Breaking ground for a new Catholic middle school

It was a day that Catholic parents and educators only dreamt about but has now come to fruition. On Monday, May 18, ground was broken for the long-awaited Catholic middle school in Grand Forks. According to Sara Dudley, president of the All Saints Catholic School Network in Grand Forks, the new school has been named after St. Carlo Acutis, a modern saint who exemplified how young people can live their faith authentically in today's world with Jesus Christ as their guide. A teenager who used technology to spread the Gospel and lived a life of deep Eucharistic devotion, and the perfect patron for today's middle school students. 
“This is a leap of faith, but it is one grounded in over 140 years of Catholic education in Grand Forks and carried forward by three parishes united in purpose,” said Dudley. “We are not starting something new. We are building on everything that has come before. This is the next chapter of Catholic education in Grand Forks.”

To mark the beginning of construction for the new middle school, Bishop John Folda of Fargo presided over the ceremonial “first shovels.” The event took place in the St. Michael’s school gym due to the wet conditions at the construction site, located across the street from the existing St. Michael’s Catholic Elementary School. Also in attendance were Mike Hagstrom, Director of Schools for the Diocese of Fargo, and representatives of the general contractor for the project, McGough Construction of Grand Forks. 

“This is just a magnificent endeavor and a challenge to be sure, but one worth every effort that we make to bring it to completion,” said Bishop Folda. “I have no doubt that this new school named for Saint Carlo Acutis will touch the hearts, the minds, the souls of young people, not just for a year or two years or ten years, but for generations to come. And in touching those young people, it will touch their families, our parishes, and our entire community.”

The new middle school building is only the most recent chapter in the establishment of St. Carlo Acutis school. Classes began this school year for sixth graders, who are temporarily studying at St. Michael’s elementary school. A seventh-grade class will be added for the 2026-2027 school year, with eighth grade starting during the 2027-2028 school year.
The new middle school is the next campus for the newly-established All Saints Catholic School network in Grand Forks, joining St. Michael’s and Holy Trinity-St. Mary elementary schools.

“The All Saints Catholic Schools Network was formed to unite and strengthen Catholic education across Grand Forks by bringing together the schools and parishes that have sustained this mission for over 140 years,” said Dudley. “Catholic education in Grand Forks dates back to 1884, and the network represents the next chapter in that story. By working together rather than independently, the schools can offer families a more cohesive, PreK through eighth grade Catholic educational experience with greater consistency in curriculum, stronger stewardship of resources, and a unified commitment to academic excellence and faith formation.”

According to Dudley, the new school will feature six classrooms built to support the academic rigor and collaborative learning that middle school students need as they prepare for high school. They are spaces designed specifically for adolescents, allowing for the kind of instruction, discussion, and engagement that this age group thrives on. 

A dedicated STEAM classroom will give students hands-on opportunities in science, technology, engineering, art, and math, equipping them with the critical thinking and problem-solving skills that today's world demands while reinforcing the Catholic understanding that faith and intellect are not at odds but deeply complementary. The media center will serve as a hub for research, reading, and digital literacy, giving students the tools and resources they need to become thoughtful, discerning learners in an information-rich world. 

“At the heart of the school's design is its Catholic identity,” said Dudley. “A prayer room will provide students with a sacred space for daily encounter with Christ, quiet reflection, and spiritual growth during the very years when young people are beginning to make their faith their own. It is central to who we are and why this school exists.” 

Before the establishment of St. Carlo Acutis middle school, parents who wanted to continue their child’s Catholic education past fifth grade would enroll students at Sacred Heart Middle School across the river in East Grand Forks, Minn., part of the Diocese of Crookston. Now, with the new middle school in Grand Forks, parents have a choice. 

“Catholic education has always been more than a choice for our family, it is part of who we are,” said Meghan Stegman, the mother of two children in the All Saints School Network. “Our daughter is finishing fifth grade, and choosing St. Carlo Acutis Middle School for her was an easy decision, but one we hold deeply. Middle school is such a formative time, and we wanted her anchored in her faith, surrounded by a community that knows her, loves her, and holds her to the values she has been raised with. To keep both of our children in Catholic education right here in Grand Forks, continuing a legacy that began with my own parents, genuinely moves me to tears. Now, the same gift my parents gave me is passed on to both of my children.”

The cost to build the middle school is estimated to be about $13 million and is expected to be completed in November 2027. A capital fundraising campaign is underway to help pay for the cost of construction. More information on the campaign may be found at www.allsaintscatholicschools.org/schools/st-carlo-acutis.