Bright Lights: Archdiocese of Miami (Key West)

Reflection by Dr. Steven F. Cheeseman, NCEA President/CEO

There’s no better place to experience the spirit of Catholic education than at the southernmost point of our nation. Visiting Key West to see the Basilica School of Saint Mary Star of the Sea was a powerful reminder of why I travel the country highlighting schools where faith and learning go hand in hand. From the moment I arrived on campus, it was clear that this is a community where Catholic identity is not an “add-on,” but is intentionally and beautifully woven through every aspect of the school day.

While I have visited schools across the Archdiocese of Miami before, those visits focused on campuses in Broward and Miami-Dade counties. Traveling to Monroe County for this visit offered a new perspective on the reach and impact of Catholic education within the archdiocese, showing the commitment to faith and learning even in the most southern reaches.

With an enrollment of nearly 600 students and a waitlist of almost 200 more, the demand for what the Basilica School offers is a testament to the excellence of their mission. This school is bursting at the seams with life, serving a diverse population from PK3 all the way through the newly re-established high school.

One of the most profound takeaways from my visit was the deep sense of collaboration that powers this institution. It began with a wonderful dinner upon my arrival with the school’s president and the parish pastor. As we shared a meal, their unified vision for the school was unmistakable. This spirit of partnership was further reinforced the next morning when I visited the parish office. Meeting the women who staff the office was like stepping into a living history book; each had deep, generational connections to the school. Whether they were alumnae themselves, parents of graduates, or grandparents of current students, they spoke of the school with a proprietary love found only in a true family.

On the second day of my visit, I had the privilege of attending the school Mass. There is perhaps no better way to “pulse check” the heart of a Catholic school than through its liturgy, and the Basilica School is vibrantly alive. The beauty of this inclusive and caring community was evident in the way students interacted with one another, older students mentoring younger ones, and the genuine sense of belonging shared by all. Their faith life wasn’t performative; it was lived, evidenced in their active, joyful participation in the liturgy. Seeing the “whole person,” formed in Christ, was truly moving.

This commitment to the “whole person” is further reflected in their academic innovation. As a STREAM-certified school, they are preparing students for the 21st century through a lens of faith, ensuring that technology and engineering are balanced by moral and spiritual formation. Their inclusion efforts, particularly the Blessed Carlo Acutis [sic] Program for Exceptional Student Education, ensure that the doors of this Bright Light are open to children of all abilities, fulfilling the vision of a “school for everyone.”

As I sat with the pastor following the school Mass to reflect on what I had seen, I was struck by how much this community has achieved. The recent reopening of the high school, bringing Catholic secondary education back to the Lower Keys after a 37-year absence, is a historic milestone. Seeing the Class of 2026, the inaugural graduating class, I felt a deep sense of hope.

The Basilica School of Saint Mary Star of the Sea is more than just a place of learning; it is a beacon of hope at the end of the road. It honors its 1868 roots while boldly sailing toward the future. I left Key West feeling deeply inspired, knowing that the light of Catholic education is shining brighter than ever at the southernmost point of our country. I am grateful to the school’s president, Mr. Robert Wright, for inviting me to visit and for the intentionality with which he approaches the formation of young people—both academically and spiritually.

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