St. John's High School

I graduated SJ in 1982 and floundered horribly socially in a NESCAC 4-year college of high quality. But most of my classmates also went to 4-year New England colleges and had very few problems. The problem was with me and not SJ. What SJ did, however, was to impress upon me that being accountable diligent, and prepared were qualities that would never fail. In addition, my relationship to God was nourished there, and was placed above all other values the school espouses. Whether I got 5's on AP tests or not, and whether I got sports awards or not, I was told, was not important. What was important was trusting and relying on a loving, involved God--with that as a foundation, the rest would take care of itself. I'm grateful to report that the folks at SJ were right about this. When things go wrong as they invariably will in this life, faith wins the day. That lesson is worth its weight in gold, and that was at the center of what the SJ education was all about. The other good things were important and stressed, but were, shall we say, the frosting on the cake.

Sending me to St. Johns was the best decision my parents could have done for me. As a recent alum, I can say from experience that St. Johns has prepared me for college better than any other school possibly could have. The teacher's were personal, professional, and all around great . The academics were top of the line, the sports were great, the arts were where I met all my friends, built the confidence and personality I needed to interact with other people. While the same sex environment may turn off some kids, it rwally only brought us together as brothers. It really was the best four years of my life, there's something for everyone
--Submitted by a student

Something is going on at Saint John's. I'm not sure what it is, but long-time highly-esteemed teachers have been leaving in droves and the atmosphere at the school has changed greatly. My oldest son just graduated from the school, and while the education was very good, the culture of the school is a bit warped and getting worse. I don't think I will send my younger sons there. From the quiet talk I've been hearing, the problems seem to center on the school's top administrators, not the teachers or other staffers.
--Submitted by a parent

I have two sons that attend SJ. I cannot be happier with their and our decision to attend this wonderful school. From athletics to the arts, there are plenty of things for the students to do and find new interests. The teachers are truly commited to excellence and spend the time and energy to help the students learn...some have written about the downside of a sigle sex school, I have seen students flourish once they graduate and have a keen sense of self and an ability to deal and communicate a high level with woman.
--Submitted by a parent

Education and values = St Johns
--Submitted by a parent

Graduating from this school turned out to be a bad decision. It is very expensive and a hassle for transportation. Since it is a single-sex school, I cannot succesfully talk to girls in college. Now I lack in social skills with the opposite gender and my confidence has drastically plummeted. Party?
--Submitted by a parent

As a senior about to graduate, I can honestly say that St. johns has been one of the best experiences of my life. The teaching staff is well qualified and ready to teach every day of the year, while always being available if a student needs extra help. There is a wide range of extra curriculars and athletics which the students excell at every year. While I was skeptical of a single sex school to begin with, I can tell you now that it only brought each and every one of my classmates closer together as a brotherhood.
--Submitted by a student

We have boy/ girl twins. Our daughter is number one in her prep school and has been for each of her first three years. She scores 5 on her AP's, SAT and ACT scores in the top 1%. Her brother attends St. John's in Shrewsbury. We see the academics, as well as the culture, of both prep schools. There is no comparison between these two 'top rated' prep schools. St. John's is markedly superior in every respect to most colleges we have toured and visited, so it is unfair to compare it to most high schools. The school excels in academics, athletics and community service, but most important is the commitment and success to mold young men with a strong sense of social awareness, spiritual enrichment and an unbridled work ethic. However, it is not for the student or parent who is unwilling to be challenged to their limit.
--Submitted by a parent

As a senior at Saint John's I feel I am obligated to say that Saint John's has been for me what any family has been for anyone else. The teachers here do their best to make you feel welcome and they teach with the utmost caliber. Saint John's has not retarded my maturation process, if anything, it helped it a great deal. Saint John's allowed me to find who I really am, and helped me to get out of my social 'shell.' When I have children, I would not send my sons to any other school but Saint John's.
--Submitted by Matthew Gorgoglione, a student

The academic programs are good but the quality of teachers varies widely and is suspect in many areas. The school has a great tradition of sports, clubs and other extracurriculars. The biggest problem is that too many students are unprepared to handle the non-academic aspects of college life. A single-sex school tends to retard the maturation process socially and it can cause adjustment difficulties after high school.
--Submitted by a former student