I asked my self why my daughter attends St. Joseph Catholic School in Placentia and these are my thoughts...As a mother, I have always wanted to give my daughter the very best start in life. For many years, homeschooling felt like the right path for our family--a place where she could learn at her own pace, explore her interests, and grow in an environment filled with love and stability. But as she grew older, I began to notice subtle changes--signs that she was stretching beyond the boundaries I had built, longing for something more than what I alone could give. It was difficult to admit, but I realized that my own efforts, however well intentioned, were not enough for the new stage of life she was entering. She needed a community, mentors outside our home, and a place where her faith, friendships, and gifts could flourish. In that moment of uncertainty, God opened a door. We found St. Joseph, a small Catholic school that became an unexpected and deeply welcomed answer to prayer. From the very first day, we felt embraced--not only by the warmth of the families, but by a sense of peace we had been missing. My daughter found guidance, structure, and joy in a community rooted in faith. What I could no longer provide on my own, she found here: encouragement, belonging, and a deeper connection to God. She is now in the student council working in campus ministry. For our family, this school and parish have been more than a place to learn and worship--it has been a blessing, a refuge, and a reminder that God works gently and generously in our lives. Through the programs, the teachers, and the sincerity of this community, my daughter has grown in ways I once feared she might not. And I, too, have grown--learning to trust, to let go, and to allow others to play a part in shaping her heart and her future. Once I asked myself, whose need am I serving? It's then I realized my daughter longed to be in a new environment so she can thrive and expand her world in a safe and loving way. We are profoundly grateful for the grace and support we have found at St Joseph School. Those homeschool years were precious, and I will always be grateful for the time we shared and the lessons we learned together. I've also learned that I can be a better parent when I have a support community like St Joseph School working with me to help raise my child to be a lifelong learner and a faith filled citizen. read more

I really like Principal Amanda. She is very friendly and enthusiastic. She patiently explains things to her students. Highly recommended read more

St. Joseph Catholic School - Elementary Schools Near Me - Placentia, California

There are three main reasons why my wife and I chose to enroll and continue our kids' enrollment at St. Joseph's Catholic School (Placentia): 1. Kind and Welcoming Environment: The family spirit that the St. Joseph's teachers and administration cultivate is palpable. My kids love going to school every day. The teachers and administration truly care for their well-being and development. The smaller class sizes allow my kids to be individually known, loved, and supported. You can't get this almost anywhere else. 2. Character and Faith Formation: On top of their academic program (including a robust STEM program), the school promotes, fosters, and prioritizes instilling Christian virtues that align with how we are trying to raise our kids. Through prayer, bible study, and catechesis, our kids come home well-versed and excited about their faith. Whenever there has been a concern about their behavior or habits, we have successfully partnered with the teachers in providing our kids with the guidance they need to make the right choices for their lives. You can really see this firsthand in the student-led parent/teacher conferences. 3. Amazing Art Program: While other school are cutting their arts programs, St. Joseph School is building them. There are so many avenues for students to develop and express their creativity. To name a few: the annual school play performed in a professional theater; annual Christmas concert; school choir; art classes; Spartan Showcase (music and art exhibit); the living passion prayer; the 4th-grade "Gold Dust or Bust" performance; and many more! The science and research are pretty clear about the importance of developing creativity and understanding of the aesthetic. In the spirit of St. Joseph the carpenter, St. Joseph School celebrates the arts and cultivates a love for them in its students. I have visited and assessed many schools in the area as a professional educator. St. Joseph's is the school to be at right now if you want your kids to experience a holistic and virtue-centric education that is fostered in a caring and loving environment. read more

I am a grandmother who had guardianship of my grandson and I would highly recommend this amazing school , my 3 children went there and now my grandson who was diagnosed by a physician with ADHD... St Joseph was amazingly supportive to him and us with his learning in the classroom along with additional help at home . We had monthly meetings with not only the teacher but with the principal. Mrs Hawley who was so amazing with us being on board with his learning skills and the homework. Mrs Hawley even suggested our grandsons Doctor be in some of the meetings in which clearly was so important because all the staff and teachers of St. Joseph were on board with his ADHD diagnosis and they accommodated his needs to make him very successful and to feel like he was being treated like all the other children! I would extremely highly recommend this school read more

We love St. Joseph Catholic School! My son attended for 9 years, and it gave him such a strong foundation -- academically, spiritually, and personally. The leadership is amazing, and the whole environment is so warm and nurturing. He was ready for Servite, and just finished a successful freshman year there. We feel this is thanks in large part to the education he got at SJS. So grateful for this community! read more

My son came home visibly upset Mrs. Cho 2nd grade teacher and described feeling as though his teacher had been "smacking him." Upon further discussion, we learned that this behavior stemmed from his habit of touching his ear as a self-soothing mechanism--something the teacher reportedly disapproved of. As a result, Mrs. Cho repeatedly grabbed his hand to move it away from his ear. When this approach was ineffective, the teacher then began verbally prompting him by saying "ear" whenever he touched it. When that too failed to alter the behavior, the situation escalated to a point where classmates were instructed to notify the teacher whenever my son touched his ear, with tallies being recorded on the board. This approach left my son feeling humiliated and emotionally targeted. He described the experience as isolating and embarrassing, and it understandably affected his emotional well-being. Second incident, In May 2024, my son informed me of a concerning interaction with a teacher, which I will remain nameless due to taking ownsership and being remorseful. He explained that a teacher had forcefully grabbed him by the shoulder while saying, "You can't do that," repeating this statement three times and reportedly increasing the pressure of his grip each time. When I asked my son, why he didn't ask teacher to stop, he responded, "Because I didn't want the teacher to do it harder the fourth time." The following day, my son and I spoke directly with the teacher. During this conversation, teacher acknowledged grabing my son by the shoulder, but claimed he did not believe it had caused him any pain. This incident was subsequently reported to Mrs. Hawley. Her initial response was, "Well, we are a touchy-feely type of school," which I found concerning given the nature of the complaint. Due to the seriousness of the issue, the matter was further escalated to the diocesan office. last and final straw, My son has a diagnosed case of ADHD. No respect from Ms, Coad a doctors recommendation to have him sit in the front, she sat him in the back, disregarding a doctors order. I was extremely surprised and disheartened to receive his final report card, which included a D- in the area of responsible behavior. At no point during the year was I made aware that Lucas was at risk of receiving a failing grade in this area, and this lack of communication is deeply concerning. If his behavior was severe enough to warrant a D-, why was this not escalated earlier? Why wasn't he placed on a behavioral action plan? What strategies or support systems were implemented to help him build stronger classroom habits? From my perspective, nothing meaningful was done, he was simply allowed to fall behind without intervention. That is unacceptable. I requested a formal explanation of the school's behavioral grading policy, a summary of any behavioral support strategies that were attempted for Lucas during the trimester, and an outline of how similar cases are typically handled. Due to receiving his report card on the last day of school, I emailed Ms.coad and never received a response. These are my personal events that my family went through, and you might ask yourself, why did you continue sending your son to this school despite everything, the answer is because 1, I am an idiot and 2. I was lied to by the principal on many occasions, that they would support and work with my son- 2 years later, shows to be untrue. to the families that have never had to endure any of this, I applaud you. shelly hermosillo read more

St Joseph School (SJS) is a wonderful option for those looking to build true community support around the child and foster their character development and leadership skills. Every teacher and administrator knows all kids, there is an emphasis on faith-based foundational values, and the teachers meet students where they are. In addition, they offer enrichment opportunities like competitive sports, technology, Spanish language, instruments, choir, and a professional-like musical theater program. Very happy with our experience for our three young boys so far! read more

We have two daughters attending SJS and are very pleased to have found a wonderful school. During COVID, when most schools kept their kids out an entire school year, SJS went back that fall of 2020! Seeing the Administration's level of commitment to safety and communication during the pandemic was very impressive. Aside from the catholic filled education, there are excellent student teacher ratios. We appreciate the smaller size classrooms that allow the teachers to provide personalized care for our students. The only thing missing that would make it perfection is offering dual immersion such as Spanish or the Chinese language. Not sure if this is approved by the archdiocese. SJS is an extension of our family values and highly recommend for parents seeking a catholic education. read more