How old does my child have to be to start kindergarten?

Applicants for Kindergarten must be five years old by September 1st of the year they would be entering school. Note: In order to apply for Kindergarten for the 2009-10 academic school year, your child’s birth date must be before September 1, 2005.

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What preschools do most applicants for kindergarten come from?

St. James’ students embody the rich cultural and social diversity of the Los Angeles area. There are typically 70-80 preschools represented in the applicant pool and well over 25 preschools represented in every class at St. James’ School.

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How many students are admitted to each grade level?

The major entry point for admissions to St. James’ is Kindergarten. We admit 44 new students to our Kindergarten each year. We take applications in Grades 1-6 in the event of unexpected attrition.

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How do you select students for admission?

Admission to St. James’ School is very competitive. We receive approximately five applications for each available spot in kindergarten. We believe it is important that students make the most of their academic potential and approach learning with confidence and enthusiasm. Above all, we want to enroll students who have the potential to thrive at St. James’. The Admissions Committee considers students on the basis of academic and social skills, developmental readiness, school experience, teacher recommendations, and character. The goal is to bring together a balanced and diverse group of new students who have the ability to be successful in our community both academically and personally.

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Are letters of recommendation required for entrance?

Teacher evaluations from your child’s present school are required as part of the application process. Additional letters of recommendation in support of your child’s application are not required but may be included. Personal letters of recommendation should supplement, not repeat, what is already in your child’s file.

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Will we have an opportunity to meet current families as part of the admission process?

Absolutely. St. James’ parents will be available at our admission events, including the Open House tours. A panel of current sixth grade students will answer questions at the Open Houses to give applicant families the student perspective.

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What is the typical class size at St. James’ School?

Class sizes at St. James’ are usually 20-22 students.

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Do all St. James’ families live near the school?

No. St. James’ families come from all over the Los Angeles area. We currently have 57 zip codes represented in our community. Carpooling is highly encouraged and recommended.

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Is tuition assistance available?

Socio-economic diversity is an important goal, supported by the School Board, administration, and full community at St. James’. All prospective families receive information about our tuition assistance program. Eligibility for tuition assistance is determined annually and is based purely upon the family's need. The admission process is in no way related to the ability to a family's ability to pay full tuition. 17% of our families were awarded tuition assistance for the 2009-2010 school year. For more information on Tuition Assistance, return to the Admissions page.

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Are most St. James’ students Episcopalian?

Approximately 20 percent of St. James’ families are Episcopalian. St. James’ has always been a diverse community representing a multitude of ethnic, cultural, and religious backgrounds.

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What is the relationship between St. James’ School and St. James’ Episcopal Church?

St. James’ School was founded by St. James’ Church to provide for families of the parish and others in the community a quality education grounded in Christian faith. The School is grounded in the Christian conviction that all persons are God’s children, each with gifts and talents to be recognized and developed and then applied to the service of others. Worship and religious instruction are integral to St. James’. Students and staff attend a weekly chapel service offered in a spirit of inclusivity. Regardless of religious affiliation, one finds that the traditions and ceremonies of everyday life at the school provide a common thread for us all.

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What is the St. James’ educational approach?

Grounded in traditional methods, the school has prepared bright and capable students for the best secondary schools in Los Angels. The St. James' curriculum is current, interactive, interdisciplinary, and sequential. It incorporates independent critical thinking with basic skills. Our program is designed to challenge our students; hence, the subject matter is varied and engaging.

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Does St. James’ School have uniforms?

Yes. The purpose of our school uniform is to discourage competition in clothing, to minimize economic differences between families, to assist families in the day-to-day job of getting children ready for school, to encourage students to approach the academic day in a business-like way, and to promote a sense of unity and pride. We do allow our students a “break” from the dress code by having free dress days periodically throughout the school year.

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How can parents get involved at St. James’ School?

Parent participation is important at St. James’ School. Parents enhance our community and the experience of all concerned. We encourage all our parents to become involved in the school and promote community spirit. Through the Parent Support Fellowship (PSF), parents are on campus helping with hot lunch and in the library, preparing for community events, supporting service projects, or helping with school fundraisers. You can also find parents working in the classrooms, chaperoning field trips, sharing a particular expertise as a guest speaker in the classroom, and much more.

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Is there an annual giving program at St. James’?

Tuition and fees cover about 87 percent of the cost of a St. James’ education. Therefore, the school depends on tax-deductible gifts to the Annual Fund to finance the school's annual operating budget. The school has an expectation that every family will contribute financially to St. James’ through a yearly, organized Annual Giving campaign. Monies raised are critical to the fiscal health of the school.

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What specialty classes does St. James’ offer?

Regular study in art, music, Spanish, technology, physical education, health, library, and religion enriches the core curriculum. Integration of these subjects with the balance of the curriculum offered at St. James’ provides a comprehensive and challenging program.

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When does Spanish instruction begin?

Spanish is introduced in Kindergarten and continues through Sixth Grade. The Spanish program introduces the language and culture to all students. Students receive Spanish instruction 2-3 times a week, with the frequency and duration increasing with each grade level.

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How does St. James’ use technology?

The aim of the technology program at St. James’ is to prepare students to utilize technology in a variety of ways, including information access, project presentation, and communication. Using state-of-the-art equipment that is continuously reviewed and upgraded, the technology program is able to stay ahead of the ever-changing technology curve. The curriculum builds upon itself from Kindergarten to Sixth Grade with a focus on cross-curricular projects that support what students are learning in the classroom.  There are computers in every classroom, and the computer lab is fully networked with multi-media capabilities.

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What types of community service projects are there at St. James’ School?

All students participate in a number of service projects throughout the year. Each class or grade level chooses a community service project. There are some school-wide projects as well. The aim of the community service program is to underscore the conviction that we are the caretakers of the created order. Students learn through hands-on service to improve the efficiency of daily school operation (e.g. assistance with car pool arrival), to partner with off-campus organizations in a service capacity, and to learn about and implement sound environmental policies and practices.

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How do teachers and administrators stay in touch with families?

St. James' News is a weekly email sent to all families with school-wide announcements about upcoming events and activities at the school.  The email is also posted on the “News” page of the school website each Friday.  Classroom teachers also send home a weekly email or newsletter with information about homework, field trips, and classroom activities.  Some notices are also sent home in your child’s backpack.  The St. James’ website includes extensive information about the school program and events with a detailed calendar and downloadable forms.

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Where do St. James’ graduates attend secondary school?

St. James’ graduates have a strong record of achievement in the private and public secondary schools in the Los Angeles area. Students in the class of 2009 matriculated to 17 different schools including Harvard-Westlake, Campbell Hall, Marlborough, St. Brendan's, Windward, Oakwood, and Pilgrim.

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