Average

#323 of 388 private schools in MA

St James - St John School

Elementary School

180 ORCHARD ST, New Bedford, MA 02740

Last updated: July 2026

Private

Enrollment

144

Student-Teacher

13:1

Score

5.1

Grades

Pre-K – 8th

Enrollment

144

Student-Teacher

13:1

Score

5.1

Grades

Pre-K – 8th

Data vintage
2021-22

Data vintage2021-22

How this school compares

Massachusetts private schools

#323 of 388

In New Bedford

#5 of 6

public schools

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Elementary School in New Bedford · grades Pre-K – 8th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

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About St James - St John School

St James - St John School is a private elementary school in New Bedford, MA. St James - St John School serves approximately 144 students, and covers grades Pre-K-8th, and has a 13:1 student-teacher ratio. St James - St John School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.1 out of 10 and ranks #323 of 388 private schools in MA.

How it compares1.2 pts below MA schools

5.1

This school 5.1 · Average
MA avg 6.3

What Parents Should Know

At 144 students, St James - St John 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.

St James - St John 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 - St John School compares to 25 public schools serving similar grades in New Bedford, MA

Student-Teacher Ratio

13:1

This School

11.6:1

Public Avg

Avg School Size

144

This School

446

Public Avg

Avg School Scout Rating

5.1

This School

5.0

Public Avg

Student Demographics

White 81.9% vs 0%

Hispanic 6.9% vs 0%

Black 5.6% vs 0%

Asian 2.1% vs 0%

St James - St John School New Bedford Public Avg

Nearby Elementary Schools

School	Distance	Enrollment	STR	Rating
St James - St John School (this school)	—	144	13:1	5.1
Alfred J Gomes	0.4 mi	610	11.1:1	5.1
Whaling City Junior/Senior High School	0.4 mi	179	9.9:1	4.6
James B Congdon	0.5 mi	301	10.8:1	4.4
Sgt Wm H Carney Academy	0.6 mi	613	12:1	3.1
Ellen R Hathaway	0.6 mi	245	10.2:1	4.8
John B Devalles	0.7 mi	292	11.7:1	3.7
Betsey B Winslow	0.8 mi	234	13:1	4.4
Trinity Day Academy	0.8 mi	86	7.2:1	5.7
John Avery Parker	1.1 mi	264	12:1	4.4
Thomas R Rodman	1.1 mi	205	11.4:1	3.2
Irwin M. Jacobs Elementary School	1.4 mi	383	11.6:1	3.7
Roosevelt Middle School	1.6 mi	788	11.4:1	6.0
Elizabeth Carter Brooks	1.6 mi	264	12:1	6.9
Keith Middle School	1.6 mi	872	10.4:1	6.8
Hayden/McFadden	1.8 mi	713	12.7:1	4.9
Carlos Pacheco	2.0 mi	254	10.2:1	4.5
Global Learning Charter Public School	2.2 mi	502	11.7:1	4.6
William H Taylor	2.4 mi	261	13.1:1	6.8
Alma del Mar Charter School	2.6 mi	1,041	12.2:1	4.4
Abraham Lincoln	2.8 mi	672	14.3:1	4.2

Showing 20 of 25 schools. View all schools in New Bedford

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 MA.

Classroom Attention

C 3.1 / 10

View breakdown

Student-Teacher Ratio 13:1

Instructional Commitment

B 5.9 / 10

View breakdown

School Day Length 6.5 hours

Annual Instructional Hours 1,170

Diversity & Inclusion

B- 5.2 / 10

View breakdown

Diversity Index 32%

Community Context

Data Unavailable

School Profile

A- 8.0 / 10

View breakdown

Enrollment 144

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 MA

Test Scores

Test score data not yet available for this school.

Student Demographics NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

White 81.9%

Hispanic 6.9%

Black 5.6%

Two or More 3.5%

Asian 2.1%

Source: NCES Private School Survey (PSS)

Location

180 ORCHARD ST, New Bedford, MA 02740

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering St James - St John School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Joseph Demello (rated 7.9/10, 1.7 miles away, in nearby South Dartmouth), which scores notably higher. Another option is Elizabeth Carter Brooks (rated 6.9/10, 1.6 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, HOLY FAMILY HOLY NAME SCHOOL (rated 5.8/10, 0.7 miles away), which scores slightly higher. For more schools in New Bedford, see our New Bedford schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 1.6 mi

School	Distance	Enrollment	Rating
NATIVITY PREPARATORY SCHOOL NEW BEDFORD New Bedford	0.4 mi	47	7.0
Whaling City Junior/Senior High School New Bedford	0.4 mi	179	4.6
James B Congdon New Bedford	0.5 mi	301	4.4
Alfred J Gomes New Bedford	0.4 mi	610	5.1
Sgt Wm H Carney Academy New Bedford	0.6 mi	613	3.1
HOLY FAMILY HOLY NAME SCHOOL New Bedford	0.7 mi	139	5.8
John B Devalles New Bedford	0.7 mi	292	3.7
Ellen R Hathaway New Bedford	0.6 mi	245	4.8
Trinity Day Academy New Bedford	0.8 mi	86	5.7
Betsey B Winslow New Bedford	0.8 mi	234	4.4
John Avery Parker New Bedford	1.1 mi	264	4.4
Thomas R Rodman New Bedford	1.1 mi	205	3.2
New Bedford High New Bedford	1.4 mi	2,893	5.5
Irwin M. Jacobs Elementary School New Bedford	1.4 mi	383	3.7
OUR SISTERS' SCHOOL New Bedford	1.3 mi	67	7.9
Joseph Demello South Dartmouth	1.7 mi	331	7.9
Roosevelt Middle School New Bedford	1.6 mi	788	6.0
Hayden/McFadden New Bedford	1.8 mi	713	4.9
Keith Middle School New Bedford	1.6 mi	872	6.8
Elizabeth Carter Brooks New Bedford	1.6 mi	264	6.9

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 02740 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$54,563

Median Home Value

$303,400

Median Rent

$1,052/mo

Population

46,336

College Educated

18.1%

Homeownership

37.9%

Avg Commute

24.1 min

Poverty Rate

19.6%

Median Age

Similar Schools

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

School	Enrollment	Rating
BIRCHES SCHOOL Lincoln, MA	89	5.1
BLESSED SACRAMENT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Holyoke, MA	132	5.1
ST MARY-SACRED HEART SCHOOL North Attleboro, MA	176	5.1
Cold Spring Belchertown, MA	189	5.0
Leverett Elementary Leverett, MA	142	5.0
Lynn Woods Lynn, MA	161	5.0

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about St James - St John School

What grades does St James - St John School serve?

St James - St John School serves students in grades Pre-K through 8th.

How many students attend St James - St John School?

St James - St John School has an enrollment of approximately 144 students.

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

The student-teacher ratio at St James - St John School is 13:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 11:1 for private schools.

How does St James - St John School rank in MA?

St James - St John School ranks #323 of 388 private schools in MA.

What is St James - St John School's MySchoolScout rating?

St James - St John School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.1 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 - St John School a private school?

Yes, St James - St John 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 - St John School a religious school?

St James - St John School has a Roman Catholic religious affiliation.

Explore More Schools

All schools in New Bedford, MA Schools in MA 20 nearby schools

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Neighborhood Context

Walk Score: 79 Very Walkable
Transit Score: 48 Some Transit
Bike Score: 56 Bikeable

Quick Facts NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

Grades: Pre-K – 8th
Enrollment: 144
Gender Split: 49% M / 51% F
Student-Teacher Ratio: 13:1
Teachers (FTE): 11
Type: private
Coed Status: coed
Affiliation: Roman Catholic
School Day: 6.5 hours
Days Per Year: 180 days
Setting: Midsize Suburb
County: Bristol County
Phone: (508) 996-0534

Resources & Links

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Data sources

NCES PSSSY 2021-22 Census ACS2019-2023 MySchoolScout Rankings2024 Full details →

St James - St John School

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