FAQ

The Middle School at St. John's includes grades 6, 7, and 8. The High School is grades 9 through 12.

Brother Benjamin Hall is home for grades 6, 7, and 8. It includes classrooms, science labs, a collaborative media and study center, school counseling, dining space, and Middle School administrative offices. Suited in scale and layout to the needs of younger students, it provides a dedicated space while still feeling like a part of campus life. The space has been designed to be flexible in order to accommodate the natural energy and curiosity of younger boys. 

The Middle School is a self-contained program that provides a consistent, nurturing, and appropriately scaled environment for our younger students. During the school day, students are supervised by adults at all times, and the level of independence and freedom to move around on our broad campus is intentionally monitored. For instance, if students need to go to another building across the street, they are escorted and supervised by faculty.

At the same time, there are opportunities for students in grades 6, 7, and 8 to interact with our older students in shared school spaces. For example, High School students act as tutors, club leaders, and mentors for younger students. Students in all grades may practice near each other on our athletic fields. Lastly, students in all grades come together on occasion for important events in the life of the school.

Students in the Middle School have access to iPads through our 1:1 program. The school monitors apps, content, and usage closely through our secure network. We gradually release responsibility to students, allowing them more use and freedoms with the technology as they complete learning units on responsible use, digital citizenship, and understanding expectations for appropriate use.

In addition, MacBook Pro laptops are available in the Digital Commons and Digital Commons technology classroom for longer writing assignments, research projects, and computer science classes.
 

This is a rundown of what Middle School families can anticipate:

• iPad: Students in grades 6, 7, and 8 use school-owned iPads. Some students choose to purchase their own stylus, earbuds and/or optional bluetooth keyboard. Costs vary, depending on model, from about $20 to $100. 
• Books and ebooks: Middle School families can expect to spend about $220 for e-books and books. 
• Bus: St. John's offers round-trip bus transportation on eleven different routes. The cost is $2,750 a year.
• Other Programs: St. John's offers a wide variety of social programs and field trips throughout the year. The cost of these programs varies, but typically range from $100 to $150.

Prep eighth grade students in good standing may advance to grade 9 without a formal application. Those in grade 8 at St. John's who want to be considered for the St. Francis Xavier merit scholarship will be required to take the HSPT entrance exam for placement and consideration for a merit scholarship. 

No! There are opportunities for all of our students to participate in sports. We offer recreational sports and fitness opportunities for students in grade 6, while students in grades 7 and 8 participate in interscholastic athletics, as well as recreational sports and fitness. Middle School students may not participate in High School athletics. 

Nearly 70 percent of High School students participate in athletics. We offer more than 20 different interscholastic sports, as well as recreational sports and fitness programs every season. When they come to St. John's, many students discover a talent for a sport they had never tried before. We have many walk-on or non-tryout sports, including cross country, winter and spring track, fencing, football, swimming, water polo, wrestling, rugby, and ultimate disc. These teams are just as competitive as their tryout counterparts and require a daily commitment to practices and competitions. Try-out sports include baseball, basketball, golf, hockey, lacrosse, sailing, skiing, soccer, tennis, and volleyball. Learn more about sports at the Prep on our Athletics page.
 

We provide $9.2 million in tuition assistance for students in grades 6 through 12. In addition to need-based tuition assistance, we also offer the St. Francis Xavier Merit Scholars program for students entering grade 9. There is no reduced rate for siblings attending St. John's.

The dress code is similar for both Middle and High School students. Students must wear a collared, button-down shirt or a St. John's Prep polo, which is available in the school bookstore. Shirts must be tucked in at all times. Pants must be four-pocket dress pants of a solid color. Students must wear a belt and dress shoes and socks. During the winter, students may wear boots. Sweaters may be worn over shirts at any time. More details are listed in the student handbook which is available to enrolled students.

Many families carpool to St. John's, and our online family directory makes it easy for parents to find other families living nearby. 11 different bus routes bring students from parts of Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire to campus every day.

• Andover
• Arlington/Winchester
• Chelmsford/Lawrence
• Gloucester
• Lexington/Burlington/Wakefield
• Lynn/Swampscott
• Medford/Melrose
• Nahant/Swampscott
• Newburyport
• North Andover
• Southern New Hampshire

We have dances throughout the year, including casual Friday night dances and semi-formals. Young women often take part in Drama Guild plays, and we also have co-ed activities, games nights and service opportunities. On the sports front, the Prep fencing team and the mountain biking teams compete with female athletes. Students often bring female guests to concerts or games on campus!

This is a rundown of what High School families can anticipate:

• iPad: Students in grades 9 through 12 are required to own an iPad. The cost through the School's discount purchase program is about $750.
• Books and ebooks: Freshman can expect to spend about $220 for e-books and books. 
• Lunch: Some students purchase lunch in the dining hall, while others bring their own lunch to school. Prices for food items can be found here. 
• Bus: St. John's offers round-trip bus transportation on eleven different routes. The cost is $2,750 a year.
• Other Programs: St. John's offers a wide variety of service, retreat, and cultural immersion programs. The cost of trips vary depending on the trip, but can range from $500 to $2,300. Attending Model UN conferences and similar programs can range from $50 to $250. These examples are provided only to give families a sense of what to anticipate.

The entrance exam is optional for students applying for the 2025-2026 academic year. If taken, it is considered as part of your overall application, but it does not receive a specific "weight." All aspects of the application are considered by the admissions committee. Any domestic student entering grade 9 who is interested in being considered for the St. Francis Xavier merit scholarship MUST submit entrance exams scores by January 5, 2025. Being considered for the merit scholarship is entirely optional.

The meals at St. John's are delicious! Boys can purchase breakfast and snacks throughout the day. Middle School students may either bring their own lunch or enjoy something from the dining hall as lunch is included in the Middle School tuition. High School students may either bring their own lunch or purchase it in the cafeteria with their Eagle Express Card, a combination ID/debit card. Parents/guardians deposit money into the Eagle Express account for students. The Eagle Express Card may also be used in the bookstore. Daily lunch items include sandwich wraps, burrito bowls, salads, hamburgers, fries, pasta, chicken fingers, a chef's special, and other assorted snacks and drinks.

Freshmen typically have about 2 to 2.5 hours of homework per night. Some nights students may have less, other nights more in the case of studying for a major test or working on an essay or project. All High School students have one unstructured (study) period for one semester during the school year. Students may choose to take an elective course instead of the unstructured period as well.