Saint James School

As a student who has transferred from Saint James School, I'd like to share some personal experiences for your reference. The school is a Church school, and religious activities and disciplinary management are very strictly enforced. Students are required to attend Chapel daily, and there are fixed arrangements for weekends. Violations usually result in weekend labor. Academically, some teachers are diligent and responsible, but overall academic support is not consistently strong, office hours offer limited practical help, and grading is quite strict. Accommodation conditions differ from what was understood before admission; maintenance and hygiene need improvement. The school's geographical location is remote, limiting student choices, and psychological support resources are relatively insufficient. Families without a religious background or those who prioritize academic support and mental health are advised to evaluate carefully.

I am the previous anonymous user. Due to character limits, I will continue to add more details separately. Even if you have no religious belief, you must stay in the church for at least twenty minutes every day, and participate for two hours on weekends. If you are late once or twice, the school will assign you over four hours of labor tasks (weekend work). The school only has one cleaning staff, so almost all weekend cleaning tasks are assigned to students. After learning that I applied for a transfer, they even assigned me to clean a teacher's garden on the weekend, working from 6 AM until the afternoon. Even in heavy rain, I had to dig soil bit by bit with a shovel. The school calls this “building character,” but in reality, it is an oppression of students' freedom and well-being. The school's so-called strictness is built upon high pressure and forced labor, not genuine educational management.
Academically, I admit I have encountered some responsible teachers, but most teachers are irresponsible for students' learning and grades. The school claims to have office hours, but when you genuinely need help, teachers usually do not provide guidance, and grading is extremely strict, requiring students to figure out many concepts on their own. I personally witnessed a teacher tearing up a student's book in class and telling him to “get out,” and repeatedly heard teachers using English slurs against students, such as the n-word and f-word. This behavior not only severely damages the students' learning experience but also undermines campus psychological safety.

As a transfer student, I hope more people see this review, and I say this very seriously: I do not recommend Saint James School to anyone. If you are considering coming here, please read my experience below carefully. When I visited the campus before enrolling, I only noticed the beautiful scenery, abundant sunshine, and teachers who seemed friendly and responsible. Even as a visitor entering each classroom, students would stand up and smile. I learned that it was a Church school, and after the admissions officer told me that even non-religious individuals could integrate into the school, I resolutely chose it. I originally thought that strict management in a school with a religious background was reasonable, but the reality turned out to be completely different. The school's ethos is extremely poor; the management's focus is entirely not on student fairness and mental health, but rather on exerting extremely strict control over mandatory daily Chapel attendance and mobile phone management.

SJS is an Anglican boarding co-ed school, generally good, with strict management, but all for the children's benefit. Children may not easily understand this management style, which is why some students on Niche rate SJS not very high. Overall, the happiness level of SJS students is rated lower than that of SMS. Both are Anglican boarding schools, and SMS also considers students' well-being in all aspects, being strict where necessary, for example, teachers require mobile phones to be handed in during class, self-study, and breaks, but the children are very happy.

My daughter has been attending SJS for three years. Overall, we are very satisfied with the school. Although the student number is not large, it has everything it should have, and I can feel that the school is doing its best to improve the students' living and learning environment, and to provide as much academic support and help as possible. The teachers are very friendly, and many of them live on campus. My daughter told me that teachers even invite students to their homes as guests, where they cook together, which is very heartwarming. Every Chinese New Year, the school prepares activities to celebrate the new year for Chinese students. Most teachers are willing to provide as much support as possible for students' academics. Academically, the school is not overly competitive, everything is done step by step, and it highly emphasizes cultivating students' personal learning abilities.
My daughter is currently very well adapted to school life and enjoys all aspects of learning and living at the school.

Our daughter joined the school four years ago in 9th grade. Now she is a senior who has received an admission offer from her dream university, and we are looking forward to attending her graduation ceremony. SJS's characteristic is its small size, which fosters warm and close relationships between teachers, students, and classmates. The school emphasizes character development and physical fitness, which are crucial for the holistic growth of adolescents. The school environment is beautiful, and its choir has a long history. The nourishment of art allows children to self-regulate and maintain inner balance amidst heavy academic pressure. In her final year of high school, alongside busy university applications, she served as a prefect, which greatly honed her leadership skills. We are very grateful for the growth SJS has brought her, and we feel incredibly fortunate that our child met wonderful teachers and friends here. As parents, we have also received much sharing and help from parents of alumni. This year, the school completed new gymnasium facilities, and we also look forward to the completion of the renovated science labs. We wish the school sustainable development. Every school has its unique characteristics, and we suggest that interested families visit SJS to gain a deep understanding of the school, allowing them to make a suitable choice based on their child's specific needs.

St. James has relatively strict management of student behavior, which parents can completely trust. At the same time, academics are also managed very closely, so studying is not easy. In addition, the school encourages students to participate in sports, and its choir is quite famous. St. James not only has a beautiful campus but has also successively built new art and sports centers in the past two years.

The school's surrounding environment is beautiful, with fresh air, allowing students to stay away from the hustle and bustle while ensuring convenient daily life. Daily exercise cultivates students' good physical fitness and mental health, and strict routines ensure their healthy growth. The school shows extremely high concern for students, offers small class sizes, maintains a rigorous academic atmosphere, and has strict yet warm discipline. Students and teachers interact like family and friends.

This is an educational gem hidden in the Maryland countryside. Founded in 1842, the 800-acre campus maintains an astonishing tranquility. The picturesque scenery of the campus throughout the four seasons far exceeds our imagination of a "beautiful campus." Children start their day learning amidst birdsong and flowers, and this natural environment nurtures their spiritual growth, fostering peace and long-term vision, while also inspiring their infinite potential.
My child is in 8th grade at this school. As an international parent, I initially chose this school because I was impressed by its British-style strict management and the caring, friendly atmosphere on campus. My child really loves this warm school; she says the 1:6 student-teacher ratio ensures that every student receives ample attention and care.
The school boasts rigorous academics and a strong academic atmosphere. For after-school sports, students actively participate in training or competitive school teams to learn teamwork and sportsmanship. Art education is not superficial; every student can choose art projects based on their preferences to learn and improve. The school also offers many societies and clubs, providing an excellent platform for students to develop leadership and creativity. The school places great importance on communication with parents. The school's online portal allows parents to view their child's assignments, grades, and activity schedules in real-time, and this transparency gives us great peace of mind.
My child will study and live here for five years, and I believe that with each passing year, we will discover even more of its beauty.
To summarize this school in my child's words: "This is a school full of sunshine, love, and warmth every day, and I absolutely love it."

Over the past seven months, my child has gradually integrated into the American high school environment. They've learned the importance of taking every assignment seriously and have slowly figured out how to study for regular quizzes. They've come to understand that GPA isn't just about cramming at the last minute; consistent effort is crucial. What I'm most touched by is that my child had the opportunity to participate in the Newsies musical production: three consecutive months of rehearsals, where they had to ensure their studies weren't neglected while also not missing rehearsals. The final performance was incredibly successful (it was truly superb, whether it was the script, the vocals, or the performance itself, it was truly professional level). My child also experienced the true meaning of hard work and reward, and their self-confidence has significantly improved!

The school management is strict and very responsible towards students. Especially when new Chinese students enroll, the school mobilizes all Chinese student parents to provide help and guidance to the freshmen, and also assigns senior student mentors (学长学姐) to each child, whom they can approach for help anytime. After enrollment, the school also cares deeply about each child, mainly by strictly managing students' behavior, speech, and attire. This aspect aligns very well with Chinese parents' expectations. It's a very good school.

The school has rigorous academics, a harmonious teacher-student atmosphere, and a particularly beautiful campus. My child spent four very unforgettable years of high school here.

The campus is beautiful, management is strict, and it is safe. Academic standards are high, with rigorous scholarship. School team competitions and activities are abundant, and students' overall quality is generally high. Post-graduation prospects are good.

Absolutely do not come here. The faculty at this school are particularly disgusting; they will go out of their way to target students who want to transfer or are unhappy with the school. I've already decided to transfer next year. Furthermore, the principal is racist against Chinese and Black people; I witnessed it firsthand.

Recommended by a friend, I personally visited the school and saw for myself that James (School) is an American high school with excellent value for money. The school management is strict; phones seem to be only allowed in dormitories and cannot be carried around (I've personally witnessed students at other state high schools using their phones in class). The teachers are very responsible, and the students I encountered on campus displayed surprisingly good manners and politeness. The school is large, and the cleanliness and maintenance of its buildings are exceptionally well-managed. Tuition fees are fair, with no hidden costs. There are Chinese teachers, which makes communication very easy and provides great peace of mind for parents who are not fluent in English. Heartily recommended.

Saint James School, with nearly 200 years of history since its founding, is an Episcopal-affiliated boarding and day school for grades 8-12. The school's 800-acre campus provides a beautiful environment. It is located in Hagerstown, Maryland, approximately a 75-minute drive from Dulles International Airport and a 90-minute drive from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.

The academic program at Saint James is characterized by a liberal arts approach, guiding students to build a solid foundation in all subjects and preparing them for further study at four-year universities. The curriculum is both rigorous and supportive, motivating and challenging students to develop their strengths and cultivate and improve skills in other disciplines. The school offers 16 AP courses, including multiple languages, arts, history, and STEM subjects.

Another distinctive feature of the school's teaching is the FAB Lab. The FAB Lab is dedicated to developing middle school STEAM education. It is one of only two MIT-certified middle school FAB Labs in Maryland and one of a select few nationwide. Students will use a computer-aided design (CAD) program called Fusion 360 to attempt to solve real-world problems and create real-world products.

Data for Saint James School: 235 students, student-to-teacher ratio 1:7, 24% international students, 75% boarding rate, average class size 11, offers 16 AP courses, 75% teachers with advanced degrees. Saint James School, located in Maryland, USA, was founded in 1842 and is a private school with a long history. The school provides full-time education from kindergarten to high school, focusing on academic achievement and character development to foster students' holistic development. The school emphasizes character building, upholding educational philosophies of respect, integrity, and justice. Through rich courses and activities, the school cultivates students' character qualities such as honesty, responsibility, and teamwork. The school also focuses on students' social practice and volunteer activities, nurturing their sense of social responsibility and dedication. Saint James School has outstanding academic achievements, with students performing excellently in various academic competitions and exams. The school not only focuses on imparting knowledge but also on cultivating students' innovation and problem-solving abilities. The school's teaching model emphasizes interaction and practice, which improves students' learning effectiveness.

Data for Saint James School: student body 235, student-teacher ratio 1:7, international students 24%, boarding rate 75%, average class size 11, offers 16 AP courses, 75% of teachers hold advanced degrees. Saint James School, located in Maryland, USA, was founded in 1842 and is a private school with a long history. The school provides full-day education from kindergarten to high school, focusing on academic achievement and character development to foster holistic student growth. The school emphasizes character education, upholding educational philosophies of respect, integrity, and fairness. Through rich curricula and activities, the school cultivates character traits such as honesty, responsibility, and teamwork in students. The school also focuses on students' social practice and volunteer activities, fostering their sense of social responsibility and dedication. Saint James School boasts outstanding academic achievements, with students performing excellently in various academic competitions and exams. The school not only focuses on imparting knowledge but also on cultivating students' innovation and problem-solving abilities. The school's teaching model emphasizes interaction and practice, improving students' learning effectiveness.

Saint James School offers students a wide range of music courses and opportunities, from singing in the church choir and a cappella groups, to instrumental chamber ensembles and student-led bands. Students can learn from a broad spectrum of musical disciplines based on their interests. Private music lessons are taught by 12 part-time music teachers during the academic day, so students do not have to choose between their musical interests and sports, clubs, or drama. The school's music program is housed in the Pohanka Arts Center, a building that features 3 practice rooms, 7 faculty studios, an ensemble rehearsal room, a choir rehearsal room, classrooms, and a recital hall.

As a graduate, I do not recommend this school. The school is not friendly enough towards Chinese students, and its diversity & inclusion efforts are very poor. While forcing Chinese students to "integrate," it turns a blind eye to racist remarks and actions from American teachers and students. There's also implicit forced donation; Chinese parents fear their children will be treated differently at school, so they donate even if they don't like the school. In the end, the school still favors students whose families donate more, and while accepting donations from Chinese families, it openly complains that Chinese families don't like to donate money. The overall atmosphere of the school is extremely conservative; many of its ideas are long outdated, falling behind the times and other schools. There are also many overly strict rules. Only after attending university did many classmates and I realize what a school that truly respects students from different countries/ethnicities is like. I also discussed this with friends who graduated from other American boarding high schools, and they were all shocked by my high school experience, stating that they would have definitely transferred if they were in my situation. But I didn't know this in high school; I thought everything was normal, that this is just how America is, and that if I wasn't "Americanized" enough, it was my own fault, etc. If I could choose again, I would not come here.

Saint James is a historic boarding school located in Maryland, with over 200 students and a 1:6 student-teacher ratio, which fosters a strong family atmosphere at the school and allows students to receive more personalized attention.

St. James is located in central Maryland, 65 miles from Washington D.C., enjoying a rural setting and close to many well-known tourist attractions. The school has a strict dress code. Boys are required to wear formal attire, while girls can wear dresses that cover the knee, but must wear a blazer.

School Features

1) FAB Lab: One of only two MIT-certified FAB Labs in a Maryland middle school and one of a few in the United States; the international network of FAB Labs is an initiative of MIT, regarded as an entrepreneurial hub where anyone can turn their ideas into prototypes or even products.

2) Academic Support Program: Supervises students' learning progress and provides personalized tutoring on study skills, organization, and time management. It can also offer subject-specific support for certain students, such as in math and science.

3) Advanced Art Facilities with two art centers: the Byron-Bowman Art Center & Pohanka Art Center. Pohanka features a concert hall, art studios, a gallery, a digital media lab, a 3D art studio, and practice rooms for private music lessons, etc. Byron-Bowman includes art studios, a computer lab, and a ceramics studio.

4) Offers numerous performance opportunities: The Fine Arts Department theater produces three major stage productions annually; a spring musical; concerts, etc.

5) Wrestling won the MAC championship for four consecutive years from 2017-2020; Field Hockey won the women's league and championship for four consecutive years from 2014-2017.

• The school limits students to a maximum of 3 AP courses per year; students wishing to take more must obtain permission to overload their course schedule. Although the school has a religious background, there are no strict religious credit requirements for graduation. Students are only required to take a Bible class once a week in 8th and 9th grades, with no excessive additional religious courses.
• ISS Program: The school requires all international students to join the International Student Support (ISS) program in their first year. The primary purpose of ISS is to provide academic support to international students. It helps international students improve skills such as reading comprehension, vocabulary, test-taking, and writing weekly.
• Academic Support: Academic support staff monitor students' academic progress. A tutoring support structure is established based on students' previously documented academic needs and any new academic needs that arise during the year. First-year students with documented academic needs participate in the academic support program so that they can receive services from the beginning of the academic year.
• Service Travel and Learning: All St. James students are required to participate in service learning as a graduation requirement. Most students fulfill this requirement during school breaks by pursuing service opportunities that align with their interests and passions. Recent examples include: mentoring students at St. James School in Philadelphia; traveling to Nicaragua during spring break to work with The Peace Project; volunteering at the Kisseman Children's Foundation annual egg hunt; and the Micah's Backpack program, which packs food for children weekly.

Saint James School is located in Hagerstown, a small city in the northwest corner of Maryland, about an hour's drive from Washington D.C. Saint James School is the oldest private college preparatory church school in the United States, consistently maintaining an aristocratic English demeanor and rigor.

The school offers 15 AP courses, and students can take a maximum of 3 AP courses per year. The school requires all international students to join the International Student Support Program (ISS) in their first year. This program primarily provides academic support to international students, helping them improve their reading comprehension, vocabulary, test-taking, and writing skills weekly.

Although the school has a religious background, there are no strict religious credit requirements for graduation. Students are only required to take a Bible class once a week in 8th and 9th grades, and there are no additional religious courses beyond that.

SJS is located in Hagerstown, Maryland, an hour's drive from both the capital Washington D.C. and Maryland's state capital, Baltimore. As a university preparatory school, SJS emphasizes "whole person" education, focusing on the comprehensive development of students' moral, intellectual, physical, and aesthetic aspects. The school offers a solid liberal arts education; rich cultural courses, art courses, and sports activities can help students discover their true interests and fully develop their personal talents. Last year, the school received 230 applications and admitted 100 students, with the average SSAT score of admitted students being 2013, and international students making up 20%. The school has an MIT-certified FAB Lab, equipped with advanced experimental facilities such as 3D printers and laser cutters, and a strong faculty, allowing students to conduct various experiments. The school's art courses are also excellent: 9th-grade students are required to take one fine art class and one performing arts class. The school hosts 3 major drama productions annually and has various bands and choirs. Private tutoring is offered to students learning instruments like piano and violin.