St. Joseph by-the-Sea High School: A Comprehensive Overview

St. Joseph by-the-Sea High School, often referred to as SJS or Sea, is a co-educational Catholic school located in the Huguenot neighborhood of Staten Island, New York. Functioning as a school of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York, it provides young men and women with the opportunity to appreciate that every person has been created by God in His image and likeness, was redeemed by Christ, and is destined to become one with God. The school aims to assist young people in developing their spiritual, moral, intellectual, physical, social, and aesthetic potential through instruction, discipline, and example, rooted in Gospel values.

History and Location

Founded in 1963, St. Joseph by-the-Sea High School is situated off Bertram Avenue on Arbutus Lake, a short distance from Raritan Bay and Lower Bay. The school's property has a rich history, initially owned by steel magnate Charles M. Schwab, who envisioned it as a summer resort. In 1909, Schwab donated the land to the Sisters of Charity of New York, who used it as a seaside home for children from the New York Foundling Hospital. For many years, a children's hospital known as St. Joseph's-by-the-Sea was operated there. The mansion on the property now serves as a convent for the Sisters of Charity.

Mission and Values

The stated mission of St. Joseph by-the-Sea is to help students grow spiritually, academically, athletically, and socially. The school expects students to develop an awareness and sensitivity for Gospel values and the basic principles of American democracy, practicing them in their lives. The ultimate goal is to help develop responsible persons who will use their virtues and talents in making the world a better place.

Academics

St. Joseph by-the-Sea High School offers a comprehensive college preparatory program. The curriculum includes four years of English, social studies, mathematics, religious studies, physical education, and science.

Faculty and Class Size

The school employs 48 classroom teachers, with a significant percentage holding advanced degrees. The average class size is around 35 students.

Advanced Placement (AP) and Advanced Courses

St. Joseph by-the-Sea offers 11 AP and advanced courses, providing students with opportunities to earn college credit while still in high school. These courses include:

American Authors
AP Biology
AP Calculus
AP Chemistry
AP English
AP European History
AP Government
AP Italian
AP Physics
AP Spanish
AP US History
Calculus
College Chemistry
College Latin
College Physics
College Speech
College Writing
Pre-Calculus Mathematics
Western Civilization

College Credit Opportunities

All students are encouraged to push themselves academically. The school offers opportunities to earn college credits through partnerships with SUNY Albany, St. John's University, and Iona College. Students enrolled in the Honors program can earn up to 60 college credits during their junior and senior years, potentially completing two full years of college. Many students complete at least a small number of college courses to obtain credit, with 53% earning at least a full semester and 84% earning some level of college credits while attending Sea. In addition, students in an advanced "honors" track for more advanced students can earn six credits in Latin From St. John's University.

Institute for Scientific Research

St. Joseph by-the-Sea offers a specialty program called the Institute for Scientific Research. This program allows students to work with science doctors to perform research projects to present at the New York Science and Engineering Fair in their senior year. They can even assist in research that they can publish and share with the global scientific community. Students have the opportunity to work on forward genetic screens and make a difference in the field of science.

Robotics Program

There is also a robotics program available at Sea that allows students to interact with the Nao Robot to learn coding and more. Sea currently has two of only approximately 7,000 of these robots in the world.

Guidance Department

All students meet with the guidance department to assist them with planning out their college options, admissions, and more.

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Technology Integration

St. Joseph by-the-Sea prides itself on providing the best possible learning environment for all students. All freshmen and juniors receive brand new iPads preloaded with access to all their textbooks and school accounts. The school also features Smart Classrooms with Wi-Fi, Smart Boards, and discussion boards. Lessons can be downloaded to student iPads, and all iPads are immediately backed up internally. The school even allows exams to be taken entirely online through ExamSoft.

Admissions and Tuition

Admission Requirements

Students who wish to attend St. Joseph By the Sea must take the TACHS Exam for consideration. The school is highly competitive and prefers students who select Sea as their first or second choice. Sea requires that you place them first or second to earn a scholarship. Students must have been baptized Roman Catholic, live on Staten Island (or be prepared to), have received or be set to receive their First Communion and Confirmation, and put Sea on their TACHS. Taking the TACHS as Entrance Exam for St.

The school is very competitive, and excellence in middle school, reflected on student transcripts and grade reports, is crucial to being considered for admission.

Acceptance Rate

The acceptance rate of St. Joseph By The Sea High School is 35%, lower than the national average of 75%.

Tuition and Fees

Tuition rates vary for St. Joseph By the Sea each year; however, they pride themselves on being one of the least expensive schools on the island. The yearly tuition for 2026 is about $9,900 including fees per student. This includes activity and sports fees, FACTS fees, and others. Tuition includes a school-issued iPad.

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Financial Aid

Scholarship applicants looking for a full scholarship must select Sea as their 1st or 2nd choice. Sea gives strong preference to 1st choice. There is no separate scholarship exam.

Extracurricular Activities and Sports

St. Joseph by-the-Sea High School offers a wide range of extracurricular activities and sports. The school has 13 acres of campus dedicated to their different sporting programs for both boys and girls.

Sports Offered

St. Joseph By The Sea High School offers 24 interscholastic sports:

Archery
Baseball
Basketball
Bowling
Cheering
Dance
Diving
Fencing
Flag Football
Football
Golf
Ice Hockey
Lacrosse
Marksmanship
Sailing
Soccer
Softball
Swimming
Tennis
Track and Field
Volleyball
Weightlifting
Winter Track
Wrestling

Rankings and Reputation

St. Joseph by-the-Sea ranks in the top 50% of private schools in New York for college prep and diversity, as well as ranking highly for their athletics and STEM offerings.

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