Lower Elementary (DK–Grade 2)

Where Wonder Meets Learning

Welcome to Lower Elementary!

These are the foundation years, where curiosity blooms, friendships form, and young learners discover the joy of growing in mind, body, and spirit. At St. Paul, our DK through 2nd grade students do not just learn to read, write, and solve problems; they learn to think critically, ask questions, collaborate with peers, and recognize God in all things.

We know that these early years are the most important in your child’s development—when young minds absorb not just skills, but values, confidence, and a love of learning that lasts a lifetime.

Our program builds a strong academic foundation through engaging, developmentally appropriate curriculum rooted in Common Core and Next Generation Science Standards, integrated with Catholic values. But academics are only part of the story. We nurture the whole child, creating confident, creative, empathetic learners prepared for a lifetime of discovery.

A Community That Supports Every Learner

Small class sizes are just the beginning. Our Lower Elementary students benefit from full-time teacher assistants who provide daily support and individualized attention. Our Early Learning Center (ELC) teacher works with 1st and 2nd graders daily, splitting classes into smaller groups for targeted reading practice that meets each child exactly where they are.

Our Learning Services Support Team includes three Learning Resource Specialists and Student Counseling services. Add in our dedicated full-time school nurse and health clerk on site, and you have a community committed to every child’s success and wellbeing.

What Makes Our Program Special

Faith at the Center

Every day at St. Paul begins and ends with prayer. Students learn foundational prayers, attend monthly Mass (starting in Kindergarten), and discover their unique place in God’s creation. Our chaplain walks alongside students on their spiritual journey, making faith tangible and real.

Literacy that Builds Confidence

From phonemic awareness in DK to fluent reading by 2nd grade, our program immerses students in diverse texts. Through our ELC program and small group instruction, every child becomes a confident reader and writer.

Math that Clicks

Using the My Math curriculum, students develop problem-solving skills through collaboration and hands-on exploration, with daily teacher assistant support.

Science that Excites

Through STEMscopes, an inquiry-based curriculum, students explore STEAM phenomena with hands-on investigations. Coding and robotics are woven throughout the grades at SPA, building 21st-century skills from the start.

Spanish from Day One

Our robust DK-2 Spanish program builds strong foundations through interactive games, storytelling, and songs, expanding awareness of Spanish-speaking cultures worldwide.

Chess for Critical Thinking

Starting in Kindergarten at St. Paul, every student learns chess from a world-renowned Chessmaster using an innovative, custom-designed curriculum. This is not your typical chess class; it is an extraordinary opportunity for six-year-olds to develop strategic thinking, patience, and advanced problem-solving skills directly from a master of the game. It is the kind of advantage most families pay extra for, but at SPA, it is simply part of showing up to school.

STEAM Explorers

Our popular program introduces DK-2 students to programming and coding through 1:1 iPads and hands-on robotics activities, developing computational thinking while having fun.

Enrichment Specialists

Weekly classes in Art, Music, Physical Education, Library, Robotics, and Yoga/Mindfulness round out the experience, developing well-rounded, joyful learners.

The Lower Elementary Experience

Walk into any St. Paul classroom and you will see students engaged, curious, and celebrating what makes them special as unique individuals in God’s creation. Our teachers provide safe, nurturing environments where learning happens through investigations, collaboration, and activities that spark conversation and critical thinking.

Your child will spend the majority of their days here with us during these crucial years, and we do not take that responsibility lightly. At St. Paul the Apostle School, we are committed to making every single day count.

Schedule a visit!

Ready to see it for yourself? Schedule a preview day to meet our teachers, explore our classrooms, and discover what makes the St. Paul Lower Elementary experience so special.

Schedule a Preview Day