
Our Curriculum
St. Jude of the Lake School is a Catholic Pre-K through grade 7 (Grade 8 coming in Fall 2023) school that welcomes students of all faiths. The school was founded in 1954 as a mission of St. Jude of the Lake Catholic Church. Since that time, the school has become a vital part of the parish and local community.
Accreditation
St. Jude of the Lake is accredited through the Minnesota Non-Public Schools Accrediting Association (MNSAA) and meets all the expectations and standards set by the accrediting agency. Our curriculum is aligned with all Minnesota state education standards.

15:1 Ratio
Our students thrive with our perfect class sizes and individualized attention.

100%
Dedicated to a nurturing and supportive environment.

Christ Centered
Weekly Mass puts Jesus at the center of our students’ lives.

iPads for Each Student
Each student receives his or her own iPad to use at school. Studies have shown that technology enhances learning. Each iPad also comes with a physical keyboard so that students have the flexibility to interact with the device in the way that works best for the task.
Pre-School
In 2011 Lake Area Discovery Center entered into its first partnership with a Catholic Church and School at St. Jude of the Lake in Mahtomedi. This school partnership provides a unique opportunity to “buddy” with students in the elementary school and benefit from our wonderful facilities. One other unique aspect of this site is the partnership with Encore Assisted Living, through which the children have a chance to develop ongoing relationships with Senior Citizens.
Kindergarten
Kindergarten students at St. Jude attend a full-day program designed to inspire, engage and educate children as they begin their journey of life-long learning. Every day, students are taught literacy skills, reading, language arts, handwriting, math, science, social studies, and religion. Students also attend art, music, physical education, and Spanish classes semi-weekly. The use of technology is woven into classroom learning on a daily basis with iPads and Apple TVs.
1st - 5th Grades
Students in first through fifth grades at St. Jude are provided with a nurturing, structured and disciplined environment in which they are challenged to develop academically, spiritually, socially and emotionally. Core courses include reading, language arts, handwriting, math, science, social studies, and religion. Students also attend weekly or semi-weekly art, music, physical education, and Spanish classes. The use of technology is woven into classroom learning on a daily basis with iPads, Apple TVs, SMART Boards, and SMART response systems.
6th Grade & Beyond
We have added a 6th Grade and 7th Grade at St. Jude of the Lake Catholic School in the Fall of 2021 and 2022 respectively. We have been approved for the addition of an 8th Grade in the Fall of 2023 by Archbishop Hebda!
The mission is clear: we are committed to providing a quality education to our students and pivot with necessary adjustments along the way. As a community of faith, we know that our world is better served with an education founded in the words of Jesus Christ.

A Message From the Principal
As principal, it is very important to me that everyone who steps through our doors, whether it be a staff member, parent, student or visitor, is excited to be here. The positive attitude and welcoming setting enables us to meet the challenges of academic excellence in a positive, fun, nurturing environment and grow our school community, while furthering our mission of providing a strong Catholic foundation for our students.
Carrie Hackman