About Us
About
About
Mission Statement
St. James’ Episcopal School is a diverse, joyful and inclusive community of learners. With a focus on academic excellence and attention to the needs of each child, we strive to instill in our students intellectual curiosity, compassion for others, and respect for all of God’s creation.
Our Values & Beliefs
We believe in preserving the wonder of childhood.
We believe in providing our children an exceptional academic foundation.
We believe in the strength of a diverse and welcoming community.
We believe in supporting the spiritual and social development of each child.
We believe in preserving the wonder of childhood.
We believe in providing our children an exceptional academic foundation.
We believe in the strength of a diverse and welcoming community
We believe in supporting the spiritual and social development of each child.
Philosophy
At St. James’ we design the preschool and elementary classroom environments so that children are not just “taught,” they are encouraged to explore, investigate, work collaboratively, and probe the world around them.
Inspiring teachers stretch our children’s ability to:
- Analyze, synthesize and evaluate what they learn
- Apply their learning to new situations
- Present confidently and in a variety of formats
Understanding the complex and unpredictable world our students will inherit, we provide our students with the strategies they will need to solve problems using critical thinking skills and creativity.
Above all at St. James’, we prioritize instilling in our students the importance of kindness with respect and appreciation for the differences that make each human being an individual of inestimable worth and dignity.
St. James' at a Glance
Grades:
Preschool –
6th Grade
Preschool Ratios:
P2: 5:1
P3: 6:1
KRP: 9:1
K - 6th Grade
Average Class Size:
19
K - 6th Student:Teacher Ratio:
9:1
Cohorts per Grade:
2
Annual Funding for Tuition Assistance:
$1.6M
72.8%
Students of Color
70.8%
Faculty of Color
2026 - 2027 Student Diversity
2026 - 2027 Staff Diversity
2026 - 2027 Tuition Assistance
History of St. James'
1968
- Reverend Dr. Samuel D’Amico founded the school as a mission of the church to provide high quality elementary education for parish neighborhood families.
- Joseph DeBell, a St. James’ parishioner, donated an apartment on Gramercy Place. It was large enough for 4 Kindergarten students and 1 teacher.
1969 – 1974: A grade level was added each year through 6th grade.
1981
- St. James’ Episcopal School moved to St. Andrew’s Place funded by Joseph DeBell, the Ahmanson Foundation and the St. James’ parish.
- 14 classrooms accommodating two sections per grade.
1984: St. James’ reached its capacity of 308 students and was known for its diverse student body, strong academic program, unpretentious atmosphere and outstanding choir and music program.
1995: Reverend Charles “Chuck” Rowins, who became the Head of School in 1982, retired.
1997: Belden’s Market was purchased and razed to create a school playing field.
1998: St. James’ Preschool established.
2001: An additional building was added and the square footage of the school doubled. The building included a multipurpose hall, library, technology room, science lab, and larger classrooms.
2009: S.T.E.A.M. program launched thanks to the Leonetti/O’Connell Family Foundation.
2011: Art room renovated thanks to the Ahmanson Foundation.
2012: A new preschool building opened its doors on Gramercy Place.
2016: The Believe Campaign was launched, securing $6,000,000 funding for a complete makeover of every room on the K-6 campus, a new Spanish classroom, and increased administrative space.
2018: 50 Year Anniversary of St. James’ Episcopal School.
2022: Properties on Wilton Place purchased for school/church expansion.
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