The Reverend Dr. Samuel D'Amico founded St. James’ Episcopal School as a mission of St. James’ Episcopal Church in 1968 to provide a high-quality elementary education, grounded in the Christian faith, for families in the parish neighborhood. Joseph DeBell, a St. James’ parishioner and an advocate of youth causes including schools and scouting, donated the original school building, a humble apartment on Gramercy Place, which was large enough for the four Kindergarten students and one teacher.
Each year from 1968 until 1974, a grade level was added until the school welcomed students in Kindergarten through Grade Six. From the beginning, the school offered a challenging academic program within a caring environment. Kindergarten candidates were screened for admission and evaluated annually for academic progress. Students worshipped together and received regular religious instruction.
In 1981, St. James’ Episcopal School moved to its current location on St. Andrews Place. The DeBell Hall building, funded by Joseph DeBell, the St. James’ parish, and the Ahmanson foundation, was designed for fourteen classrooms (two sections at each grade level). The school reached its full capacity of 308 students in 1984.
In 1997, commercial property known as Belden's, was razed to create a playing field for the school. In 2001, an additional building was added, including a multipurpose hall, library, technology room, science laboratory, and larger classrooms. The square footage of the school doubled while the number of students remained the same.
St. James’ Episcopal School continues to thrive and develop students for the challenges of the 21st Century. The School is known in the local community primarily for its strong academic program, for its unpretentious atmosphere, for its diverse student body (which reflects the vast diversity of Los Angeles), and for its outstanding choir and music program.