Catholic School of the Year
Awarded to St. James Academy
Read the Announcement →Where Faith Meets Excellence
Rooted in Catholic tradition since 1952, we nurture each child’s spiritual, academic, and personal growth in a supportive family community.
Take a Look Inside St. James Academy
See the classrooms, meet our faculty, and get a feel for the family community that has shaped generations of SJA students.
More Than a School — A Family
We don’t just educate minds; we nurture hearts. Every child is cared for as if they were our own.
Faith-Integrated Learning
Christ’s message is woven into every school day, developing students in body, mind, and spirit.
Small Class Sizes
Our 16:1 student-teacher ratio means deeper connections and personalized attention.
Award-Winning Sustainability
The only California private school to win the U.S. Green Ribbon Award in 2019.
A Well-Rounded Education
We challenge our students through rigorous academics while nurturing creativity, athleticism, and spiritual growth.
Academics
A rigorous STEAM curriculum where students consistently score well above the national average on standardized assessments.
Our teachers blend tradition with innovation — integrating science, technology, engineering, art, and math across every grade level. Small class sizes mean every child is known, challenged, and supported.
- STEAM Integration
- 16:1 Student Ratio
- 100% HS Placement
Arts
A thriving arts program with a legacy of excellence — our music students have performed at Carnegie Hall.
From choir and instrumental music to visual arts and theater productions, SJA students develop creative confidence alongside their academic growth. Weekly instruction and seasonal performances give every child a stage.
- Carnegie Hall Alumni
- Weekly Studio Time
- Annual Productions
Athletics
Competitive teams and after-school programs that build teamwork, discipline, and school spirit.
SJA competes in the Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) league with teams in soccer, basketball, volleyball, and more. Coaches emphasize sportsmanship and faith as much as performance — because character matters more than the scoreboard.
- CYO League
- Multiple Sports
- Faith-Driven Coaching
Religion & Faith Formation
Daily faith formation that shapes how students see themselves, each other, and the world around them.
Christ’s message is woven into every school day — from morning prayer and weekly Mass to sacramental preparation and service projects. SJA families partner with the St. James-St. Leo parish community to raise children of faith, character, and compassion.
- Weekly Mass
- Sacramental Prep
- Service Projects
Words from Our Family
One of the greatest benefits of a St. James Academy education is the commitment of faculty to continued personal growth and individual attention.
St. James Academy promotes a spirit of enthusiasm that fosters community while maintaining a strong Catholic mission. We feel like family.
They integrate Christian values into the curriculum with emphasis on spiritual development and genuine community building.
The classes are small and close-knit, with aides in nearly every grade. Our children feel known. The teachers are highly credentialed, and parents are genuinely active on campus — it shows in the kindness our kids come home with every day.
I loved my years at SJA so much that I plan to send my own children here someday. The sense of community and inclusiveness shaped who I am, and the academics prepared me for high school and beyond.
What makes SJA special is how the whole community shows up for each other. Families support one another, the staff cares deeply about every child, and the events throughout the year make it feel like an extended family.
Our kids love this small school. The structured environment and low-key but high-value curriculum are exactly what we were looking for — a place where learning is serious but childhood still gets to be childhood.
The strong parent and faculty community creates a caring, safe place to learn. With one class per grade, there’s no social pressure to find your people — the students look out for each other across grades. It’s rare and it’s real.
A nurturing environment where the faculty and staff focus on educating the whole child — mind, heart, and spirit. The SJA community is truly one of a kind, and we recommend the school to every family we meet.
Join the 5.0★ rated SJA community — read more reviews on Niche.
Begin Your Journey with St. James Academy
We look forward to welcoming you into our family.