Est. 2025St. Catharines, Ontario

St. Joseph Academy

An independent elementary school committed to authentic Catholic faith formation and academic excellence, serving the Niagara region and beyond. St. Joseph Academy relies on evidence-based best practices to offer a structured, holistic Montessori Kindergarten program and a rigorous Grades 1–8 education that meets and exceeds the Ontario curriculum, rooted in the classical framework. We form young minds and hearts in truth, goodness, and beauty, equipping students for future academic success, lives of virtue, and meaningful service to others.

K–8

Grade Levels

Small

Class Size

Catholic

Faith Foundation

A brief, no-obligation conversation to explore whether we’re the right fit for your family.

Teacher providing one-on-one attention to a student

See Our School

Experience St. Joseph Academy

Take a glimpse into daily life at our school—the joy of learning, the warmth of community, and the foundation of faith that guides all that we do.

“The best way to understand our school is to see it in action. We invite you to visit and experience the St. Joseph Academy difference firsthand.”

Our Approach

An Education of the Whole Child

We believe education aims at the full formation of the human person—mind, body, and soul. At St. Joseph Academy, we unite intellectual excellence with moral and spiritual formation through structured, research-informed instruction and time-tested educational methods.

JK/SK

Montessori Kindergarten

At St. Joseph Academy, Montessori education is implemented with precision and purpose. Through carefully sequenced, hands-on learning, students progress at an individualized pace while developing independence, concentration, and higher-order thinking. The prepared environment is intentionally designed to cultivate intellectual curiosity, disciplined work habits, and a deep respect for the dignity of the child. Students build strong academic foundations alongside virtue. Montessori education at St. Joseph Academy forms confident, thoughtful learners equipped to use their God-given gifts in the service of the world.

Grades 1-8

Classical Education

St. Joseph Academy offers a classical education ordered toward the pursuit of truth, wisdom, and virtue. Through grammar, logic, and rhetoric, students learn how to think clearly, reason soundly, and communicate with clarity and confidence. Within this classical framework, our curriculum is intentionally designed using best-practice, evidence-based, and research-informed pedagogy. Reading, writing, mathematics, and all subject areas are taught through a rigorous, structured academic program that prioritizes strong foundations, intellectual depth, and mastery of essential knowledge and skills. This approach ensures that students are not only well educated but also thoughtfully formed—prepared for advanced study, responsible citizenship, and a life of disciplined, meaningful inquiry.

Student Formation

Who Your Child Will Become

Our goal is the formation of young men and women of virtue, equipped with the knowledge and habits necessary to lead lives of faith, purpose, and service.

Curious

Demonstrates a genuine love of learning, asking thoughtful questions and seeking to understand the world with wonder.

Articulate

Expresses ideas clearly in speech and writing, trained in the art of rhetoric.

Virtuous

Living lives ordered by moral truth, developing habits of integrity, self-discipline, and responsibility.

Reverent

Approaches God, others, and the created world with respect, gratitude, and a sense of the sacred.

Diligent

Applies sustained effort to work, developing perseverance, attention to detail, and a strong, consistent work ethic.

Joyful

Finds joy in beauty, truth, and goodness—the transcendentals of classical education.

Confident

Knows their worth as a child of God, secure in identity and purpose.

Prepared

Ready for high school and beyond, equipped with the tools for lifelong learning.

From Our Families

Stories from Our Community

We've seen a remarkable change at home. Our daughter now pauses to think about her choices and can articulate why something is right or wrong. The virtue formation isn't just taught—it's lived.

My son has joined St. Joseph Academy, and he has grown so much as a person in just over a month. We are seeing so many positive changes at home—he wants to read, he wants to write, and he’s excited to do math. I find him on the floor doing equations by himself; I don’t even have to ask. There’s been so much growth already, and we just love it here.

We know he is in good hands—he’s in God’s hands. He has been asking more questions about Jesus, and he’s been kinder to his younger brother. He definitely gets that from the older kids he engages with at school. Everyone, from the board to the teachers to the volunteers, shares the same outlook and values. They all want what’s best for our children.

Join our community of families committed to excellence in education and faith formation.

Investment

SJA Tuition

St. Joseph Academy offers tuition that reflects our commitment to making an academically rigorous, faith-filled education accessible to families. Our program meets and exceeds the Ontario curriculum while remaining competitively priced compared to other independent schools.

For the 2026–2027 school year, tuition is as follows:

Kindergarten (Montessori)

$650

per month

Grades 1–8 (Classical)

$850

per month

Tuition is charged over the 10-month school year for a maximum of three children per family. The fourth child and beyond attend tuition-free.

Getting Started

Your Path to St. Joseph Academy

Our simple admissions process is designed to help you determine whether St. Joseph Academy is the right fit for your family. Please note that enrollment is intentionally limited in order to preserve small class sizes and individualized instruction.

1
Discovery Call
A brief conversation to learn about your family and answer your questions about our school.
2
Campus Tour
Meet select board and staff members, and visit our classrooms, gym, and recreational spaces.
3
Application
Complete our simple application with supporting documents at your own pace.
4
Decision
Receive your admission decision within two weeks of submitting your application.

Begin Your Journey

We look forward to meeting your family and sharing more about our school.