By Tori Scranton
Loyola Academy of St. Louis, a Catholic, Jesuit, upper-elementary and middle school for boys, strives to support each student’s God-given potential by bridging the gaps in education that have been compounded by difficult economic or social circumstances. After noticing low proficiency levels in learning among incoming middle school students, Loyola Academy created a strategic priority to provide its students with exceptional academic instruction and holistic support at an earlier age. Fifteen students and their families were welcomed into Loyola Academy’s inaugural upper-elementary classroom in August of 2023.
The upper-elementary program was structured to meet each young man at his exact academic skill level. Fourth and fifth grade students are supported in a mixed-age classroom by two co-teachers through independent learning objectives, small group interventions and whole-class curriculum. In addition to their core classes, students receive instruction from the director of academic support two days a week to strengthen their writing comprehension and executive functioning skills.
Loyola Academy is proud to share that in their first year serving fourth and fifth grade families, students demonstrated exponential growth. Eighty percent of upper-elementary students exceeded expectations in reading on their assessments and one hundred percent of students exceeded expectations in math.
Character education is woven into every day at Loyola Academy of St. Louis. To build a strong foundation, the director of social-emotional support serves students through individual counseling and partners with the assistant principal to provide whole group opportunities for social-emotional wellness. Together, the upper-elementary students learn self-awareness, healthy communication and responsible decision making.
“Fourth and fifth grade are a time of transition from being a ‘little kid’ to a ‘big kid,’” shared Leslie Keaveny, a co-teacher for the upper-elementary classroom. “We have certainly seen this growth! Our Core Values [Academics, Man for Others, Do My Best, God is My Foundation] provide a great framework for the boys as they begin to take responsibility for their learning and friendships in our classroom and beyond.”
These values are further taught through the example of Loyola Academy’s middle school students. At the beginning of the year, each fourth and fifth grader is assigned an eighth-grade buddy they can look up to as a role model within the school. Upper-elementary students attend Mass with their buddies and receive guidance through peer ministry. The middle school students have excelled at every opportunity to care for their younger brothers, and the upper-elementary students are often seen mirroring the example of their older brothers. A fifth grader said he learned from his buddy that “being a Loyola brother means that I care for my other Loyola brothers and all the other people here in this community. It means you care for everybody else around you, and we stand together.”
Last May, Loyola Academy concluded its inaugural year of fourth and fifth grade programming with a Mass that welcomed alumni, families and community members to campus to celebrate the groundbreaking of their building expansion. The Jeanne Noonan Hunter Center for Education opened in January of 2025 and provides a designated academic wing for the upper-elementary classrooms, along with a lower level for schoolwide programming. The additional 4,000 square feet grants Loyola Academy the potential to serve even more students in the future.
Loyola Academy’s footprint has grown both in space and longevity. Formerly an 11+ year program, the addition of fourth and fifth grades has expanded Loyola Academy to a 13+ year program. Following five years of upper-elementary and middle school, graduates of Loyola Academy are supported through four years of high school and four or more years of postsecondary attainment by their graduate support team.
Alumni are an integral part of the school community. They often return to campus to build relationships with current students and to share the impact of their Loyola Academy education.
Sterling Brown, an alumnus from the Class of 2002 and graduate of Loyola Academy’s inaugural middle school program, has stayed connected to the school since its opening. Loyola Academy’s president, Dr. Eric Clark, called on Brown to serve as an assistant teacher during the summer break of his third year of college. He returned after graduation as a full-time teacher, fulfilling the promise he made to his mother to give back to the school one day.
Brown has continued his career in Jesuit education. He currently serves as the principal of Saint Ignatius College Prep in Chicago and is excited about the addition of fourth and fifth grades at Loyola Academy.
“The upper-elementary students will experience five years of formation! That will make a big difference in their trajectories. It’s great to think of the impact of what those kids will have,” said Brown. He feels that the value of Loyola Academy stems from the community and personal development that occurs alongside the academic curriculum. “The interactions and culture of Loyola Academy are something that all students should have the opportunity to experience,” he said.
While Loyola Academy has grown, Brown believes the small class sizes and school population remain the key to the strong community and circle of personalized care provided for each student.
Brown carries the lessons he learned at Loyola Academy into the halls of his current school. “When it first opened, Loyola was a school for a lot of seeds that were trying to grow through concrete. They have now, for more than 25 years, grown roses in the concrete jungle of St. Louis,” he said. “They made it easy to believe in us – to believe that being a man of character who upholds a standard means something.” He looks to his own students and understands that each is on his or her own individual journey with limitless potential when given the opportunity to flourish.
Loyola Academy is incredibly proud of the positive impact of their alumni and is grateful for the school community’s collective dedication to their mission. Now in their second year serving upper-elementary students, the hearts of Loyola Academy are full as they provide a safe and supportive space for all grades across campus.
Reflecting on Loyola Academy’s recent growth, Principal Ashley Chapman shared that the school community has encountered one truth at every turn: “Good formation for young people is built by adults who trust in a big God, who rely on the strength of the community, and who relentlessly pursue mission-driven results regardless of obstacles.”
Together, Loyola Academy of St. Louis will continue to prepare their students to become true Men for Others and looks forward to welcoming even more young men into their bright futures.
Tori Scranton is the marketing and communications manager for Loyola Academy of St. Louis.
Middle School Education: A Strategic Move to Further the Faith
The Jesuits are renowned for their colleges and high schools, but middle schools? Those are a lot less common. Here in the USA Central and Southern Province, Loyola Academy of St. Louis last year celebrated its 25th anniversary of providing a holistic education for middle-school boys. This August, De Smet Jesuit High School in St. Louis will welcome its first middle grade students. This strategic move is aimed at reaching young people during a critical period in their academic, personal and spiritual development.
Passing on the faith to the next generation is the ultimate goal.
“Research tells us that students are making decisions about their faith life around age 13,” said Fr. Ronny O’Dwyer, SJ, De Smet Jesuit president. “Parents are looking for a school that offers a strong faith component, but many families in St. Louis have been settling on public schools for the academics.”
The De Smet Jesuit middle school is the fruit of years of research and many conversations – with the archbishop of St. Louis, pastors and parents.
“We worked within the system,” Fr. O’Dwyer said. “First, we got permission to do a feasibility study. Then we met with pastors and shared with them our strategic plan, which emphasizes handing on our faith as the central vision.”
De Smet Jesuit Middle School will launch with around 120 total students in grades 6, 7 and 8. Preparations include renovating much of the school building and hiring new faculty.
“We are already getting great applications from teachers who not only want to work at a Catholic, Jesuit school, but also with middle-school boys,” said Kevin Poelker, De Smet Jesuit principal.
“We know how to deal with boys,” Fr. O’Dwyer said. “With our prime location and other resources, we are positioned to meet the needs of these students in a way others cannot.”
