Saint James School Enrollment on the Rise

The 2016-2017 school year is off to a wonderful start at Saint James School, where the school has seen an increase in enrollment across all grade levels. Saint James welcomed 43 new families this year, with new students in all grades, preschool through eighth. There are a total of 504 students this year, an increase of 6 percent from last year.

Across the Archdiocese of Chicago, Catholic School enrollment has declined over the years and most schools in the northwest suburbs continue to lose students. Saint James School is unique and so blessed to have such an outstanding school administration, teaching staff, pastor and associate pastor support, an army of volunteers, and family commitment to Catholic education.

Principal Judy Pappas attributes the continued success of Saint James School to the faith formation that is at the forefront of a Saint James education. While Saint James is also well known for its academic excellence, the attention to faith formation through classroom lessons in all subject areas is something you just can't get in any school. "Faith is why we exist," says Mrs. Pappas. Mrs. Pappas also believes that enrollment is up because of the welcoming atmosphere of the school itself and the school community.

Saint James is an environment of faith, focus and achievement. SJS is faith-based, where a belief in God is part of the everyday environment. SJS teachers and administrators focus on each individual student and help each student focus on things that matter most: their school work, their progress, their futures and their potential to do God's work in the world. In addition, SJS is known for its achievement in academics-test scores across the board are above average, and students go on to succeed in high school and beyond.

This year's marked increase in enrollment shows that more and more parents are choosing this environment of faith formation and academic excellence for their children. Parents are investing in the future by investing in their children. According to Mrs. Pappas, "This is God blessing us and us cultivating those blessings to make a vital school."

Saint James Catholic School, a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence, is dedicated to partnering with parents in modeling Christ. Our mission is to provide a foundation from which students recognize and develop their personal relationship with God, an academic culture of meaningful and continuous learning, sensitive to the gifts of each child, and tools to shape beliefs, attitudes, values, and practices in accord with the Gospel message of social justice. Faith.

Excellence. Leadership. Service. You'll find them in all we do.