About

Believe. Achieve. Inspire.

This is more than a simple motto at St. Ann Catholic School – these three words are the guiding principles of our school, our students and our faculty. St. Ann School is unique in many ways: we are a small and supportive school, with an average of 18 to 20 students per class. Our small size allows us to focus on academic excellence, but also on the moral formation of our students. Our students are a family; they protect and care for each other. Our students are expected to follow the example of Christ in all that they do — and they are led in their efforts through the example of the faculty and staff.

Hear about St. Ann School from current parents, alumni, teachers and parishioners.

Our Mission

We, the family of St. Ann Catholic School, embrace and share the Gospel values of Jesus Christ by fostering a faith-filled community. We promote an educational environment where everyone is respected, everyone learns and everyone is encouraged to contribute to the greater good of our world.

Our Philosophy

• St. Ann School embraces Jesus Christ as the Master Teacher.
• We recognize that all children are created in the image and likeness of God, each gifted with unique talents and abilities.
• We believe every child has a desire to learn, can learn, and learns best in a loving, nurturing, and safe environment.
• We understand that academic achievement and personal growth require trial, error and reflection.
• We acknowledge that meaningful learning occurs when parents, teachers and students work collaboratively.

Our History

St. Ann School has its roots within a group of determined parish community members. The Diocese of Richmond purchased the present property, now occupied by the St. Ann Parish facilities, prior to 1946. Formal recognition for the foundation of the parish came on September 25, 1947. There was evidence of much effort by the community to build the concept of St. Ann Parish into a reality. The cornerstone of St. Ann School was laid on June 27, 1948.

Large numbers of young families settled in the North Arlington area by 1947. The 400 families of the new St. Ann Parish included many young children. There was much interest among the parents in building a parish school. Their enthusiasm, however, never overshadowed the priority for the construction of a church as the center of Christian life.

St. Ann School opened its doors to about 300 children in grades one through four in September 1951. Its eight classrooms were filled to capacity in less than two years, necessitating the construction of a four-room addition in 1954 to accommodate over 700 students. By 1960, the complete three-part main structure and separate Kindergarten building were used to educate over l,000 children. Support of this ambitious educational effort required the total dedication of the 1,200 families of St. Ann Parish.

St. Ann parents and educators were quick to utilize newly available resources to provide an ever progressing quality of education while seeking to develop individuals who were able to use their skills and creativity in the light of Christian principles. When the State of Virginia first accredited elementary schools in 1971, St. Ann School was among the first group so recognized.

St. Ann School is accredited by the Virginia Catholic Education Association (VCEA) whose accreditation process has been approved by the Virginia Council for Private Education Committee on Accreditation as authorized by the Virginia State Board of Education.