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.
St. Catherine's School
Private Pre-K, Elementary, Middle, High School
|
Grade Pre-K-12
6001 Grove Ave,
Richmond, VA
955
Students
A+
School Details
Head of School
Cindy Trask
Student Teacher Ratio
8:1
Average SAT Score
1290
Average ACT Score
29
Average GPA
3.63
Graduation Rate
100%
Annual Tuition
$30,750
Religious Affiliation
Episcopal
Niche Grade
A+
A
A
A+
A+
A+
Source: Niche
Niche Grade Details
Academics
Average GPA
3.63
Teachers
Student Teacher Ratio
8:1
Teachers
131
Full Time Teachers
100
Part Time Teachers
31
College Prep
Average SAT
1290
Math
640
Verbal
660
Average ACT
29
Math
26
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
83%
Black
7.8%
Asian or Pacific Islander
3.6%
Two or more races
3.1%
Hispanic
2.4%
Interested in learning more about homes nearby? Reach out to Karen Loewen, an agent with experience near this school.
School Rankings
#4
Best All Girls Schools in Virginia
#4
Best HS For Athletes in Virginia
#15
Best Christian Schools in Virginia
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
102 Students
James Madison University
84 Students
William & Mary
55 Students
Virginia Tech
44 Students
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
42 Students
University of Richmond
39 Students
New York University
35 Students
University of South Carolina
34 Students
Elon University
34 Students
Georgetown University
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
30 Students
Pre-Medicine Studies
29 Students
Nursing
25 Students
Political Science and Government
20 Students
History
19 Students
Marketing
17 Students
Economics
17 Students
English
14 Students
This School’s Reviews
Niche Reviews
6/17/2024
My experience was not great, but it has been awhile. I think there needed to be more unity in the school. Some of the professors cared. A few of the administration were particularly nasty. I won't visit the school and still feel uncomfortable there.
11/14/2023
My daughter has been so prepared for life through exposure to a wide variety of courses, opportunities, experiences, and people. She has been accepted as she is.
1/10/2022
St. Catherine's empowered me as a woman and provided me with the education I needed in order to feel prepared when applying to colleges and for next year. I'm so grateful for the privilege I've been given going to a school like St. Catherines.
GreatSchools Reviews
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...
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...
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...
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...
Agents Specializing Near This School
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Karen Loewen
Karen Loewen
Compass
(804) 409-8346
115 Total Sales
4 Near This School
$349K - $850K Price Range
-
Brian Walinski
Brian Walinski
Fathom Realty Virginia
(804) 409-0223
32 Total Sales
1 Near This School
$477,781 Price
-
Ricky McNeal
Ricky McNeal
Fathom Realty Virginia
(804) 409-8829
98 Total Sales
4 Near This School
$184K - $650K Price Range
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Sarah Romero
Sarah Romero
Real Broker LLC
(804) 409-3896
89 Total Sales
2 Near This School
$345K - $569K Price Range
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Charles Futrell
Charles Futrell
Responds QuicklySamson Properties
(804) 944-8740
78 Total Sales
1 Near This School
$430,000 Price
-
Pam Pope
Pam Pope
Long & Foster REALTORS
(804) 492-7858
60 Total Sales
2 Near This School
$308K - $400K Price Range
Map
About Near West End
Average Price per Sq Ft
$207
Homes For Sale
1
Average Home Value
$928,990
Median Lot Size
8,712 Sq Ft
% Renters
25%
Household Income
$171,687
% of College Grads
64.6%
Median Age
28
Average House Size
2,229 Sq Ft
% Commercial Property
39.5%
Homes for Sale
Homes for Rent
-
-
$1,626 - $3,771 per month
- The Alder on Dabney
- Studio - 3 Beds
- 1-2 Baths
- 483+ Sq Ft
- 2001 Dabney Rd
- Richmond, VA
-
Additional Schools in the Area
Public Schools shown may be Choice Schools
Choice Schools
Choice schools may not serve this home. Please check the school district website to see all schools serving this home.
- Pre-K to 12th
- Private
- 9th to 12th
- Private
- 9th to 12th
- Private
Parks in this Area
Bandy Field Nature Park
Cheswick Park
- Picnic Area
- Trails
- Playground
Huguenot Flatwater Park
- Bike Trails
- Boating
- Fishing
Westhampton Green Park
- Picnic Area
- Trails
- Playground
Mary Munford Playground
- Basketball
- Picnic Area
- Tennis
Bandy Field Nature Park
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