Saint James School

Saint James School is an independent, nonsectarian, college preparatory, Pre-K3 through grade 12 school located just minutes from MAFB. As Montgomery’s oldest independent school, Saint James leads the way in academics, athletics, and the arts in Central Alabama. The school is committed to challenging and assisting students in realizing their individual potential and preparing them for lives of responsibility, service, and achievement. As the premier independent school in Montgomery, Saint James prides itself as a twenty-first century learning environment developing students of character, who are curious and articulate, and who are focused on service to their community. Bolstered by Saint James’ strong college preparatory program, every STJ graduate continues his/her education at the college/university level. Advanced Placement, Honors, and Advanced Classes are included in the middle and high school curriculum. All students in grades 3-12 are provided a school-issued technology device and students 2nd grade and below work consistently on technology devices so they are prepared when they advance to upper elementary school. Educating the Whole Child. From the very beginning of a child’s education, teachers in the preschool and elementary grades nurture, engage, and guide young students, providing a strong foundation in developing values like character, commitment, courage, and community. Their education is further enhanced by exceptional, modern facilities including both an indoor and outdoor science lab (the latter complete with pond, bog, and butterfly garden). STJ’s middle school has been recognized by the National Middle School Association as one of four schools in the nation for excellence in implementing middle school concepts. STJ was the first school in the area to implement the teaching of the arts in all disciplines for all grades. And, Saint James is the only high school in Alabama to offer pre-college major electives for our high school students. Other electives include nationally recognized programs for theater, chorus, speech & debate, and band. High standards, involved instructors, and engaging coursework prepare high school students to excel at the college or university of their choice. Strong academics are balanced with nationally recognized fine arts offerings and state championship athletic programs. A sense of community, fostered at the preschool and elementary levels, continues through the upper grades where meaningful community service and volunteerism are emphasized. Accreditation and Recognition: Saint James School is dually accredited by the Southern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS) and Cognia. The National Merit Scholarship Program recognizes students for reaching the highest threshold of academic achievement and the 2021 National Merit Scholarship Program named two STJ seniors as Semifinalists, who also received scholarships through the program. This totals 25 Saint James students receiving National Merit recognition since 2012. The College Board named 20 STJ students as Advanced Placement Scholars this past year. Athletics: Saint James School has won 19 state sports championships since beginning competitive play. The school offers 41 team sports played through the Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) including football, baseball, softball, volleyball, basketball, cross country, wrestling, indoor track, soccer, tennis, golf and cheerleading. In addition, STJ offers a very competitive and accomplished equestrian team, which is the only school equestrian team in Alabama. Arts: Saint James seniors are regularly awarded scholarships to nationally respected arts colleges, based on their excellent choral, band, dramatics, and visual arts training. STJ’s acclaimed Performing Arts Department stages three elaborate dramatic and musical productions each year, using a modern wireless sound system in the school’s spacious theater. There are also studios for band and choral music, and facilities for teaching drama and technical theatre classes. Diversity: One of the strengths of Saint James is the diverse student population. With Maxwell Air Force Base, Hyundai and its suppliers, and the rich history of the Civil Rights Movement in the capital city, Saint James treasures its diversity and has become the school of choice for many families both locally and around the world. Many families come to Saint James because of its well-earned reputation for acceptance and inclusion. The school offers a robust English Language Learners program to help international students transition into their new educational environment. STJ online: Twitter: STJNews // Instagram: STJMontgomeryAL // FaceBook: SaintJamesSchoolMontgomeryAL