About

Who We Are

St. Catherine’s girls are empowered to discover their strengths, challenge limits and lead with confidence. With more than a century of history and tradition, we’re creating an experience that prepares students to make their mark on the world. Behind it all is a passionate community of faculty and staff dedicated to helping every girl thrive.

About St. Catherine’s School

About St. Catherine's

St. Catherine's School is an independent PK-12 school dedicated to the education of girls. Here, students discover their strengths, develop the confidence to use their voices and build the courage to pursue what's possible.
Located in the heart of Richmond, Virginia, St. Catherine's combines more than a century of tradition with a forward-thinking approach to learning that inspires curiosity, leadership and lifelong growth.
Founded at a time when opportunities for girls were far more limited, St. Catherine's was created to expand what was possible. Today, that same spirit continues as we prepare girls not just for the future, but to shape it. Whether in the classroom, on the playing field, on the stage or in the community, every experience is designed to help students challenge expectations, embrace opportunity and lead with purpose in a changing world.

Our Mission

St. Catherine's School provides a rigorous education that prepares girls with diverse perspectives for a lifetime of learning, leadership, and service in a global community.

Our Motto

What we keep we lose; only what we give remains our own.

At a Glance

Fast Facts

  • 975 students

    (Early Learners - Grade 12)

  • Student Breakdown

    Upper School = 301
    Middle School = 267
    Lower School = 407

  • Average Class Size

    Lower School = 15 students
    Middle School = 12 students
    Upper School = 14 students

  • 21%

    Students of color

  • 246

    246 dedicated faculty and staff

  • 16

    Acre picturesque main campus on Grove Avenue + 145 acres of athletics fields and natural land for outdoor education in Goochland

  • 55

    Zip codes represented by our students

  • Affordability

    $3 million awarded in need-based financial aid
    22% of students receive need-based financial aid

  • 1890

    Year Founded
1/9

Our Founder

Virginia Randolph Ellett, or “Miss Jennie” as she was affectionately known, was the founder and headmistress of St. Catherine’s School for nearly five decades.

In the 1890s, Virginia Randolph Ellett strongly believed in the power of girls education. The School today carries the same timeless ideals of intellectual rigor and joy in learning. Our teachers continue her legacy of innovative teaching and experiential learning today.

As early as 1895, the Virginia Randolph Ellett School was recognized by Bryn Mawr as a school whose graduates were qualified for college work. Her advancements enabled Richmond to become one of only eight cities in the world where College Entrance Board Exams were given annually to women.  With a curriculum described at the time as being “at once classical and revolutionary,” Miss Jennie’s school was the first in Richmond to send girls to college.

In 1917, the School was incorporated and moved to its present site in the Westhampton area of Richmond. It was sold to the Episcopal Church in 1920 and renamed for St. Catherine of Alexandria, the patron saint of young women. Miss Jennie, who had relinquished her headship some years before, continued to teach and live at the school until her death in 1939.

Let's Get Started

The best way to discover what a St. Catherine's education can do for your daughter is to visit us or call us at (804) 281-7140. We can't wait to meet you!
6001 Grove Avenue
Richmond, Virginia 23226
804-288-2804
Located in the heart of Richmond, Virginia, St. Catherine’s School is a private, all-girls pre-K, kindergarten, elementary, middle and high school. We provide a well-rounded educational experience for girls from communities across Richmond, Chesterfield, Henrico and all of central Virginia. St. Catherine’s all-girls educational experience is rooted in more than a century of history and tradition. From our revolutionary past to our dynamic present, St. Catherine’s has always focused on preparing students for a boundless future.