Education for the Whole Person
“That they may have life more abundantly” is the motto of St. John’s Preparatory School.
The motto comes from the Gospel of John and refers to the reason Christ came into the world – so that people could live life to the fullest. It is this goal of helping young men and women develop their full potential to which St. John’s Prep is dedicated.
Founded by the Vincentian Fathers in Brooklyn in 1870, the school is currently located in the residential community of Astoria. The school building features large and well-equipped science laboratories, state-of-the-art computer labs, wireless capability, SMART Boards, a band room, art room, a magnificent auditorium, beautiful chapel, guidance center, a large gymnasium, a fully-equipped weight room, an outdoor track and its own retreat center.
St. John’s Prep seeks to fulfill its mission by providing a vigorous academic education that prepares students for the challenges they will meet in the 21st century. Advanced Placement courses are offered in all subject areas. Students in the Honors Program take supplementary courses in Latin and art history. To ensure all Prep students are successful, courses are offered on varying levels of difficulty; placement in the appropriate level is done on a subject-by-subject basis.
St. John’s Prep has a unique academic affiliation with St. John’s University. The Baccalaureate Program allows qualified Prep students to complete their senior year of high school at the university. This is a great savings of time and money.
The spiritual needs of the Prep students are fostered by teaching the values, concepts and practices of the Catholic faith. These are conveyed not just through religion classes but also through an extensive retreat program and Christian service opportunities.
The Prep fosters students’ social, cultural and emotional development through extensive extracurricular and co-curricular offerings, including a wide array of sports. The diverse cultural background of the students is celebrated through culture clubs, festivals and opportunities to travel abroad.