St. John Neumann Academy

My family has had a wonderful experience at SJNA. My oldest son started there nearly three years ago after attending public school in Blacksburg. The situation we left was very difficult and my son was regressing in that setting. His classroom was unstructured, disorganized, chaotic and stressful. It was such a relief to find a school where teachers love teaching. The positive attitudes of the director and teachers rubs off on the students and my kids are excited to go to school each and every day. I love the commitment to community service as well as the emphasis on character education. Right now, the only thing lacking is a variety of athletic opportunities in middle school, but SJNA is growing and maybe in the future this can be a possibility! I couldn't imagine a better fit for my family.
—Submitted by a parent

Parents: I read the negative reviews below and feel for the families that encountered problems at SJNA in 2008. The last three years at SJNA has been a blessing for our children and our family s peace of mind. We moved our children from the Blacksburg public school district because of classroom distractions, disobedience, and a few of the teachers. I do not hold that against the public schools, but that is just the way they are structured. In short, our children were falling between the cracks and spoiling because of a few bad apples. I am very pleased with the students, families, and faculty at SJNA. My wife and I never knew what a positive experience our children would face, but education is their top priority. I am sure it is not perfect for all families, but you will have difficulty finding anything wrong with it. I am just a country boy who believes you only get one chance to raise your children the right way. I hope this helps you to make the right decision for your family. Chris Branscome
—Submitted by a parent

I have two children that have attended the school for 5 years. They receive a quality education that surpasses anything they could receive in a a public school. Moreover, the disarray that has become evident in the Montgomery County public school system further supports our decision to send our children to SJNA. The teachers have much higer standards and expectations which, in my opinion is exactly what children need. They typically have 1-2hours of homework each night as compared to their public school counterparts who average 15 to 30 minutes, if that. The poster below who criticized the curriculum, is just flat incorrect. The SNJA materials are superior to most and tend to be at a level higher than you would expect. High marks all around for this school
—Submitted by a parent

I couldn't imagine a better school for a child to grow and learn. The teachers are great!
—Submitted by a parent

St. John Neumann Academy is a wonderful, safe environment for our two children in middle school. I love the faith based curriculum and find it very challenging academically. I am sure that they will be very well prepared for high school. The small class size is wonderful. All of the teachers are certified and truly love teaching. Given the choice, my children would choose to stay at SJNA.
—Submitted by a parent

St. John Neumann Academy is a home-away-from-home for our girls. Our girls are surrounded by people who love them. The outstanding and nurturing faculty serve as role models. They encourage our children to always put their best foot forward. What I love most about SJNA is that our girls grow in their faith each and every day. They are challenged academically, but more importantly, they are taught to believe in themselves and have respect for others. They love going to school each day. SJNA was and is the perfect choice for our family.
—Submitted by a parent

SJNA is a very good school for K through 5, middle school not such a great place. Needs to more involved with not only strong academics, but also a much needed improvement in PE,Health class, and music. It just is not getting it done with middle school needs.
—Submitted by a parent

I have been so pleased with the teacher/student ratios, the strong school community, and the amazing faith-filled and academically challenging education my children have received at SJNA! They love going to school! They have grown as learners, as well as grown in their faith and in their leadership/public speaking skills. The teachers are fantastic. Thanks SJNA!
—Submitted by a parent

Having both attended and taught at Christian schools in the New River Valley, I can say with the greatest confidence that SJNA provides a nurturing, positive environment for children to flourish. The student body is supportive of one another, with the older grades always eager to mentor the 'little kids'. The teaching team has a sincere desire to see each child reach their greatest potential, not only as students, but as members of the community. Thanks to an amazing Director and Board of Governows,SJNA continues to grow each year despite changing campuses two consecutive years.
—Submitted by a teacher

I was a student of Saint John Newmann academy in Blacksburg Va. I am concerned about the education at the school. It is my opinion as a student that your child would benefit a lot more if you sent them to a public school for several reasons. One is they will meet more people, make more friends, be in a larger enviroment and be able to experience a better and not limited education, your child will learn much more, and their grades will be better, they will have qualified teachers.They will not hear or be in a class where they teach them certain things that you don't want to learn, and you will know wether the teachers are actually teaching your child or not. I know from experience that this is more than a possibility.
—Submitted by a student

SJNA has a couple of good teachers, but many of them don't pull their weight. I believe public schools give a better variety of classes, and they teach in a way that is easier to understand and remember. Even though you would think no one would get any attention, public school students get just as much.
—Submitted by a student

I think the public schools in this area actually do a better job with core curriculum in both elementary and middle school.
—Submitted by a parent

I love the school, my two girls get personal attention, excellent curriculum and they are trained to behave well but are allowed to express themselves. They attend mass and have religion classes. WE love it!
—Submitted by a parent