth in wisdom in virtue through a challenging, humanities-based program that teaches students to think critically and communicate winsomely as they love God and others,” said Head of School Jane Turner.  

The academy launched as a supplementary homeschool group in 2010 with 18 students, eventually moving into a 20,000 square-foot building with 14 classrooms in Evergreen. In 2024, it added a portable classroom as it expanded, which was also funded in part by a Gianforte Family Foundation grant. 

“We are extremely grateful for the new space at Easthaven Baptist Church and are excited to share how God has been faithful," Lancaster said. 

For more information visit heritageacademykalispell.org. 

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or [email protected].