ALMetro360 Magazine

team players since 2014; 2019 Jimmy Hitchcock Female Winner, 2018 State Champion Boys and Girls Cross Country teams, 2019 State Champion Girls Indoor and Outdoor Track team, consecutive State titles for individual Cross Country, State Champion 1600 Me- ter Indoor Track & Field, consecutive State titles for four-member 4 x 800 Relay Team, Individual State Championship girls 400 Meter and 1600 Meter with State record, winningest Track and Cross Country female athlete in AHSAA history, 6X State Wrestling Cham- pion, 4 consecutive varsity Football Playoffs, Basketball and Soccer playoffs for both varsity girls and varsity boys, and State Champi- onship Quarterfinal finish for varsity girls volleyball. ANNUAL TUITION: K-4-6: $6,271-$7,473; 7-8: $7,240- $8,160; 9-12: $8,570-$9,481. Multi-Child Discount Available. Fi- nancial assistance & school scholarships are available. Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School is a participating school as designated by the Alabama Accountability Act. Families are encouraged to look into scholarships offered through Scholarship Granting Or- ganizations (SGO) established by the Alabama Accountability Act. OPEN HOUSE: Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School will host Open Houses for all grades on January 12, 2020 from 2:00- 4:00 PM. Tour campuses, meet teachers and learn more about what Montgomery Catholic can offer your family. If you cannot attend open house, please contact Admissions Director Julie Lopez to set up your own personal tour: jlopez@montgomerycatholic.org, 334- 318-3777 SAINT JAMES SCHOOL (STJ) 6010 Vaughn Rd., Montgomery, AL 36116 TELEPHONE: 334.277.8033 WEBSITE: www.STJweb.org Rigorous academics, competitive athletics, and nationally recog- nized arts classes combine to create Central Alabama’s most engaging independent school environment at Saint James School (STJ). Mont- gomery’s oldest independent school, Saint James provides the most well-rounded course offerings in the area, blending superior aca- demics and state-of-the-art technology with absorbing enrichment, exploratory, and pre-college major elective classes. The school’s tal- ented and dedicated faculty is a vital component of the learning equation, creating a welcoming yet challenging atmosphere to help students reach their highest potential. As students make great strides academically, they also grow personally, learning to become young women and men of character who are self-motivated, intellectually curious, reflective, confident, and articulate. Saint James has had 19 students recognized by the National Merit Scholarship Program over the past six years as well as 22 exceptional students who were named Advanced Placement Scholars, AP Scholars with Honor, and AP Scholars with Distinction this year. STJ offers pre-college major electives, including graphic design, computer science principles, in- troduction to business, marketing, & personal finance, and so much more—providing students real world experience in college courses of study. STJ envelops students in a 21st century learning environ- ment, providing iPads for Grades 3 through 12, and regular access to iPads and Macbooks in grades Pre-K3 through second grade. FOUNDED: 1955 FOCUS: From the very beginning, teachers in the preschool and elementary grades nurture, engage, and guide young students, pro- viding a strong foundation enhanced by exceptional, modern facil- ities including both an indoor and outdoor science lab (the latter complete with pond, bog, and butterfly garden). Elementary stu- dents also access an outdoor art laboratory. Use of iPads and Mac- books is fully integrated into the expansive college preparatory cur- riculum throughout the Pre-K3 to Grade 12 experience. STJ’s middle school was recognized by the National Middle School Association as one of four schools in the nation for excellence in implementing middle school concepts. 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. ENROLLMENT: Approximately 885 students. FACULTY: Amajority of the school’s faculty members hold mas- ters or doctoral degrees. ADVANCED PLACEMENT: Bolstered by Saint James’ strong college preparatory program, every STJ graduate continues his/her education at the college/university level. Advanced Placement, Hon- ors, and Advanced Classes are offered in 27 areas, encompassing both middle and high school. AVERAGE CLASS SIZE: Pre-K3: 15; Pre-K4 and K5: 18; Grades 1 to 12: 18. Saint James uniquely assigns a full-time, professional teacher assistant to every pre-school and Kindergarten teacher, pro- viding two adult professionals in each learning environment. All-day and half-day preschool options are available in Pre-K3 and Pre-K4. EXTENDED CARE PROGRAM: After-school care through STJ WonderWorks is available for students in grades Pre-K3 through 5, and 9th Period after school care is available for students in grades 6-12. Both programs include time for study and homework com- pletion. AWARDS/HONORS/RECOGNITION: Saint James School is dually accredited by the Southern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS) and Cognia. The National Merit Scholarship Program has recognized 19 Saint James students for reaching the highest threshold of academic achievement in the past six years. The College Board named 22 STJ students as AP Scholars, AP Scholars with Honor, and AP Scholars with Distinction this year. ATHLETICS: Saint James School has earned 32 state sports championship titles since beginning competitive play including Al- abama’s 2019 1A-3A Indoor Girls Track State Champions, 2019 1A-3A Girls Tennis State Champions, 2019 3A Girls Track & Field State Champions, and 2017 4A State Volleyball Champions. The school offers 48 team sports played in the AHSAA’s aggressive 3A Division, including football, baseball, softball, basketball, cross country, wrestling, indoor track, soccer, tennis, golf, and cheerlead- ing. After winning their recent state title, Saint James Volleyball competed in the 5A Division this year and competed at the State tournament for their eighth consecutive season. Of note, STJ offers the only official high school equestrian team in the area. ARTS: Saint James seniors are regularly awarded scholarships to nationally respected arts colleges, based on their excellent choral, band, dramatics, and visual arts training. The Saint James high school choir earned first place at a national competition in Chicago this year and several band members were selected to march in the Southwind Drum& Bugle Corps this past summer. STJ’s acclaimed Performing Arts Department stages three elaborate dramatic and musical productions each year, using a modern wireless sound sys- tem in the school’s spacious theater. There are also studios and re- hearsal spaces for band and choral music, and facilities for teaching drama and technical theatre classes. Artwork created by Saint James 40 AL/ Metro 360 www.almetro360.com 2019 Private School Review ....................................................................................................