‘Classical Catholic’ High School Expands to Falls Church
EdNews Virginia | March 20, 2026
ARLINGTON, VA — One of the more intellectually charged moments from EdReform Virginia’s fourth annual school choice event occurred during a roundtable conversation, as the St. Jerome Institute’s Dr. Andrew Shivone challenged the audience to reimagine how and why students learn. For Shivone and the St. Jerome team, true education aims to cultivate “reason and virtue.”
As a featured exhibitor, St. Jerome Institute symbolized the classical education movement’s “high school frontier” — offering a vision of secondary education that fosters a community of active seekers.
Moving Beyond the Lecture
At St. Jerome, students are immersed in the Western canon. Rather than just hearing a lecture or watching slides, students must grapple with challenging themes, such as those found in The Odyssey.
By reading slowly — often just 20 pages at a time — students are able to engage in “real conversation” about the longstanding mysteries of human existence.
A St. Jerome seminar teacher will offer students a topic for discussion “and then he doesn’t talk,” Shivone noted. The shift in classroom dynamics “forces students to do the thinking and the learning,” instead of passively consuming information.
Learning How to Disagree
Shivone argued that St. Jerome’s educational style does more than just raise test scores; it mends the civic fabric by teaching students how to navigate disagreements.
“This teaches them how to have a debate without it becoming ‘I hate you, you’re evil,’” Shivone noted during the panel. “Our students are really, really comfortable being disagreeable.”
By learning to debate without demonization, students achieve the intellectual and social maturity necessary for civil discourse.
Coming Soon to Falls Church
In addition to its D.C. campus, St. Jerome will soon expand across the Potomac. A second campus is scheduled to open this fall in Falls Church, starting with 9th and 10th-grade classes.
St. Jerome is currently offering “NOVA Founding Family Scholarships” worth $7,500 annually for every student admitted for the 2026-27 school year. Interested families can visit the school’s official website to learn more.