St. Catherine's School

St. Catherine's School

Private Pre-K, Elementary, Middle, High School | Grade Pre-K-12
6001 Grove Ave,  Richmond, VA
Near West End Neighborhood
4.3
4.7
955 Students
A+
Niche Grade
MORE THAN A CENTURY OF EDUCATING GIRLS Founded in 1890, St. Catherine’s School is the oldest continually operated all-girls school in Richmond. Located on 16 manicured acres in the city’s West End, it has historically been the top choice of affluent Richmonders looking for an educational setting tailored for girls, blending academics, diverse perspectives and creative learning. And through its partnership with brother-school St. Christopher’s, its students have access to programs and teachers available at the boy’s school as well. The result: 100% of graduates gained acceptance into a four-year institution in 2023, more than 80% of students took AP classes and the average SAT score was over 1300. “Every single decision is made with girls in mind,” says Whitney Shelton, associate director of admissions, upper school. “How best do they learn? What do they need? How can we encourage them? We believe this approach builds within them the confidence to meet the world and say, ‘I can do this.’” THREE SCHOOLS, THREE APPROACHES St. Catherine’s has a student body of 950 across three schools and a student-teacher ratio as low as 9 to 1, depending on school and program. Lower school, for girls between age 3 and Grade 4, focuses on project-based learning, a method that encourages collaboration, research, critical thinking and problem solving. The school introduces students to engineering, design, coding and languages, such as Mandarin and Spanish. Middle school takes advantage of the budding, curious minds in Grades 4-8, focusing on issues like digital citizenship, independence and responsibility, and intentional academics, a program that empowers them to think critically and express curiosity in real-world scenarios. Upper school, offering more than 180 courses and 34 honors classes, is where St. Catherine’s prepares young women in Grades 9-12 for post-secondary education. Coursework prioritizes independent research and character development while also offering hands-on college counseling. DEVELOPING A WELL-ROUNDED ADULT St. Catherine’s girls are encouraged to explore their creativity and athleticism. The school offers comprehensive programs in multiple disciplines, including visual arts, theater, dance and music. Its main campus is home to the 70,000-square-foot Kenny Sports and Fitness Center and The Love Jennison Family Theatre, a 550-seat performance hall. By the time the girls reach middle school, they’re running the show, managing productions, designing sets and handling lighting and sound design. The school, which also has 145 acres of sports fields in nearby Goochland County, is home to 40 different teams and has won 48 league and 26 state championships. “I think the development of the whole girl is what drives our community,” says Deborah Dunlap, senior development officer. ENDOWMENT AND TUITION St. Catherine’s has an endowment of $50 million and tuition that ranges from $19,600 to $33,400, with payment plans and financial assistance available. The school awarded $3 million in financial aid in 2023, with 22 percent of its students receiving assistance. St. Catherine’s used to offer boarding, but that is no longer and option. The school motto – “What we keep we lose; only what we give remains our own” – is emblematic of its commitment to a life dedicated to purpose and service.

School Details

Head of School
Cindy Trask
Student Teacher Ratio
8:1
Average SAT Score
1290
Average ACT Score
29
Average GPA
3.65
Graduation Rate
100%
Annual Tuition
$30,750
Religious Affiliation
Episcopal

Niche Grade

A+
Academics
A-
Teachers
A
College Prep
A+
Resources/Facilities
A+
Clubs and Activities
A+
Sports
Source: Niche
Niche Grades

Niche grades and rankings are calculated using dozens of public data sets and millions of reviews. Niche data scientists and user researchers rigorously analyze data and user opinions to assess the key aspects of K-12 Schools, Colleges, and Places to Live. Every month, millions of students and families use the Niche grades and report cards to find the right school or neighborhood.

Niche Grade Details

Academics
Average GPA
3.65
Teachers
Student Teacher Ratio
8:1
Teachers
131
Full Time Teachers
100
Part Time Teachers
31
College Prep
Average SAT
1290
Math
640
Verbal
650
Average ACT
29
Math
27
English
30
Reading
31
Science
28
Number of AP Courses
23
AP Pass Rate
81%
Four-Year Matriculation Rate
100%
Clubs and Activities
Girls Athletic Participation
Very High

GreatSchools Rating Details

Student Diversity

White
81.7%
Black
8.7%
Two or more races
3.9%
Asian
3.5%
Hispanic
2.1%
Native American
<1%

School Rankings

#4 Best All Girls Schools in Virginia
#5 Best HS For Athletes in Virginia
#15 Best Christian Schools in Virginia
Source: Niche

Specialty School Programs

AP Programs Offered
Athletics Program

Colleges Students are Considering

Students are most interested in or go on to attend these colleges.
University of Virginia 100 Students
James Madison University 77 Students
William & Mary 55 Students
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 41 Students
Virginia Tech 41 Students
New York University 36 Students
Elon University 35 Students
University of Richmond 35 Students
Georgetown University 32 Students
University of South Carolina 31 Students

What Students Want to Study

Niche users from this school are most interested in the following majors.
Business 45 Students
Biology 36 Students
Psychology 32 Students
Pre-Medicine Studies 32 Students
Nursing 25 Students
Political Science and Government 20 Students
Marketing 19 Students
History 19 Students
Economics 17 Students
Chemistry 14 Students

This School’s Reviews

Niche Reviews
4.3 117 Reviews
5.0 Freshman
8/27/2025
I really like st cats I switched from collegiate and havent looked back. The community is very welcoming and kind.
5.0 Alum
2/16/2024
Unparalleled college preparatory school experience—I attended from junior kindergarten through my senior year (graduation implied). The writing skills in particular that are cultivated at St. Catherine's put me miles ahead of my college peers who had graduated with far better grades than myself (coming from different schools/states).
5.0 Parent
2/23/2022
We have two girls who attend St. Catherine's. Our oldest daughter started off in 3rd grade while our youngest daughter started with the JK program. It has been amazing to see how quickly both girls have been embraced by the school and community. The level of attention and personalized instruction is more than we could have hoped for when we started looking at different educational options. As we were going through the application and decision making process we constantly came back to St. Catherine's as they truly developed an educational curriculum around our daughters. We have now been at the school for a little more than 3 years and it could not have been any better. During the pandemic my wife and I consistently noted how fortunate we were to have a supportive educational environment that continued to adapt and change in response to our girl's needs.
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GreatSchools Reviews
4.7 38 Reviews
2.0 other
10/30/2024
Administration is terrible, and they don't help get you into college. My parents chose to send their 3 daughters there, me included, and they regret sending us there so much. I have so many examples and situations that happened at this school. Please send your children to Collegiate or Trinity if yo...
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5.0 parent
5/14/2024
We have two lower school daughters currently at St. Catherine’s and we couldn’t be happier with our choice of school for them. The admissions process for our oldest was full of questions and lots of discussion for my husband and I because neither of us grew up in Richmond, so we were evaluating mult...
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5.0 parent
12/5/2023
Choosing a school for our daughter was not something we took lightly. Our family had both public and private school experiences, so we evaluated all our options. Engaging with the admissions team, spending time on campus, and speaking with other families all positively contribute to our decision. Ou...
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5.0 parent
12/5/2023
We moved to Richmond, VA in my daughter’s kindergarten year and looked at several area schools. We found that the admissions team and everyone we encountered at St. Catherine’s School really took the time and extra effort to get to know our daughter. They understood exactly where she was and what sh...
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Virginia Richmond City County Richmond 23226 Near West End
St. Catherine's School

St. Catherine's School is a private Episcopal school for students in grades Pre-K-12 located at 6001 Grove Ave in Richmond, VA. Annual tuition is $30,750. The school has a total enrollment of 955 and maintains a student-teacher ratio of 8:1. St. Catherine's School has received feedback and ratings, with a Niche grade of A+. The average GPA is 3.65, the graduation rate is 100%, and average standardized test scores include an SAT score of 1290 and an ACT score of 29. The average home value in this area is $943,959. Discover additional schools in the area, like St Christopher's School, Shaarei Torah of Richmond, Benjamin & Lillian Rochkind Yeshiva Of Virginia, and more. Learn more about what Richmond has to offer, and browse homes for sale and for rent near St. Catherine's School.

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