St James Academy

Like Jeremy F, This is probably the worst school for your children to enroll in. If you want a semi ok education and horrible treatment go for it! First off the teachers are rude and like to single out children that they dislike. They think they can say anything they want just because it is a private school. I’m so glad I am out of this school because it was horrible. One time a shaming treatment called the pillar of shame was created to shame the children by making them skip recess and being shamed in front of everyone one. Mrs Dunn is a horrible principal and I’m glad that the other students don’t have to put up with her next year for the hole year. One more thing, the music teacher is so rude and she likes to single out a lot and treat the couple students like crap. She doesn’t even teach music anymore but shows YouTube videos of random things. If you would like to waste your money hear, be my guest. This school has made 9 years a hell.

My third child just graduated from St. James this week. 15 years at this wonderful school for our family. We are so blessed to have had a place where our children learned not only math and reading but where they learned how important faith, compassion and kindness are in life. Thank you St. James for all you have done for our family. The teachers and staff at this amazing school have helped form my children into the wonderful people they are today!

We chose SJA for our son primarily for the excellence in academics and the religious aspect. We started him at Saint James in Kindergarten, and he is currently finishing 2^nd Grade. One of the best things about this school is the community. I am confident knowing that I am sending my son to a school where the adults genuinely care about him. He has made wonderful friends and has excelled in his academics. He actually wants to go to school, and he loves learning. I could not disagree more with «Dan M.’» Especially when it comes to the 2^nd grade teacher! She puts in countless hours at the school for the 2^nd grade! She also works with children in other grades before and after school! To call her «lazy,» makes me think that whoever «Dan,» is has never met our 2^nd Grade teacher, or at the least, is unaware of everything that she does for our kids and our school! In my opinion, any child would be lucky to have her as a teacher! If you are considering sending your child to Saint James please schedule a meeting, or a chance for your child to shadow his/​her grade level. I think you will be pleasantly surprised by what this school has to offer!

Loving, supportive community. Excellent academics. Check it out because Dan M’s post couldn’t have been more inaccurate and just plain wrong.

Saint James Academy is one of the best schools out there. They have an amazing education and the faculty and staff are just stupendous. The school helps my children grow closer to their community and God. I am so happy that I sent my child here and I’m gonna miss the school when she graduates. I highly recommend this school

We have been at SJA since 2008. My three daughters have attended the school since each of them started kindergarten. My daughters have thrived academically and socially at SJA. I have had such great experiences with the administration, staff and other parents. This is a community that truly cares about raising and educating great individuals. Best decision to send our kids here!

Top Catholic school. Our two youngest girls have attended for 6 years since moving to Solana Beach in 2010. The elder graduates in a couple of weeks, extremely well prepared academically, socially and spiritually for Canyon Crest Academy. The teachers and Principal all do a fantastic job of educating one’s kids and fostering a wonderful environment, where they can grow up and progress on to High School.
They have plans for an expansion that includes a new indoor gym that will help the sports dept. massively, which is possibly the only arena where St. James lacks a little in comparison to other elementary schools in terms of facilities.
Overall, the school fosters a wonderful sense of belonging and community, with the parents very often taking on many additional roles in the school advising and helping coach the kids.
I’d highly recommend St. James Academy.

Love St. James and its wonderful and loving community! We moved here two and ½ years ago from Seattle and are very happy with St. James. It is a very welcoming school with strong academics and teachers who really care about your kids and also our amazing principal, Mrs. Dunn.

Our children both started St. James this year and we couldn’t be happier!
We moved from Portland, OR so we worried it may be difficult for our daughter in second grade to transition into a new school and friends, but after her first day she was all smiles. The school is warm and inviting, the teachers and staff are amazing, and the students are happy!
We couldn’t be happier with our decision to attend St. James Academy and parish.

Great school, teachers and administration! Have graduated 2 children with one remaining. Fully prepared for high school and both kids tested in to high math and english. Amazing music and art programs, live performances, which enrich the learning possibilities for children. Older children mentor and bond with younger children (leadership). The community is like family where parents and children can build lifelong friendships. Character, work/​play balance, character, respect, leadership are key to my kids success. I have not agreed with every single thing, but that is not my expectation. Public schools in the area may be very good, but I along with countless other families pass several public schools and other private schools to attend St James. There is a reason. St James is a very special school… and I feel it’s like having a child… you can’t understand how special it is till you experience it yourself.

Our children have been attending Saint James Academy in Solana Beach for several years. We are very happy with St. James and are pleased with the academics, the teachers/​staff, the families, and the community. If you are looking for a Catholic education for your children with high academic standards, then you should consider St. James. The teachers and staff are knowledgeable, friendly, and give their full attention to all students. The school is like one large family with the older students watching over and guiding the younger students. Having one classroom per grade at St. James keeps the focus on the children while experiencing a great learning environment.

Great school. We drive from carlsbad just to bring my daughter her. The teachers and staff are fabulous.

We send our three boys to St. James Academy and our daughter will attend kindergarten next year. We are very pleased with the school. The principal has a strong faith and cares about the school, staff and students and gives her all. She is an excellent leader. The teachers are wonderful, caring and good at what they do. The school fosters good morals, values, community and love of each other and God. There is one classroom per grade, which makes for an intimate, family-​like setting. The academics are top notch. We are very happy and highly recommend this school.

We drive far (from Oceanside) so our child can attend here because of all St. James provides. The school fosters a sense of community & encourages stewardship: teachers look out for the kids, families look out for other families, older kids look out for younger ones. It’s also academically challenging in the best way. I love the organic garden the kindergarten class nurtures, while at the same time learning the science behind it, the Spanish classes that teach our children a valuable skill & cultural appreciation, the music & arts programs that instill a love of culture and builds confidence among the kids. I love the feedback mechanism the school has: always an open door by the Principal & teachers where feedback is heard & acted upon. I love the family concept they have with the kids, grouping one kid per grade & forming school families of K-​8^th graders. These kids care about each other & that’s fostered by programs the school puts in place. I can’t think of a better place for my kids to go to school, to be challenged academically, to grow spiritually both in a religious sense as well as a larger sense of understanding how one can impact the world around them. It’s a rare commodity & one that is taught 100 fold at St James.

Traditional Roman Catholic elementary education is offered for grades K-​8. Lay teachers and principal embrace Christ’s teaching in all disciplines. Students attend Mass each Friday morning. The Parish supports the school’s mission and the pastor and Eudist priests make appearances in the classrooms.
SJA students mostly score on the 92^nd-​95^th percentile academically and go to high school at (a) — Cathedral Catholic (b) Saint Augustine Academy © Academy of Our Lady of Peace (d) Torrey Pines (e) Canyon Crest Academy (e) La Costa Canyon. Alumni usually attend selective schools and very selective schools like Notre Dame University, Villanova University, UCal, Stanford, etc.
Small school with a low student to teacher ratio