St. Stephen's Episcopal School

The year was 1970 when a small group of community leaders met with their rector at Christ Episcopal Church. They dreamed of a school to provide an education with high scholastic standards and small classes. That dream became Saint Stephen’s Episcopal School and, in 1975, the first class of 11 seniors celebrated their graduation.

The unique traditions and standards of excellence that embody a Saint Stephen’s education today are as strong as they were when first visualized by its founders: students who are well prepared for college through a rigorous academic program, and well prepared for a life of service, embedded with strong moral values of integrity, responsibility and respect.

Much of the school’s success can be attributed to the vision of its leaders. Because of a commitment to maintain small class sizes with academic rigor, campus expansion has been a continual focus for all five serving heads.

Saint Stephen’s now ranks among the most respected independent, college preparatory schools in the nation, providing a world-class education for students in grades Pre-K3 through 12. Students are nurtured in small classes, encouraged and supported by outstanding faculty who help them navigate a carefully designed and balanced curriculum of academic rigor and character development.

A wide variety of customized curricular and extracurricular experiences are offered that result from flexible scheduling and a philosophy of meeting individual student needs. The range and breadth of the curriculum provides children who come to Saint Stephen’s with excellent preparation in becoming global citizens. Current families hail from Bradenton, Lakewood Ranch, Palmetto, Parrish, Ellenton, Anna Maria Island, Sarasota, Longboat Key and Casey Key, as well as from countries around the globe.

Rich academic offerings go hand-in-hand with a strong college counseling program, allowing every student an opportunity to pursue higher education. Saint Stephen’s students are excelling today in colleges and universities nationwide, thanks to a strong foundation for success built on proven educational models. The school sits on a scenic, gated, 35-acre campus, which includes a state-of-the-art athletic complex that hosts sporting events including football, soccer, track and field, lacrosse, baseball, softball and tennis. Saint Stephen’s Episcopal School will:

• Provide a superior academic program which prepares each student for a college or university compatible with the individual’s academic ability, interest, and needs
• Instill in each student a love of learning, an active respect for all members of the school community and a fundamental sense of integrity
• Provide a nurturing environment which values independence and self-worth, physical health, spiritual awareness, and responsible global citizenship

Saint Stephen’s Episcopal School strives to be one of the premier independent college preparatory schools in the nation, educating tomorrow’s leaders to make a positive contribution to the world. We promise that every child will be known and every child will be valued.

At Saint Stephen’s, the way we approach faith and spiritual education revolves around inclusion, understanding, compassion, personal character and ethics. We are proud of the diversity of religious faiths represented here and all families and children are welcomed without question. This diversity is a strength. Our mission as a school involves creating an environment where “spiritual awareness” is valued.

Through our chapel program, and the encouragement of our school chaplain, faculty, staff and administrators, we enjoy an atmosphere where people of diverse faiths find freedom of expression and the chance amid studies to pause, wonder, learn, experience quiet, worship God, and gain perspective on matters of ultimate concern.

Academic excellence is central to the culture of Saint Stephen's Episcopal School. Our teachers are passionate about the subjects they teach and they genuinely care about the students and their long-term success. Out of our small classes where our faculty engage highly talented students in innovative and stimulating lessons, our graduates matriculate to some of the finest colleges and universities in the world.