FAQ

Choosing the right school is an important decision for every family. Below are answers to common questions from parents looking for a Catholic, classical, or small private school in Fairfax and Northern Virginia.

St. Anthony Academy is an independent classical Catholic school serving students in Pre-K through 8th grade in Fairfax, Virginia. We welcome families to visit our school, meet our teachers, and experience our community firsthand.

WHAT IS ST. ANTHONY ACADEMY?

St. Anthony Academy is a private, independent classical Catholic school in Fairfax, Virginia, serving students from Pre-K through 8th grade.

Our educational approach combines a traditional liberal arts curriculum, small class sizes, Catholic faith formation, and an emphasis on developing the whole child. We seek to cultivate wisdom, virtue, curiosity, strong academic foundations, and a lifelong love of learning.

Our families come from Fairfax and communities throughout Northern Virginia.

WHAT MAKES ST. ANTHONY ACADEMY  DIFFERENT FROM OTHER PRIVATE AND CATHOLIC SCHOOLS IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA?

St. Anthony Academy combines several characteristics that families do not always find together: small classes, a classical liberal arts curriculum, traditional Catholic formation, Latin instruction, substantial opportunities for recess and play, and a close-knit school community.

We believe children benefit from serious academics without needing school to become excessively institutional or stressful. Our teachers know their students personally, and our small size allows us to approach each child as an individual.

Our goal is to provide an education that is rigorous, joyful, distinctly Catholic, and attentive to the intellectual, spiritual, social, and physical development of each child.

IS ST. ANTHONY ACADEMY A CLASSICAL SCHOOL?

Yes. St. Anthony Academy is a classical Catholic school and a partner member of the Institute for Catholic Liberal Education (ICLE).

Our classical curriculum emphasizes the liberal arts and includes history, literature, grammar, writing, Latin, mathematics, science, religion, memorization, recitation, art, music, and exposure to the great works and ideas of Western civilization.

Classical education is not simply about studying old books. It seeks to develop students who can read carefully, reason clearly, communicate effectively, recognize truth and beauty, and continue learning throughout their lives.

DO FAMILIES HAVE TO BE CATHOLIC TO ATTEND ST. ANTHONY ACADEMY?

No. Families do not need to be Catholic to apply.

We welcome families who value the education and community St. Anthony Academy provides. We do ask all families to understand and support the Catholic identity and mission of the school. All students participate in religion classes, school prayer, and the Catholic life of the school.

WHERE IS ST. ANTHONY ACADEMY LOCATED?

St. Anthony Academy is located in Fairfax, Virginia, in Northern Virginia.

Our families come from Fairfax and surrounding communities throughout the region. Families interested in determining whether the commute works for them are encouraged to schedule a school tour.

WHAT GRADES DOES ST. ANTHONY ACADEMY SERVE?

 St. Anthony Academy serves children from Pre-K through 8th grade.

This allows children to remain in a smaller elementary and middle-school environment throughout their formative years before transitioning to high school.

WHAT IS THE CURRICULUM AT ST. ANTHONY ACADEMY?

St. Anthony Academy offers a traditional classical liberal arts curriculum with instruction in religion, mathematics, literature, grammar, composition, history, science, Latin, art, music, physical education, and related subjects.

We place particular emphasis on strong reading and writing skills, mathematical fluency, knowledge of history, memorization, oral recitation, discussion, and the development of clear thinking.

Rather than viewing subjects as isolated pieces of information, classical education helps students recognize connections among history, literature, philosophy, science, language, and the Catholic faith.

DOES ST. ANTHONY ACADEMY USE STANDARDIZED TESTING?

Yes. Students in grades 1–2 take the IOWA-E assessment through Seton Testing Services, while students in grades 3–8 take assessments from the Classic Learning Test (CLT).

HOW MUCH HOMEWORK DO THE STUDENTS RECEIVE?

We believe that the majority of academic work should take place during the school day. Homework is assigned when it meaningfully reinforces learning, provides needed practice, or helps students develop good study habits.

As a general guideline, homework should not exceed approximately 10 minutes per grade level per day across all subjects combined. This is a maximum, not a goal, and students will often have less.

We value the time children spend outside of school with their families, reading, playing outdoors, participating in extracurricular activities, praying, and getting adequate rest.

DOES ST. ANTHONY ACADEMY HAVE RECESS?

Yes. Students ordinarily have two recess periods during each full school day.

We believe outdoor play, physical activity, friendship, and imagination are important parts of childhood and healthy development.

Recess is not taken away as a punishment. We want students to work hard academically while still having time to play and enjoy being children.

WHAT IS DISCIPLINE LIKE AT ST. ANTHONY ACADEMY?

Our approach to discipline is rooted in the dignity of each child and the cultivation of virtue.

Students need clear expectations, consistency, appropriate consequences, forgiveness, and opportunities to learn from mistakes. We seek to maintain an orderly learning environment without creating an unnecessarily rigid school culture.

The ultimate purpose of discipline is not simply compliance, but helping students develop responsibility, self-control, good judgment, charity, and respect for others.

DOES ST. ANTHONY ACADEMY OFFER AFTERCARE?

Yes. After-school care is available on Mondays to Thursdays until 5:00 p.m.

HOW DO I APPLY TO ST. ANTHONY ACADEMY?

Families interested in applying to St. Anthony Academy are encouraged to begin by contacting the school and scheduling a tour.

We are happy to discuss your child's grade level, answer questions about our classical Catholic curriculum, explain tuition and scheduling options, and help your family determine whether St. Anthony Academy may be a good fit.

We welcome inquiries from families in Fairfax and throughout Northern Virginia and look forward to introducing you to our school.