Nationally & Locally Recognized For Excellence

Saint James School (Pre-K – Grade 8) is a proud recipient of the Blue Ribbon Award for Academic Excellence.   This award recognizes high-performing schools, where students rank at the top of their peer group nationwide in both reading and math on standardized tests.  On the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills, Saint James students consistently score several years above grade level, and the yearly gains made by each group of students exceed expected progress.

Kindergarten – 8th Grade Program

Saint James School has been a leading choice for educating children in Manchester and surrounding towns since it first opened its doors in 1922.  Many changes have happened at the school since then, but the basic principles that have turned generations of Saint James graduates into compassionate, disciplined, critical thinkers have not.

Pre-Kindergarten Program

Saint James School offers a comprehensive Pre-K program in a nurturing Christian environment. As part of the Saint James community, children have an enriching experience that includes various opportunities to be part of what they fondly refer to as “the big school.” It’s a unique environment that cannot be found elsewhere.

Latest News

  • Thanksgiving Prayer ServiceNovember 22, 2023 - 4:30 am

    This morning our students each wrote one thing they were thankful for and placed it in a basket at the start of today’s prayer service.  During the ceremony, Father Jaime offered our “thankful thoughts” to God as a symbol of our appreciation for His love and guidance.

  • 5th Grade TurkeysNovember 22, 2023 - 3:42 am

    Thank you to our art teacher, Mrs. Rafferty, for sharing these beautiful watercolor turkeys our 5th grade students drew and painted.

  • Grade 3 Reading CaféNovember 21, 2023 - 5:27 am

    This morning, third grade students were surprised (and excited!) find their classrooms transformed into “Reading Cafés” – each with a crackling fire (on the viewboard), decorated tables, and their teacher dressed as a maître d’. This special lesson was to teach the 3rd graders about different genres of books and to encourage them to broaden their reading horizons….