"It is my experience that the typical student that is enrolled at St Johns is expected to excel.  This can be difficult to measure but easy to experience. These expectations are placed on the student by the parents and teachers.  I believe that education begins at home with the family.  An eight year old student attending St John's doesn’t understand the value of education but their parents do and expect their child to not only attend school but to thrive.  The parents have the opportunity to be involved with the school and their child’s development.  A lot of parents readily make sacrifices to keep their children in this school knowing the value of a strong academic start for their children.  Next follows the staff at St John’s.  The administration and teachers at St John’s wants your child to succeed.  (All the brilliance of a child and support of a family can be wasted if the child is constantly placed in a toxic environment where the administration is bogged down with reaching passing standards and dealing with societal issues and the teacher is simply biding their time until the next vacation day.)  Our teachers are here because they want to teach.  The emphasis is placed on learning not passing a test.  (I sometimes feel that the ability to think has been lost by the average member of society.)  The students are placed in challenging situations (Speaking in Chapel, Science Fair, presenting at pageants) and are properly prepared to handle such situations.  I have always been amazed at how the teachers seem to know all the students even the ones not in their classes/grades.  There is a family feel.  I always feel welcome by the teachers and administration."