St John The Apostle Catholic School

Posted: April 28, 2025

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Posted: April 28, 2025

This is our 10th year at SJA and we love it. They love my children and provide an excellent faith based education. Wish they would offer high school.

Posted: April 28, 2025

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Posted: April 28, 2025

SJA is an amazing school filled with wonderful teachers and staff, who make learning fun. My kids have had a great experience and look forward to school each day.

Posted: April 28, 2025

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Posted: April 28, 2025

We are blessed to be part of the SJA community. I feel like my children are thriving socially and academically. The teachers teach at SJA because they truly believe in its core values. They teach with love and respect but hold our children accountable so they will be successful in the real world. I am forever grateful to this school and while no school is perfect, it is the perfect place for my children.

Posted: April 9, 2025

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Posted: April 9, 2025

My children have thrived since they've started at SJA in 2023. Academically, I am amazed by their progress. They are being challenged and making huge strides in their academic growth. Socially, I've seen their confidence skyrocket and have watched both of my children come out of their shells. Their success has made our time at Saint John's invaluable. We’ve been really pleased with our experience.

Posted: January 28, 2025

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Posted: January 28, 2025

Education can be overwhelming these days. One thing that isn’t overwhelming is sending our children to St. John’s each day. No school is perfect but one thing we know for sure is that our children are in the best hands and are receiving a top notch education.

SJA is more than just a school, it’s a family. It’s so reassuring to know that the community we are surrounded by share similar values and beliefs and together we are raising our children to be good people in the world.

No school is perfect but the commitment to always improve is important and SJA does just that. We cant imagine our children being anywhere else and because of that we would recommend SJA to all our friends and those in the community.

Posted: May 8, 2024

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Posted: May 8, 2024

This school has been a disappointment over the years. There academics started off strong when we first started. There are unqualified teachers, no small group instruction, no differentiation of instruction for all type of learning styles, no behavior management skills and forget the social emotional learning for students. Virginia Beach has a solid academic program it was the small size of the school and classroom sizes to mitigate outside influences that drew us there. I have been disappointed in their teaching staff and administration and would recommend St Matthew’s or other private school opportunities if you are trying to avoid public.

Posted: November 11, 2020

SJA is a wonderful school. The academics are challenging, the teachers are attentive and engaging, and the overall atmosphere is positive and Christ-centered. My son thrived at SJA and I highly recommend this gem of a school to everyone.

Posted: November 11, 2020

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Posted: June 7, 2018

Posted: June 7, 2018

Posted: June 7, 2018

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Posted: June 7, 2018

We sent our daughter here since she was 3 until Kindergarten. We had an amazing experience. Our child thrived at this school. We will be sad to go. They taught her early on how to learn, write, read, spell and math. Leaving Kindergarten she is fluently reading real books and testing out reading at a 3rd grade level. Now, we have worked with her at home a lot also, but this school really has been able to push those that need it, and excite those that need more. The families and the friendships she has made here have been nothing shy of amazing. I cannot say enough about the teachers.
They are caring and kind, and the best role models I could ever ask for.
The kids are very courteous, kind, and helpful. I especially loved it in the early years, as it was similarly priced to day care, but a real school curriculum, not like what they tout at the day care places, but a real school, going to gym class, going to lunch, recess and the like, desks and learning centers, abc's, 123's. I am saddened to leave. My daughter leaves St. Johns, super happy, super smart, and with confidence to take on the world. Who could ask for anything more. P.S. We enrolled our child in this school and we are not religious people. She was taught religion of course, but it has been good morals, good manners, and has done nothing but improve my daughters life on every level. Thank you St. John's for everything. We could never repay you for what you have given our family and the amazing start on life for our child.

Posted: June 7, 2018

Posted: June 7, 2018

Posted: January 6, 2016

We have three children who all attend SJA and could not be happier with the level of education they are receiving. SJA provides a rigorous academic curriculum in a nurturing and loving environment. The teachers are highly dedicated to providing meaningful content through fun activities and encourage development of the 'whole' child, providing high expectations for accountability, social conduct, and a positive moral compass.
Financially, we were very hesitant at even trying to get our children into a private catholic school. Knowing this was where we wanted to send our children, we sat with the business manager, who worked tirelessly to make our dream a reality.
I would highly recommend St. John's, not only for their academic excellence, but for anyone who wants a small, loving, family atmosphere for their child.

Posted: December 7, 2015

I only went to this school for half of my 7th grade year. I didn't particularly enjoy it. It's very small compared to the other catholic schools in Virginia beach. 14 kids in the entire 7th grade makes it really easy to become an outcast with no friends if you don't fit into their particular mold. If your kid does well in this type of environment, then this school is for them. If not, pick somewhere else. Their school lunches were pretty awesome, I will admit.

Posted: November 11, 2015

My family has been part of the SJA family since 2010. And when I say family I really mean family. Along with amazing caring teachers and staff, there is a sense of community that cannot be duplicated in any public school setting. Parents are always welcomed and encouraged to take part in field trips and class parties. The teachers encourage the kids to do their best but also have high standards. If you walk in the building behind a student they will always hold the door for you. This behavior is taught and expected of them. The presence of God is everywhere. So if that is something that is important to you, then this is the school for your child. Small class sizes are also a plus. The children go to mass every week and are always jumping at the opportunity to answer the priest's questions. We almost sent one of our children to public school several years back. (Our youngest was enrolled in SJA because we liked the full day kindergarten program) When we walked her into St. John's there was such sadness on the faces of friends and former teachers as they saw their classmate in regular clothes. We quickly changed our minds, sent him to SJA and never looked back.

Posted: November 11, 2015

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Posted: October 20, 2015

Posted: October 20, 2015

Posted: October 20, 2015

Posted: October 20, 2015

My daughter has attended SJA since she was in kindergarten and we couldn't be happier with the school. She has had some wonderful teachers throughout her time there who have fostered a love of learning in her. The teachers put a lot of time into their lesson planning and it shows in the activities that the kids are engaged in every day. They really do make learning fun for the kids. The administration is extremely visible throughout the school day as well. They know every student and parent by name and always have time to meet with you should you want clarification on a policy. There are also a lot of extracurricular activities at the school in which the students are encouraged to participate. My daughter loves representing her school both on the sports fields and in clubs. I would highly recommend St. John's to anyone looking for an alternative to public education.

Posted: October 13, 2015

My daughter has attended St. John's for nearly a year now, and we have had a great experience! We came from a larger Catholic school out of state, and within the first few weeks, my daughter and I both felt like we fit right in. We were welcomed with open arms by staff, teachers, parents, and parishioners of the church. My daughter is very happy in the smaller classrooms (max of 20 kids), and she is excelling in all subjects. She's challenged with the curriculum, and her assessment scores reflect her hard work and the excellent education she is receiving.

If we didn't have the warm, Catholic community at SJA, I don't know that our transition to Virginia Beach would have gone as well as it has. My daughter enjoys after school sports and activities with the many school friends she has made, and the parent involvement has been great! It's a community within a community at the school.

We have nothing but positive things to say about this school!

Posted: October 13, 2015

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Posted: October 13, 2015

Posted: August 31, 2015

Everyday my daughter would come home crying because the kids and teachers are mean. When the parents get together it's like an episode from the Real Housewives. When my daughter was in the variety show she was picked for her singing by students and teachers. It does focus around God but they judge everything you do. Overall I will never go back. Thank you.,

Posted: January 18, 2015

As a student at Sja.I would say how we are being taught is not great the Teacher complain about how we aren't the best kids to work with and how we are bad kids.If they didn't treat us bad we would try harder.I have been going her for 9 years and some was great but theses past few years have been really bad and I really wished I went to public school.it would be the same but maybe even better.

Posted: October 31, 2014

RECENTLY, I HAD THE EXPERIENCE OF VISITING THIS WONDERFUL SCHOOL. I WAS VERY IMPRESSED WITH THE TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS. THE STUDENT''S REVERENCE AND PARTICIPATION AT MASS WAS EXEMPLARY. I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH CATHOLIC EDUCATION FOR MANY YEARS AND HAVE NEVER MET A FINER OR MORE DEDICATED STAFF. THE STAFF AND STUDENTS MADE ME FEEL VERY WELCOME.

Posted: June 13, 2014

I have witnessed teachers and parents yell at students as well as talk about other students behind their backs. While I know that happens everywhere, I was shocked that it happened at a "faith" based school. This school should be ashamed!

Posted: September 8, 2012

This is an excellent school for motivated students and parents who are involved. This is NOT the school if your child has special needs, and being a private school, the school is not required to have one. Many other local Catholic or private schools boast their special-ed programs, and SJA is an excellent, mainstream, faith-based school. My family feels comfortable at SJA, after previously attending another local private school for four years. The students were warm & welcoming, encouraging even, and the parent involvement is excellent. The teachers are top-notch, providing a challenging curriculum to our three children. My husband and I looked extensively into our public school options and after interviewing several administrators and teachers at our local Virginia Beach schools, neither one of us was impressed. One of the teachers couldn't even speak English appropriately, and this woman wanted to teach my children? NO THANKS! We'll take St. John the Apostle any day!

Posted: May 10, 2012

First of all, I am a former VBCPS teacher and have taught in many different states with public education systems far, far superior to what Virginia Beach professes to offer. Please parents, do NOT believe the hype about the public schools in this city being "excellent", they are average on a good day, and then don't forget about the violence, overcrowding, sex on school grounds (yes, I went there) and the ever present drug problems that plague the schools. No school is perfect, but SJA offers small class sizes, an excellent curriculum, great guidence program which piggy backs onto the religion program and top notch parental involvement. My own children who were A students at the local "gifted" elementary school came here and were behind compared to their peers. Enough said. Make the right decision for your family and your budget, but know that the public education in this city can not compare with the private school offerings.

Posted: March 18, 2012

This is a good school however do not love the kindergarden class. They have a reward system that is very complicated even for adult to understand. They have to wear their brag tags on Friday for the whole school to see. If they do not have many beads they get to show the whole school how poor they are doing. This is not a very motivating system and makes many of the poor kids feel bad about themself! Sad that they are treated like this!

Posted: July 20, 2011

SJA is the place for a faith based education. It is the only Catholic school in VA Beach that offers weekly mass. We are very happy with the religious education, Father Rob, Mr. Badali (principal), and admin staff. SJA offers main stream education; it does not have special ed or gifted programs. Students who are at extreme spectrum will have to engage tutors. We sent our kids for tutoring with a Reading Specialist; Ms. Catherine DiGioia. They have improved tremendously and are able to read at an above grade level. After two school years, I would rate SJA - 5 stars for religious education, 5 stars for my tutor, 3 stars for quality of teachers, and 5 stars for parents involvement.

Posted: April 16, 2011

SJA has its' good points, but they don't outweigh the bad. Our experience was not what was represented to us when we interviewed with the principal. We have one very good student and one who struggles. Instead of helping our child, he was insulted by a middle school teacher (in front of his class mates) on more than one occasion. When we asked for help, we were told that it was the responsibility of our child to search for help, and not the job of the teachers to reach out to him. One of our reasons for choosing a small private school was to get the attention that our child needed. Unfortunately, this is not a school that subscribes to that ideal.

Posted: November 25, 2010

SJA is a good school, just not a great school (I would recommend Red Mill Elementary if you decide to live in the local area (rated much higher than SJA). If your child is above or below average don't expect much... The issue with private school is there are limited resources. There are no advanced classes and if you have a child that struggles, they will be left behind (one of my kids is in this situation). Don t get me wrong, there is plenty of love at SJA and they welcomed us with open arms however, as a parent I want the best education opportunity for my child and knowing what I know today after three years at SJA, I would not personally recommend it unless they change both their hiring policy (get rid of teachers that fail them), and raise their education challenge) just not advanced training or education for those that need extra attention. Our experience was hit and misses. One child would have a great teacher (although no advanced classes) and the other child had a teacher that was clearly a teacher that was doing her time I moved two of my kids to Red Mill (next door to SJA) and I could not be happier!

Posted: October 14, 2010

I Love this school. One of Virginia Beach's best kept secrets. I can't believe that I failed to moved my kids to this school sooner.

Posted: May 25, 2010

We brought our child here after many years in a public school. She quickly made friends, connected with her teacher as well as the staff, and is involved in extra-curricular activities and sports (which is not even offered in elementary public school). We are thrilled that this school has helped her academically and socially, but also to grow spiritually!

Posted: May 24, 2010

Great place to educate my children in a faith based environment. They truly are "The Best at the Beach."

Posted: March 22, 2010

We have four children at St. John The Apostle school and could not be happier. This is a small, family oriented, well-run school and we feel truly blessed to be a part of it. And Father Cole has been a fantastic addition. He is very involved in the school and I look forward to his regular services and Friday services with the children as he relates to them so well. Thank you St. Johns! Sincerely, Anne Tammaro

Posted: July 13, 2009

Posted: August 23, 2007