About Us

ABOUT ST. JAMES

Forming Disciples in Faith, Wisdom, and Character
Serving TK through 8th Grade in the Perris Valley Community.

Fully Accredited Educational Excellence
St. James Catholic School is fully accredited by the Western Catholic Educational Association (WCEA) and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).

Character
  • Student Outcomes: Guiding young people to become responsible citizens, lifelong learners, and expressive individuals.
  • Inclusive Community: Serving families across the Hemet Vicariate and welcoming all who share our mission.
  • Safe Environment: A supportive parish school community where every child is known and valued.


Faith
  • Christ-Centered Environment: An educational ministry of St. James the Less Parish forming faith-filled Catholics.
  • Mercy Tradition: Inspired by our founders, the Sisters of Mercy, students live out the Spiritual and Corporal Works of Mercy.
  • Vibrant Ministry: Active prayer, weekly Mass, and sacramental preparation.
Wisdom
  • Tailored Academics: Curriculum adapted to meet the individual learning styles and academic abilities of every student.
  • 1:1 Technology: Integrated Chromebook program providing modern learning tools for practical, hands-on exploration.
  • High School Readiness: Preparing TK–8 students to become critical thinkers and creative problem solvers.

Our History & Sisters of Mercy Tradition: Established in 1965 by Pastor James Munnelly, St. James Catholic School opened its doors with four Sisters of Mercy from Sligo, Ireland, led by first principal Sister De Chantal Finerty. Beginning with grades 1–6, the school expanded over the decades to serve Transitional Kindergarten through 8th grade. While the Sisters of Mercy served as administrators through 2001 before retiring back to Ireland, their founder Mother McAuley’s spirit remains the heartbeat of our campus today—living out the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy in the Perris Valley.

See the St. James Difference in Person