Our Mission

The dream and vision of the clergy, the vestry and the members of St. George’s Episcopal Church, St. George’s Episcopal School was founded in 1969. The school began with nineteen students, and classes were held in the church’s undercroft. Over fifty years later, our community finds itself in its present location on Napoleon Avenue, serving students ages 3 months through 8th grade and still very connected to St. George's Episcopal Church.

Inclusivity

Community and inclusivity are vitally important to the mission of St. George’s. While we are an Episcopal School, we affirm many faiths, creeds and world views within our StG community. All students and families—from all religious backgrounds or none at all—are welcome at St. George’s Episcopal School. 

JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion) work begins with St. George’s Episcopal identity, which calls upon the school to foster a sense of belonging for its students and employees. As a member of the National Association of Episcopal Schools, St. George’s shares the NAES strategic goal to “articulate a core religious identity within the context of our multi-religious and inclusive Episcopal school communities by promoting values of justice, equity, service, civil discourse and moral courage.”

"Ultimately, as Dr. Rodney Glasgow reminds us, our reason to do this work is not God or that we are Episcopal and it aligns with our values. It is because ‘God asks us to do this work ourselves.’ St. George’s has gone to work. Social justice in this context means that we 'strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being.'" - Dr. Joseph Kreutziger, Head of School

Chapel

The Chaplaincy program of St. George’s Episcopal School is coordinated by Mr. James Post, the Director of Youth Ministries and Outreach at St. George’s Episcopal Church. Mr. Post meets with Lower and Middle School students once each week. 

Drawing on passages from both the Hebrew Bible and the Christian New Testament, we teach virtues such as charity, wisdom, courage and justice. Our perspective is, of course, informed by the Episcopal faith, but our mission is to impart lessons of honor and ethics common to all cultures and people of goodwill. Chapel at St. George’s seeks to engage students in a thoughtful and lively manner. Students are encouraged to ask questions, to analyze content critically and ultimately to understand that regardless of faith or creed, we are all part of the human family and worthy of love and dignity.

Why Not High School?

St. George’s intentionally ends in Eighth Grade to best support the intellectual, social, emotional and physical needs of elementary-aged students, especially middle schoolers experiencing great amounts of change as they endeavor to discover who they are as individuals.

Schools that include 9th-12th grade often have a culture that revolves around their high school students. Our Nursery through Eighth Grade model, which is supported  by fact-based research,  provides stability, community and opportunity for our students. It allows for learning and growth in a nurturing environment where it is safe to take risks and explore-- and do so with more opportunities to lead.

Applying to High School

Each Eighth Grader’s success team, including Ms. Jones, Director of Middle School, and Dr. Kreutziger, Head of School, provides guidance and support to Eighth Grade families throughout the high school search and selection process. This includes arranging alumni panels, organizing visits to area schools, offering preparation for interviews and excusing high school visit days. We also meet with each family for individualized counseling in their search for the perfect high school. All members of the Class of 2021 earned acceptance at their first choice high school.

Read more about applying to high school here.

St. George’s believes that a coeducational setting enriches the educational experience of our students and plays an important role in their academic and social and emotional growth. The more diverse environment created in a co-ed student body introduces an expanded range of perspectives, viewpoints and experiences. Further, St. George’s does not only prepare our students for high school; we prepare them for the world—a world broader and more inclusive than a single sex. Coeducation provides our students with an advantage during their school years that will carry throughout their adult lives. 

Civil Discourse is a conversation that promotes mutual understanding through polite and respectful engagement among individuals or groups with shared and differing opinions. At St. George’s, we believe that every voice deserves to be listened to, heard, and valued. We commit to growing our students’ critical thinking skills, supported by an atmosphere of compassion and respect while upholding our Episcopal principles that strive for justice and peace among all people, maintaining the dignity and worth of every individual.

We aim to teach and engage students in dialogue with open minds and good faith, structuring our approach on the three pillars of expressive freedom, disciplined non-partisanship and intellectual diversity¹. Our goal is to foster understanding, encourage productive discussions, and embody our core values in a democratic, pluralistic society.

¹“A Framework for Schools.” The Edward E. Ford Foundation, 1 May 2024, www.eeford.org/a-framework-for-schools.

StG Core Values Guide for Civil Discourse

Perseverance at StG means we keep trying even when it’s hard.

• Civil discourse requires practice and patience. Our community will navigate challenging conversations, admitting uncertainties and learning from each other. We encourage students to critically analyze information and draw their own conclusions.

Integrity at StG means doing what you know is right.

• St. George’s community members will advocate for themselves and others, using their voices to inform peers about their identities while being aware of harmful language and biases. Faculty will present diverse perspectives, avoiding the imposition of their beliefs to maintain the integrity of individual thought.

Respect at StG means knowing that everyone and everything is special.

• Everyone is entitled to expressive freedom and mutual respect. Discussions should focus on understanding rather than winning arguments. Dialogue and research are tools to empathize with different perspectives, aiming for mutual understanding.

Compassion at StG means noticing others and being kind.

• We support a community where making mistakes and taking intellectual risks is encouraged and welcomed. Seeing each other builds empathy. We “call in” rather than "call out" during difficult conversations, fostering patience and self-reflection.

St. George’s celebrates our diversity by committing to a safe environment in freedom of expression, lifelong learning, and mutual respect for people from all backgrounds. We aim to be a community built on kindness and empathy, where open dialogue is encouraged regardless of race, ability, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, language, citizenship, or socioeconomic status. Growth requires continuous listening, reflecting, learning, and exploring new ways of thinking.

StG Community Guidelines for Civil Discourse:

1. Encouraging Constructive Conversations:

   • Foster an environment where diverse opinions are welcomed and constructive conversations are valued.
      

2. Modeling Core Values:

   • Use St. George’s core values—perseverance, integrity, respect, and compassion—as a foundation for all discussions and clearly communicate these values.
      

3. Clear Boundaries for Speech:

   • Define and model acceptable and unacceptable speech, prohibiting language that degrades identity, is hateful, exclusionary, or counterproductive to civil discourse. Respond appropriately and age-sensitively.
      

4. Inclusivity in Discussions:

   • Teach that differences and similarities in backgrounds and viewpoints are natural. Ensure all students feel comfortable expressing their thoughts, regardless of alignment with others.
      

5. Mindful Adult Language Use:

   • Be aware of the influence of adult language and opinions on students, especially regarding political and social topics. Maintain a nonpartisan stance to support students in forming their own opinions.
      

6. Purposeful and Relevant Discussions:

   • Ensure that discussions on political and social topics are educational and contribute to students' understanding.
      

7. Creating Welcoming Spaces:

   • Build an environment that feels safe and welcoming for all community members to engage in civil discourse and challenging discussions.