The St. James Performance Academy

Opened in August 2024, The St. James Performance Academy is an innovative college preparatory sports academy designed to provide unparalleled development opportunities for dedicated middle and high school student-athletes, as well as graduates interested in a post-grad year to prep for college. Inspired by the pursuit of excellence, the Academy utilizes best practices in guided learning, athletic coaching and development, and high performance to educate, inspire and develop the next generation of world class athletes and leaders.

Please join our Virtual Open House on November 5 to learn more.

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Leadership Team

Our dedicated leadership team is focused on helping student-athletes become the best versions of themselves, in and out of the classroom, on the court, diamond, field, pool or rink. We believe in leading by example and laying the groundwork for lessons and values that will last a lifetime. Our student-athletes are also supported by our Academic Success Team and Sports Directors.

The STJ Student Experience

INCREASED TRAINING TIME

Our flexible curriculum and all-in-one campus allow students to pursue their passions without pause, eliminating the need to choose between training time, education, and competition.

RIGOROUS EDUCATION MODEL

The St. James Performance Academy offers a rich and rigorous, college preparatory academic curriculum provided in partnership with K12 Education.

HOLISTIC DEVELOPMENT

Beyond athletics and academics, student-athletes benefit from mentorship programs, real-world experiences, nutrition, wellness testing, and high-performance training.

STJ Academy Athletics

The St. James Performance Academy provides each student-athlete with unparalleled access to expert coaches and trainers that are focused on more than their on-field performance. Our holistic model maximizes athletic potential through:

Exceptional Coaching from sport-specific experts
High-Performance Training to build strength, speed, and resilience
Recovery Amenities with state-of-the-art technology to optimize performance
Nutritional Guidance to fuel performance
Mental Health Support to sharpen focus and confidence

This integrated approach ensures student-athletes excel in competition and gain the tools, habits, and mindset to thrive in college and beyond.

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STJ Academy Academics

Our blended model pairs the flexibility of K12, the world’s leading virtual academic platform, with the expertise of highly credentialed, experienced in-classroom educators.

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College Placements

K12 graduates have attended top universities for both athletic and academic purposes.

College Prep Postgraduate Program

Take your academics and athletics to the next level with a postgraduate year at SJT Academy. Open to football, boys basketball, boys lacrosse, and wrestling student-athletes, this program is designed for those looking to strengthen their academic profile, gain a competitive edge in their sport, and enhance their college placement opportunities.

Postgraduate students take a full academic course load while training at an elite level. With personalized support, advanced coaching, and leadership development, you’ll build the discipline, confidence, and readiness to excel—both on the field and in the classroom.

Contact admissions@thestjames.com for more information.

Explore Our Campus

Conveniently located in Springfield, VA, just outside Washington, DC, The St. James Flagship is a 450,000-square-foot indoor Springfield sports complex that offers best-in-class athletic training. Facility highlights include:

FIFA-regulation turf field
Two NHL-regulation ice rinks
Four NBA-regulation basketball courts convertible to volleyball courts
50-meter Olympic-size swimming pool
Eight international-regulation singles squash courts
Gymnastics training center with competition spring floor, deep foam training pits, Tumbl Trak, rod floors, and in-ground trampolines
State-of-the-art Performance Club with luxury locker rooms
Athletic Recovery Suite
On-site restaurant

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FAQs

How is the Academic Infrastructure designed?

The St. James Performance Academy uses a hybrid-learning model blending online synchronized course work with in-person education support.

Each Student Athlete learns from certified teachers through our customizable virtual platforms, with 24/7 access to virtual tutors. Our on-site Director of Academics and Success Coach(es) are additional resources who cultivate an environment conducive to learning. These multiple layers of support ensure that your Student Athlete receives a personalized academic plan, preparing them for the game of life.

We have a 15:1 ratio of Students to Academic Success Coaches on-site.

Do you support IEP's and 504's?

We can provide support for IEP's and 504's, and our learning environment is designed to support all types of learners and set each student-athlete up for success. Students must complete a determination meeting with our education partner to ensure we can meet their needs.

What is the attendance policy?

This is one of the primary benefits of The St. James Performance Academy. Traditional systems are not conducive to the lifestyle of the aspiring, elite Student Athlete. We understand the travel that sports require and the toll that a season can take on a Student Athlete. The beauty of our platform is the flexibility we can provide by operating virtually. Need a recovery day? Stay home! You can do your course work from home, and our staff can send you a home workout. We believe our Student Athletes get the most out of their experience by attending on-site, but we understand that may not always be possible. That shouldn't mean school is interrupted, it is simply adapted to meet a Student Athlete's needs.

How do you balance the student-athlete's workload?

The St. James Performance Academy is constantly assessing our students' needs and customizing their workloads to best support their paths to success. We require our Student Athletes to fill out daily surveys tracking sleep, nutrition, injuries, and more, to provide a holistic view of their physical and mental health, and to assist our staff in accurately and effectively balancing their workload.

Does The Performance Academy allow reclassing?

We will address the opportunity for reclassing on an individual case by case basis for each Student Athlete. Please email admissions@thestjames.com to set up a time to talk to Dr. Tere.

Can I transfer into the Academy mid-year?

Yes, we can accept Academy transfers from September – March throughout the school year. Depending on where we are within our first semester, it may make sense for Student Athletes to wait and join us for the second semester. Families interested in addressing transfer requests should email admissions@thestjames.com.

What does the sport-specific training look like?

For certain sports, we have enough Student Athletes to field competitive scholastic teams where Student Athletes will play against schools in regional and in some sports, national schedules.

For other sports or for our Middle School athletes, there will be a larger focus on individual skill development, while athletes continue playing for their club team.

How is strength and conditioning incorporated?

Our High Performance Department is led by Mateus Manoel. Our Student Athletes train four days a week with our coaches, focusing on sport-specific strength and agility training. The program layers in testing with Swift Laser Gates and VALD Force plates to provide a data-driven approach to training and development.

How is Performance Nutrition incorporated?

Although Student Athletes are welcome to bring their lunches, we also offer a few options for on-site meals. We have a full-service restaurant, Vim & Victor, located inside the facility, that includes healthy and delicious options at an affordable price. We also have a partnership with Mighty Meals to provide access to a registered dietitian so athletes can get a better understanding of how to appropriately fuel their body with nutrients necessary to aid their development.

How do you develop the whole Student Athlete?

At The St. James Performance Academy, we focus on Mental Performance, Injury Prevention, Recovery and Performance Nutrition. In addition to everyday support, we regularly bring in industry-leading experts to coach our Student Athletes and provide them with resources to use in their training and development.

Does the Academy have a uniform?

Student-Athletes are issued three uniforms: a classroom uniform (STJ Academy polo with khaki shorts or pants), a high-performance training uniform, and a sport-specific training uniform. Ample time is built into the daily schedule for locker room access to shower and change as needed.

Will the Academy have social events such as Homecoming and Prom?

Yes, we can’t wait! We plan to host parent socials, Homecoming dances, Prom and Graduation celebrations.

How does The St. James protect Student Athletes with technology infrastructure?

The St. James incorporates an advanced technology infrastructure to protect student athletes in several ways. These technologies are designed to monitor, analyze, and ensure the safety and well-being of athletes throughout their education and training.  Some key ways we protect student athletes with technology include:

Security cameras – The St James utilizes security cameras to ensure a safe environment for students and staff.
Access Control – Electronic key cards, scanners, and other smart security systems to control access to school buildings, ensuring that only authorized individuals enter certain areas, especially during after-school hours.
Content Filtering – The St James uses advanced software to block inappropriate content on a secured network used specifically for students. This technology ensures that student data remains private while connected to our network and protected from unauthorized access.