Saint James School (St. James, MD)

There are some people who might say that the face of Saint James School is Father Stuart Dunnan, the school’s headmaster since 1992. However, if you ask any of the school’s 225 students they just might tell you that Betty, the school receptionist, is the true rock of the school as she’s been providing daily smiles (and a friendly voice!) to the school community since 1951!

That being said, stepping onto the rural Saint James campus there is no question that you are at an Episcopal School being lead by an Episcopal priest. Mass is held each weekday morning with the Eucharist each Wednesday. During our visit, we had the opportunity to attend this Wednesday mass and see a typical day from a student perspective. While the majority of the students participated in the mass, there was a definite subpopulation that chose to rest their heads on the pews for a few extra minutes of shut eye. Though welcoming to students of any faith, students who have a true aversion to the Episcopalian culture of the school may not find the best fit at Saint James.

My tour guides (Hadley, Tessa, and Kevin) were three students who have truly found their place at the school. All three seemed much more articulate than most students their age and it was obvious that they had acquired a tremendous amount of courtesy, respect, and maturity during their time at Saint James. I was amazed that none seemed phased by the school’s cell phone ban on campus (student rooms have land line phones)!

In addition to a strict dress code including jackets, ties, and collared shirts, students are expected to respect peers, staff, and themselves and adhere to the Honor Code. Visitors to the school will also notice that students are expected to stand when adults enter a room…something that surprised me when we entered the McIntyre Library on campus. It’s obvious that students will leave Saint James with a new definition of respect.

Aside from all of the formalities, students at Saint James are also encouraged to be kids. Parents can participate in the “Cookie of the Month” program which delivers a box of cookies to their child each month. Ice cream cakes can also be ordered for birthday’s or special events. Outside of the academic day, student participation in athletics is required during all three seasons and many of the teams are very competitive with athletes going on to compete at the collegiate level. An active theater and art program is also a staple at the school.

In terms of college placement, popular options have included the University of Maryland (College Park), Sewanee, College of Charleston, St. Mary’s College of MD, and Furman University. Here is a great indicator of the variety of schools to which Saint James students matriculate: the 38 graduates of the Class of 2009 enrolled at 38 different universities!