About Us
Established in Athens in 1949, St. Joseph Catholic Parish School is a ministry of St. Joseph Catholic Parish and is a part of the Archdiocese of Atlanta.
We are proud to represent the strong tradition of quality education for which Catholic Schools have come to be recognized worldwide. Please also view our Mission and History page to learn more about our important role as the oldest private school in Athens.
Quick Facts About Us
About our Students:
We serve students in grades Pre-Kindergarten through 8th grade
Average class size is 15.5 students in lower school and 18.7 students in middle school
All students are welcome at Saint Joseph School, regardless of Religious affiliation
We draw students from Athens-Clarke County and surrounding counties such as Oconee, Jackson, Oglethorpe, and Walton among others
GRACE Scholarships are awarded to eligible students transferring in from public schools (scholarship application deadline is February 23)
Financial Assistance is available for qualifying families
SJS awards over 50% of students who qualified for tuition assistance, with an average award of $4,000 per student
About our School and Faculty:
SJS follows a standard 180-day school calendar with school hours from 7:50-3:15 Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays; 7:50-2:20 on Wednesdays.
Accredited by Cognia, the parent corporation of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
SJS is a member of the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA)
Curriculum standards and objectives are set by The Archdiocese of Atlanta and Office of Catholic Schools
Faculty meet professional accrediting standards of the State of Georgia and are 100% certified
41% of our teachers hold Master's degrees
Faculty have an average of just over 15 years of teaching experience
Our faculty is 70% Catholic and 30% non-Catholic
About our Academics and Extra-Curricular Programs:
Students receive daily instruction in core curriculum areas including Math, Reading, Literature, Grammar, Spelling, Writing, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, and Religion
All Students receive instruction in our Enrichment Programs, which include: Art, Music, Middle School Band, Spanish, Technology & Design, Physical Education, and Library/Media
Clear Touch Boards are available in all lower school classrooms and 1:1 student devices are issued in grades 4th through 8th. SJS offers extensive instructional technology including STREAM opportunities that are integrated throughout the school day
Students are also offered additional activities and leadership opportunities, some of which include: Drone Club, Service Learning projects, Middle School Ambassadors, Prayer Partners/Student Mentors, School Choir, Altar Servers, Math Counts, Battle of the Books, Oratorical Competition, 4-H, River Watch Environmental Club, and other activities
Our Athletics Program provides Cheerleading (3rd-8th), Flag Football (3rd-8th), Basketball (3rd-8th), Cross Country (5th-8th), Volleyball (5th-8th), and Middle School Basketball, Soccer, Golf and Tennis
The Extended Day Program is available for all students until 6:00 pm for an additional fee
About our Campus:
Our new state of the art 65,000 square foot campus buildings are located conveniently off Epps Bridge Parkway near the Athens-Clarke/Oconee County line
Our 46-acre campus boasts a new all-weather artificial turf soccer field as well as a track and cross-country course
Our well-equipped playground affords all of our students with daily outdoor recess fun and exercise
Our high school regulation gym allows us to host volleyball and basketball games as well as provides an optimal space for our school-wide physical education program
About our School Family:
At SJS, we believe parental involvement and collaboration are of paramount importance in educating the whole child
Parents are instrumental members of our school community as many serve in our Family and School Association and School Advisory Council. All families contribute 20 service hours to the school each year
Every class has parent Room Representatives who help us coordinate everything from fun classroom parties to middle school dances
Host families reach out to welcome and support our new students and their families
Whether it's in coming together for our Field Day, our annual Fall Festival, the St. Joe's Jog 5K, Catholic Schools Week, or our Adult Social there are many ways to serve and get involved
Our students and their families are a testament to the things that make St. Joseph Catholic Parish School so special