The Diocese of Raleigh, in collaboration with Cardinal Gibbons High School, is forging ahead with an ambitious plan to open a new Catholic high school in the Triangle area, set to welcome its first students in fall 2028. This initiative underscores the diocese’s commitment to expanding access to Catholic secondary education by leveraging the successful model established at Cardinal Gibbons.
The Diocese of Raleigh’s network of schools has traditionally focused on primary and middle grades, with 28 elementary and middle schools serving communities across eastern North Carolina. Cardinal Gibbons High School, located in Raleigh, stands as the sole diocesan high school, currently operating at full capacity with 1,600 students. The diocese has been particularly pleased with the board oversight structure at Cardinal Gibbons, which has provided effective governance and operational stability. While all diocesan schools are under the direction of the bishop and the Diocese of Raleigh Office of Education, a separate board of directors structure was put in place years ago to manage Gibbons and has proved overwhelmingly successful for all involved.
“The board of directors and administrative leadership at Cardinal Gibbons have done a great job,” said Bishop Luis Rafael Zarama. “Our vision to expand Catholic education is the same, and we work well together. I am enthusiastic about replicating this model as we expand together to meet the growing demand for Catholic education in our diocese.”
The new high school, to be located at 801 Buck Jones Road in Cary on the current Lower School campus of GRACE Christian School, represents an innovative and cost-effective approach to this expansion. With GRACE Christian School relocating to Apex, Cardinal Gibbons will lease the well-maintained classroom and athletics facilities, requiring minimal renovations to create the future high school. This strategic decision and pooling of resources minimizes financial burdens for both the diocese and Gibbons and ensures the new school can open as quickly as possible.
The new high school will open with a freshman class in 2028, growing incrementally to serve approximately 400 students by 2032. With a focus on small class sizes, the new school will operate independently from Cardinal Gibbons to offer a distinct Catholic identity and charism tailored to meet the needs of its community while maintaining the diocese’s commitment to academic excellence and spiritual formation.
“This partnership allows us to extend the reach of Catholic education thoughtfully and sustainably,” said Tim Throndson, chairman of the Cardinal Gibbons Board of Directors. “We are grateful for the diocese’s trust in our vision, and we are excited to work with them hand-in-hand to create a new high school that will serve families for generations.”
By adopting the proven administrative model of Cardinal Gibbons and being open to unique opportunities like the one presented by the GRACE school property, the diocese aims to ensure that future upper schools operate with the same stability and success as Gibbons while fulfilling the bishop’s vision to make faith-based education accessible and impactful for families across the Triangle and beyond.
For more details, visit cghsnc.org/newschool.
New high school overview
Location: 801 Buck Jones Road, Cary, NC (current GRACE Christian School Lower School campus)
Opening: Fall 2028, starting with a freshman class
Growth plan: Add one grade level annually, with the first graduating class in 2032
Capacity: Approximately 400 students, emphasizing small class sizes and personalized learning
Financial strategy: Purchasing existing facilities to minimize costs and renovations needed.
Administrative model: Adopting the same successful board oversight structure of Cardinal Gibbons High School
