From the Director of Admissions


Personal Guidance Through Your Admissions Journey

Mrs. Erica Rossio

Director of Admissions

(760) 305-8505

admissions@sjaclassical.org

Welcome to Saint Joseph Academy!  Choosing the right school for your child is one of the most important decisions your family will make, and I'm honored to walk with you through that process. At SJA, students are prepared for life and formed for heaven through academic excellence rooted in Catholic faith and the classical tradition.


I warmly invite you to begin the admissions process by applying online, scheduling a campus tour, or arranging a "Crusader for a Day" visit. Please don't hesitate to contact me directly with any questions. I'm here to guide you every step of the way.


I look forward to welcoming your family to the SJA community!

The Roadmap To Admission


Select a step in the process to learn more!

Step 1:

Inquiry

Step 2:

School Tour

Step 3:

Application

Step 4:

Crusader For A Day

Step 5:

Entrance Exam

Step 6:

Family Interview

Interested in joining the school in the future?

News & Noteworthy


By Mark Kalpakgian January 12, 2026
Dear Parents and Guardians, As we begin this new semester and step into 2026 together, I'm filled with gratitude for our shared journey at Saint Joseph Academy. In a world that often feels chaotic and disjointed, our school community stands as a beacon of hope—a place where education means more than transmitting information. Here, we're forming young hearts and minds in truth, goodness, and beauty, preparing them to flourish as faithful disciples and culture-builders. Pope Leo XIV's recent Apostolic Letter, Drawing New Maps of Hope (October 2025), beautifully captures this vision. He calls us to be "choreographers of hope" and "credible creators of expressions of beauty" through Catholic education. What a privilege to answer this call together. We live this mission daily: through the wonder sparked by great books and rich conversation, through acts of service that build compassion, and through prayer that draws us closer to Christ. Your partnership makes all of this possible. As primary educators, your love, example, and encouragement at home are foundational cornerstones that help our students become young men and women who live by biblical principles and advance God's Kingdom with excellence and joy. As we draw these new maps of hope side by side this semester, let us hold fast to the promise that "hope does not disappoint" (Romans 5:5). May this new year be a season of discovery, growth, and shared delight as we guide our children toward the truth that sets them free.
By Mark Kalpakgian December 9, 2025
Last week, Pope Leo XIV sounded a clear and urgent warning about artificial intelligence, asking leaders in Rome a question that now hangs over our entire civilization: What does it mean to be human in this moment of history? He reminded the world that our dignity does not lie in processing data faster than a machine, but in our ability to reflect, to choose freely, to love without conditions, and to enter into real, living relationships. At St. Joseph Academy, we are intentionally choosing a path that protects and nourishes that dignity: Phones are banned so that faces, not screens, remain at the center of our school day. Children play outdoors, sing real hymns, and serve real people—not virtual avatars. Socratic seminars, memorization, and collaborative projects require students to think, argue, and create for themselves. Small classes and personal mentorship ensure that no child is ever reduced to a “data point.” Daily prayer, weekly Mass, retreats, and time in silence before the Blessed Sacrament open hearts to wonder and to God. In an AI age that can produce brilliant but hollow men and women, we are working with you to raise young people who know how to think without a search engine, to love without a filter, and to wonder without a simulation. Even if every server on earth went dark tomorrow, our graduates would still know who they are and how to live with courage, joy, and generosity.
By Mark Kalpakgian November 30, 2025
While national assessments reveal ongoing declines in student performance, Saint Joseph Academy continues to shine with exceptional PSAT results in fall 2025, far surpassing averages and demonstrating our commitment to academic excellence. National Context: Declines in NAEP Scores The recently released 2024 NAEP results for 12th graders show significant drops in math and reading since 2019, hitting 20-year lows. Nearly half (45%) scored below basic in math, with only 22% proficient or above, while 32% were below basic in reading and only 35% proficient. These trends, exacerbated by pandemic disruptions, highlight broader challenges in foundational skills and college readiness. SJA's Outstanding PSAT Performance In contrast, SJA students are excelling across grades. On the PSAT 8/9, our average total score was 957—138 points above the national 819—with Reading and Writing at 507 (vs. 412) and Math at 450 (vs. 407). Tenth graders averaged 1057, over 150 points higher than the national 902, and 11th graders scored 1059, exceeding the national 930 by 129 points. These place SJA in the 75th percentile nationally, outperforming three-quarters of peers.
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Accreditations & Affiliations