Academics

A Saint David's Pillar

How and why do we read deeply - not just in the lines, but also between the lines and beyond the lines?

How do you construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others?

How do I choose evidence to develop my argument in my writing?

How can patterns be used to predict results and solve problems?

How and why do languages evolve and change over time? How are languages related to each other?

At Saint David’s, academics are rigorous, but never rigid. We challenge boys to go deep, ask questions, and defend their ideas with reason and care. From their earliest years, they learn how to evaluate evidence, apply the scientific method, consider opposing viewpoints, and speak clearly about what they believe and why.

Ours is a program that values inquiry over rote, and curiosity over certainty. Whether wrestling with a math problem, exploring a primary source, or crafting a persuasive argument, boys are given the tools to think independently and the guidance to do it well.

And when they leave Saint David’s, those tools stay with them. They know how to ask the right questions, listen closely, and speak with clarity and conviction. They step into secondary school—and the wider world—not just prepared, but eager. Ready to learn, to lead, and to keep becoming the young men they’re meant to be.

To download Saint David’s Course of Study, Click Here.

5:1 Student to Teacher Ratio

24 Educational Partnerships

9+ Years of Immersive Spanish

Scholarship

Scholarship at Saint David’s is rooted in purpose and persistence. Boys are taught to approach learning not as a sprint, but as a discipline—a steady pursuit of truth, knowledge, and understanding. Along the way, they develop the habits that matter most: close observation, careful reasoning, intellectual curiosity, and the ability to keep going when the answer isn’t obvious.

Questions Not Answers

As our Headmaster often reminds us, in education—as in life—it’s the question that matters more than the answer. Knowing which question to ask, when to ask it, and where to seek the answer is the mark of a thoughtful, well-educated mind. At Saint David’s, boys follow their curiosity, see it through with persistence, and ask with the kind of humility that invites real answers.

Small Group Instruction and Collaboration

In the Lower School, math, reading, and Spanish are taught in small groups, allowing teachers to tailor instruction to each boy’s needs. Across all grades, collaboration is woven into academic life. Whether solving a problem or building a presentation, boys regularly work in teams—learning from their teachers, and from one another.

Interdisciplinary Learning

Interdisciplinary study at Saint David’s teaches boys to make connections—between ideas, between subjects, and between ways of thinking. It deepens comprehension, sharpens communication, and equips boys to approach complex questions from multiple perspectives. It’s strong academic preparation—and strong life preparation.

Immersive Signature Learning Experiences

At Saint David’s, the world is part of the curriculum. From the streets of Rome to the halls of the Met, boys step beyond the classroom to learn through experience. In partnership with world-class scientific, historical, and cultural institutions—and co-taught by their teachers and subject-field experts—they take on interdisciplinary projects that stretch over weeks or months. These signature experiences are immersive by design, drawing boys into deeper inquiry, collaborative problem solving, and hands-on discovery. What begins in the classroom comes to life in the world—and often, what begins in the world comes to life in the classroom.

Core Skills

At Saint David’s, the core skills form the foundation of every boy’s academic life. They are cultivated with care in the earliest years and continue to shape learning across every subject and every grade. Reading, writing, speaking, and reasoning are not taught in isolation but woven into inquiry, collaboration, and creative expression. By grounding each stage of a boy’s education in these skills, Saint David’s prepares him to think critically, communicate clearly and face challenges with confidence.