Following the example of St. Thomas Aquinas, patron Saint of Catholic Schools, our mission is to teach
Faith and Reason: that all truth comes from God and academic excellence finds its purpose in him.
St. Thomas Aquinas Regional School is a Catholic School in the Diocese of Arlington and adheres to the doctrine defined in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Founded in 1977, Aquinas is administered and staffed by the religious community of the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia and a lay faculty. It serves over 510 students from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade and three Arlington Diocese parishes: Our Lady of Angels, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton and Sacred Heart. It has a diverse student body with over 20 percent of the students speaking one of 17 secondary languages.
The dedicated Aquinas faculty and staff have developed several programs that enrich the curriculum such as a unique Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) program in partnership with the John Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth, an Advanced Language Arts Program, Spanish Heritage Program, English for Language Learners (ELL) and Resource Support Program, as well as performing arts programs in both music and drama.
Click HERE to read a welcome letter from our Bishop Michael Burbidge.
Please see below for updated guidance from Bishop Burbidge and the Diocese of Arlington in reference to the Human Person and Gender Ideology.
Our School at a Glance
- Pre-K 4 through 8th grade
- Diverse student body with 36% of students speaking one of 24 second languages
- More than half the faculty have an advanced degree
- 100% of Aquinas applicants are accepted to Catholic High Schools
- Advanced Language Arts Courses
- Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Program
- Spanish language courses twice a week for grades 1-5, daily for grades 6-8
- Heritage Spanish Program for native speakers in Grades 7 and 8
- Special Education Support Services
- Interactive Boards in every classroom
- Award-winning band and chorus, and strings program
Aquinas Accolades
- Named a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence in 2011 by the Department of Education
- Named a Top 100 Virginia School in 2010 by Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth
- One National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA) Regional Teacher of the Year Award
- Two Diocesan Teacher of the Year awards
Accreditation
Aquinas is accredited through the Virginia Council of Private Education (VCPE). VCPE is governed by the Virginia Department of Education and is responsible for overseeing private schools. All members of our teaching staff are licensed through the Virginia Department of Education or through VCPE.
Testimonials
| “St. Thomas Aquinas Regional School has been good for our son, Tommy in many ways! He is currently a Seventh Grader and has been attending since Pre-K. Both my husband and I went to Catholic schools and we wanted our son to be able to appreciate the beauty of our Catholic faith and still get a solid academic education. The Dominican Sisters have been a strong, beautiful example of sharing the faith with the students, and I feel that as a parent, I have benefited immensely as well. The on-site Perpetual Adoration Chapel serves as a reminder that God is always there and ready to listen to us, like a steadfast parent, or an unwavering beacon in the storm. We feel that Aquinas provides great preparation for high school and life! The Johns Hopkins STEM program has been an outstanding addition to the curriculum, too! We feel blessed to be part of the Aquinas Community.” – The Liuzzo Family |
| “We have had children at St. Thomas Aquinas Regional School for over 20 years. Our children have received an outstanding education at Aquinas, as proven by our oldest 2 who have graduated from college, but who excelled in both their high school and college classes due to the dedication and devotion of the Aquinas staff. The teachers at Aquinas have instilled in our children a lifelong love of learning.” – Lori and Dave Brunsman |
| “We wanted our kids to not only go to a great school but also have the opportunity to go to a school with our same beliefs in faith and be able to learn academically as well as their religion. We found those qualities in Aquinas… We have been a part of the Aquinas family since Sebastian started Kindergarten and Alyssa Pre-K. We have seen our kids grow in their faith as well as in their studies and we thank the Aquinas faculty and staff for that.” – Carlos and Alix Orellana |
| “Our family became part of the Aquinas family in 1995. Each of our six children have attended St. Thomas Aquinas School. Our eldest daughter, Angelea, is now in her Senior year at Marymount in Arlington. Remaining at Aquinas our are two sons, Philip and JoeJoe. I can’t imagine my children not having such an important religious and educational foundation as part of their everyday lives and Aquinas provides this curriculum through their wonderful teachers and the Dominican Sisters.” – Mazzoccoli Family |
| “This is our 5th year at Aquinas. We feel especially blessed that Chloe has had the opportunity to grow spiritually and academically in such a loving and caring environment. She has grown from a shy quiet child to a confident and outgoing student. We credit Aquinas for this change in her personality. Thank you Aquinas!” – The Bramer and Payne Family |
