Our Mission

The mission of St. Joseph School is to create a faith-centered community that educates and inspires students to reach their God-given potential.

During the 2022-2023 academic year, our school demonstrated a commitment to Cura Personalis, a core principle of Jesuit education, which emphasizes care for the person. This commitment was evident in the strategic plan we implemented, demonstrating our commitment to caring for the students in our care and the physical spaces in which we educate them. Our strategic plan was designed with cura personalis at its core. We invested in faculty development programs, ensuring our educators were equipped to impart knowledge and provide holistic support to students. Additionally, as a way to better care for our students, we expanded our counseling services. We implemented the House System, which provides for longitudinal care of the students throughout their time at St. Joe’s. The House System is also key to strengthening the community across grade levels.

We are immensely grateful for your continued support, trust, and partnership in nurturing the unique God-given potential of each student who walks through our doors. Your involvement, whether as a parent, guardian, volunteer, alumni, sponsor, or community member, plays a vital role in our success, and we look forward to your continued support in the years to come.

School Leadership

Pastor, Chris Cartwright, S.J.
Head of School, Patrick Fennessy
Primary School Director, Robby Hayes
Middle School Director, Vince McGovern

Hear From the Head of School

Partnership

Thank you to our partners, collaborators, and advisors to the Pastor and School Administration who served to ensure the mission of St. Joseph School is maintained, nurtured and brought to the future.

539

Number of Students

38+ zip codes

Where Our Families Live

4

Number of National STEAM Competition Titles

53%

Families who are Catholic

33%

Families who Identify as People of Color

15

Large Scale Community Events

$37,000

Merit Scholarships Awarded to Class of '23

Dan Kim, PAB President

"The Parent Association Board (PAB) is grateful for our strong partnership with the School. Through close alignment with the School's priorities and strategy, PAB community-building events are centered on serving, praying, and loving."

Elliott, Class of 2030

"Here at St. Joe's the other kids always help when you are hurt, friends notice you and the teachers are always helping and checking on you. When Eliora got stung by a bee, teachers went right up to help her."

Tatum, Class of 2026

"I really love how all the teachers know who we are and are there for us when we need them."

Greta, Class of 2023

"St. Joe's helped me find my voice."

Dorothy Ambuske, 2nd-grade Teacher

"From a teacher's standpoint, being loving is what drives all of our growth. Students know they are loved and known as important members of our school community."

Giving Ignites Our Mission

We are grateful to all the generous individuals, families, foundations, and corporations whose contributions propelled our work and launched students who are open to growth, intellectually competent, loving, religious, and committed to doing justice. For over one hundred years, St. Joseph School has provided a Catholic education in the Jesuit tradition in the heart of Seattle. Our students are also, perhaps most importantly, really good people who know how to look you in the eye, shake your hand, and have a good conversation.

Your Impact

$1,500,000

Tuition Assistance

41%

Students Who Benefit from our LRC at No Additional Cost

$ 513,854

Annual Fund support

11,976

Number of parent volunteer hours

$ 93,762

Jog-a-Thon support

1,600

Number of 8th grade student service hours

192

Meetings & Events (excluding classes) held in the new Hofbauer Family Library & Learning Center

$362,076

Auction Fund-a-Need: Teacher Salary Fund

St. Joseph Circle

St. Joseph is regarded as the patron saint of workers. Pope Pius IX declared him to be both the patron and the protector of the Catholic Church, in addition to his patronages of the sick and of a happy death, due to the belief that he died in the presence of Jesus and Mary. In this circle, we recognize those who have entered the company of Jesus as foundational supports for the mission of St. Joseph School.

Blessed Marie Rose Circle

In 1843, aware of the need for education in his diocese, the bishop of Montreal petitioned Marie Rose to help form a new religious congregation for the Christian education of youth. With two colleagues, she accepted and began her life as a religious, naming the congregation the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary, after the French community Marie Rose had hoped to join. During her life, the order blossomed, reaching out both to girls and boys across Canada. These same Sisters eventually helped found St. Joseph School. In this circle, we recognize the powerful contribution of the Sisters of the Holy Names, and all those who, like Mother Marie Rose, follow the call of Christ to educate the young.

St. Ignatius Circle

Following his injury at the battle of Pamplona, Ignatius of Loyola was called by God and moved by the Spirit. Eventually, realizing he could not serve well if he was not educated, he went back to school—a 35 year-old in class with 12 year-olds. Going on to earn a degree at the University of Paris, Ignatius gathered around him a group of men, who later went to the Pope to offer their service. This was the beginning of the Society of Jesus. In this circle, we recognize those who, in the spirit of Ignatius and the Society he founded, believe in the spiritual power of education, and who help support it at St. Joseph School.

Head of School Circle

The Head of School’s Circle involves leadership giving to the St. Joseph School Annual Fund at the $1000 to $2,499 level. Members of the Head of School’s Circle are among St. Joseph’s most faithful donors, and they play a vital role in the effort to be certain that every family is able to send their child to St. Joseph School. In this circle, we recognize those who give to support the work of liberation and love that we seek to instill in the students of St. Joseph School.

Friends of St. Joseph

In the tradition of the Society of Jesus, each person is to serve as he or she is able, offering themselves ad majorem Dei gloriam—for the greater glory of God. To dedicate oneself in this service is to be a Companion of Christ and of others. In this circle, we recognize those who have given themselves to this Companionship and help to empower the students of St. Joseph School to be in the service of mothers.

The Capitol Hill Circle

The Capitol Hill Circle has been established to honor the proud legacy of St. Joseph School on Capitol Hill in Seattle. This circle is comprised of lead benefactors who, through their generosity demonstrate a commitment to the ideals and mission of St. Joseph School.

Jaguar Circle

The power of partnership. The St. Joseph Jaguar Circle are community members and partners that have joined with us to support our commitment of providing children in grades K-8 with a cost-effective, comprehensive and high quality Catholic education.

In-Kind Gifts

We would like to extend our gratitude to our generous in-kind donors for their invaluable support. Their contribution has made a significant impact, enriching the educational experience of our students and strengthening our community.

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Endowment

The school receives financial support from the St. Joseph Endowment Fund (the Endowment), a stand-alone registered 501(c)(3) corporation. It has been built from generous donations by individuals and institutions to strengthen and sustain a rich faith-centered academic experience for all students at St. Joseph School. In 2022-2023, the Endowment distributed $489,255 to St. Joseph School.

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Financials

Revenue

Tuition & fees: $ 10,032,989

Contributions & fundraising: $ 1,652,826

Endowment, parish & institutional support: $ 707,049

Miscellaneous: $ 174,743

Total: $ 12,567,607

Expenses

Salaries & benefits: $ 8,292,249

Financial assistance: $ 1,307,439

Educational & auxiliary programs: $ 974,326

General & administrative: $ 411,799

Fundraising & advancement: $ 378,896

Facilities & maintenance: $ 346,448

Technology: $ 214,392

Total: $ 11,925,549

Thank You

Thanks to the generosity of our parents, alumni, and friends St. Joseph School can continue to create a faith-centered community that educates and inspires students to reach their God-given potential.

To Support
Make a Gift

To Connect
Jennifer Wathen, Director of Advancement
Email
206.329.3260 ext 268

To Enroll
Kesslie Hollingshead, Director of Enrollment Management
Email
206.329.3260 ext 243