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Excellent

#11 of 157 private schools in IA

Top 6% of private schools

St James School

Elementary School

602 W 2ND ST, Washington, IA 52353

Private

Enrollment

71

Student-Teacher

6.2:1

Score

8.0

Grades

Pre-K – 5th

Data vintage2021-22

How this school compares

Iowa private schools

#11 of 157

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St James School

8.0/10

Elementary School in Washington · grades Pre-K – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Washington Middle School

5.8/10

0.6 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Stewart Elementary School

8.1/10

0.7 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About St James School

St James School is a private elementary school in Washington, IA. St James School serves approximately 71 students, and covers grades Pre-K-5th, and has a 6.2:1 student-teacher ratio. St James School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.0 out of 10 and ranks #11 of 157 private schools in IA.

How it compares1.5 pts above IA schools
  • This school 8.0 · Excellent
  • IA avg 6.5

What Parents Should Know

At 71 students, St James School is on the smaller side. That usually buys more individual attention and teachers who know every kid by name, with the trade-off of fewer electives and extracurriculars than a larger school can staff. Ask what activities it actually offers.

At 6.2:1 students to teachers, St James School sits well below the national average. Smaller classes like that usually mean more one-on-one time between students and teachers.

St James School is private, so it runs independently of the local district and sets its own curriculum. That freedom cuts both ways depending on what you want for your child. If you're considering it, start with the practical questions: tuition, financial aid, and how admissions work.

Compare to Public Schools

Beta

How St James School compares to the 4 public schools in Washington, IA

Student-Teacher Ratio
6.2:1
This School
vs
13.8:1
Public Avg
Avg School Size
71
This School
vs
405
Public Avg
Avg School Scout Rating
8.0
This School
vs
5.5
Public Avg

Student Demographics

White 53.5% vs 0%
Hispanic 35.2% vs 0%
Asian 9.9% vs 0%
Black 1.4% vs 0%
St James School Washington Public Avg

All Schools in Washington

School Rating
St James School (this school) 8.0
Washington Middle School 5.8
Stewart Elementary School 8.1
Lincoln Upper Elementary School 5.1
Washington High School 3.1

Demographics sourced from NCES Private School Survey (PSS) and Common Core of Data (CCD). Comparisons are based on enrollment-weighted averages.

Score Breakdown

Preliminary

What This Rating Measures

This rating reflects classroom size, instructional time, student diversity, community resources, and school characteristics. Private schools are ranked against other private schools in IA.

Classroom Attention
? Student-teacher ratio calibrated against other private schools. Lower ratios mean more individual attention. (30% of overall score)
A+ 9.5 / 10
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio 6.2:1
Instructional Commitment
? Total annual instructional hours based on school day length and days per year. (15% of overall score)
B+ 6.5 / 10
View breakdown
School Day Length 7 hours
Annual Instructional Hours 1,232
Diversity & Inclusion
? Racial and ethnic diversity of the student body using Simpson's diversity index. (20% of overall score)
A+ 9.6 / 10
View breakdown
Diversity Index 58%
Community Context

Data Unavailable

School Profile
? Enrollment size and grade span breadth — indicators of program depth and peer community. (15% of overall score)
B- 4.5 / 10
View breakdown
Enrollment 71
View data sources

Score basis: Private school model

Data coverage: 80% of scoring components had data

Components scored: 4 of 5

Ranking pool: Private schools in IA

Test Scores

Test score data not yet available for this school.

Student Demographics NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

White 53.5%
Hispanic 35.2%
Asian 9.9%
Black 1.4%

Source: NCES Private School Survey (PSS)

Location

602 W 2ND ST, Washington, IA 52353

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering St James School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Stewart Elementary School (rated 8.1/10, 0.7 miles away), with a very similar rating. Another option is Keota Elementary School (rated 6.2/10, 14.0 miles away, in nearby Keota), a more accessible option. Additionally, Mid-Prairie East Elementary School (rated 5.8/10, 12.9 miles away, in nearby Kalona), a more accessible option. For more schools in Washington, see our Washington schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 19.3 mi
School Distance Rating
Washington Middle School Washington 0.6 mi 5.8
Stewart Elementary School Washington 0.7 mi 8.1
Lincoln Upper Elementary School Washington 0.8 mi 5.1
Washington High School Washington 0.9 mi 3.1
WACO High School Wayland 10.4 mi 6.8
WACO Elementary School Crawfordsville 10.3 mi 4.5
Mid-Prairie Middle School Kalona 12.9 mi 6.6
Mid-Prairie East Elementary School Kalona 12.9 mi 5.8
Highland High School Riverside 11.0 mi 8.1
Highland Middle School Riverside 11.0 mi 6.9
Mid-Prairie Virtual Academy Wellman 13.2 mi
Mid-Prairie High School Wellman 13.3 mi 5.7
PATHWAY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Kalona 14.7 mi 3.3
Mid-Prairie West Elementary School Wellman 13.6 mi 5.8
Highland Elementary School Riverside 14.5 mi 4.5
HILLCREST ACADEMY Kalona 17.2 mi 7.9
HILLCREST ACADEMY Kalona 17.2 mi 6.8
Keota Elementary School Keota 14.0 mi 6.2
Keota High School Keota 14.0 mi 6.4
Hills Elementary School Hills 19.3 mi 5.8

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 52353 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$63,232

Median Home Value

$155,700

Median Rent

$912/mo

Population

9,072

College Educated

21.5%

Homeownership

64.3%

Avg Commute

19.1 min

Poverty Rate

12.9%

Median Age

39

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
AGWSR Elementary at Wellsburg Wellsburg, IA 8.1
COMMUNITY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Fort Dodge, IA 8.1
Ireton Elementary School Ireton, IA 7.9
SETON CATHOLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Ottumwa, IA 7.9
ST PATRICK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Sheldon, IA 8.1
ST JOSEPH COMMUNITY SCHOOL New Hampton, IA 7.7

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about St James School

What grades does St James School serve?

St James School serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.

How many students attend St James School?

St James School has an enrollment of approximately 71 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at St James School?

The student-teacher ratio at St James School is 6.2:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 11:1 for private schools.

How does St James School rank in IA?

St James School ranks #11 of 157 private schools in IA.

What is St James School's MySchoolScout rating?

St James School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.0 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

Is St James School a private school?

Yes, St James School is a private coeducational school with a Roman Catholic affiliation. Private schools are not required to participate in state standardized testing, so academic performance data may be limited compared to public schools.

Is St James School a religious school?

St James School has a Roman Catholic religious affiliation.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
55 Somewhat Walkable
Bike Score
60 Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
71
Gender Split
55% M / 45% F
Student-Teacher Ratio
6.2:1
Teachers (FTE)
11
Type
private
Coed Status
coed
Affiliation
Roman Catholic
School Day
7 hours
Days Per Year
176 days
Setting
Distant Town
County
Washington County

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