The St. Jerome Institute, a thriving classical Catholic high school in Washington, D.C., is excited to announce the opening of a second campus in the Diocese of Arlington, Virginia, this fall. This expansion is a direct response to the growing demand from Catholic families in Northern Virginia seeking a rigorous, faith-integrated education.
In just six years, the D.C. campus has seen remarkable growth, expanding from a small group of three students to a vibrant community of 65. This success is a testament to the unique approach of the St. Jerome Institute, which integrates faith and reason within a classical liberal arts curriculum. The school’s president, Andrew Shivone, explained their mission: “We see that one of the great problems in American culture is the fragmentation between faith and reason. We want to structure our curriculum, culture, and common life in the truth of Christ, letting that truth order everything we do.”
Students at St. Jerome’s are immersed in a close-knit community, participating in small seminar-style classes, communal morning prayer, and extracurricular activities that reinforce their faith. The curriculum itself is a journey through the inspiring beauty of the world, from epic tales to complex mathematical concepts, all presented in a way that encourages deeper understanding and lifelong learning.
The decision to open a second campus wasn’t made lightly. It was driven by the requests of local Catholic parents who recognized the unique value of a Catholic liberal arts education like that offered at St. Jerome. Shivone emphasized, “There are a lot of really good Catholic schools in the Arlington Diocese, but for those families particularly interested in a Catholic liberal arts education, we fit that niche.”
The new school will mirror the success of its D.C. counterpart, offering a similar seminar-style learning environment with small class sizes (16-18 students). They anticipate enrolling 30 to 60 ninth- and tenth-grade students this fall, with a planned cap of 120-140 students to maintain the intimate community feel. Should demand exceed this, the Institute has indicated that they would consider opening additional locations to meet the needs of interested families.
The curriculum will remain rooted in the Institute’s core principles, integrating God in nature, God in the person, and God in the community, culminating in an in-depth study of the Trinity. Shivone highlights the unique outcome of this approach: “It’s not simply that they’re able to translate Cicero… what they most often report having retained is the habit of wonder.” This focus on cultivating wonder, alongside a strong foundation in the liberal arts, sets St. Jerome apart.
The St. Jerome Institute’s expansion represents a significant step in providing high-quality Catholic education to families in Northern Virginia. It’s a testament to the power of a faith-integrated classical education and a response to the clear need for such an approach within the community. The future looks bright for the St. Jerome Institute and the students who will benefit from its unique educational model.
