frequently asked questions

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 2012-13 academic school year, your child’s birth date must be before September 1, 2007.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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, click here.

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.

Grounded in traditional methods, the school has prepared bright and capable students for the best secondary schools in Los Angeles. 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Regular study in art, music, 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.

As part of the application process, teacher evaluations or preschool developmental assessments from your child’s present school are required. 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.

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 families find the right fit for their child, so we look for families who seek a challenging, warm, and inclusive environment.  We seek 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.

The major entry point for admissions to St. James’ is in Kindergarten. We admit 44 new students to our Kindergarten each year and for those who may not be ready for the K program, we now offer 22 spaces in our Pre-Kindergarten class. We take applications in Grades 1-6 in the event of unexpected attrition.

St. James’ students embody the rich cultural and social diversity of the Los Angeles area. There are typically 40-50 preschools represented in the applicant pool and well over 15 preschools represented in every class at St. James’ School. Many of our Kindergarten students come from Wagon Wheel, Plymouth, Shir Hashirim Montessori, and Dreamland to name a few.

Applicants for Kindergarten must be five (5) years old by September 1st of the year they would be entering school. Note: In order to apply for Kindergarten for the 2012-13 academic school year, your child’s birth date must be before September 1, 2007.