For students who know there can be more to school.
What If School Could Be More Interesting?
Maybe there is a subject you can't get enough of. Maybe you have a lot of questions. Or maybe school is going perfectly well, but you have a feeling you could be doing more.
You might like TJ.
Thomas Jefferson School is a small day and boarding school for students in grades 7–12. Fewer than 90 students share a demanding liberal-arts curriculum, small classes, and a school day with unusual amounts of time for reading, discussion, independent work, and one another.
TJ asks a great deal of its students. It also gives them increasing responsibility for their own education as they grow. That combination has been fundamental to the school for more than eighty years.
There isn't really a back row at TJ. With around ten students in most classes, everyone gets to be part of what is happening.
You might spend English talking about why a character made a terrible decision, or find that one question in science leads somewhere nobody had planned on going that day. Your classmates will have ideas you hadn't considered, and sometimes yours will take the conversation in a new direction.
You don't have to get here as the person who always raises your hand. There's time to find your voice, and before long, class can become one of the places where you feel most yourself.
There's a lot to discover.
You may find yourself studying subjects at TJ that you never expected to try.
Latin starts in middle school, with Ancient Greek, French, and Italian ahead. If you're ready to move faster in math, you can, with courses through advanced calculus and statistics. Science begins with Forensics and Earth Science and builds toward laboratory sciences and computer science.
TJ students read whole books, too. Outside Reading, or O.R., makes room for the stories and ideas that don't fit neatly into a class period.
~10 students in a typical class
6:1 Student-faculty ratio
7-12 grades day and boarding
You'll find your people here.
At TJ, some of those people might be your teachers.
You'll meet students who get really interested in things, even when their interests are completely different from yours. One friend may love coding while you would happily spend an afternoon reading mythology. Sometimes you discover something new simply because someone else can't stop talking about it.
TJ is a place where you can be “smart and silly at the same time.” That applies pretty well to the adults, too.
There's plenty of room here to be serious about what you love without taking yourself too seriously.
What Students & Parents Say
TJ has a great community, promoting mutual understanding between students and teachers. The schedule of the day and even the homework system all help to foster relationships. As a boarding student, support is crucial for me. The friendships -- and hardships -- people share here are extremely valuable experiences, ones that we are unlikely to encounter outside of TJ.
Aaron Yang '22
TJ is challenging for everyone. The help that I get from my classmates is valuable and strengthens my bonds with them. TJ is a place where I am constantly pushed to work harder, and it has taught me many new things about myself.
Yuliana Rust '23
TJ has helped me figure out what I want to be in life and has shaped me into the person I am today. It has taught me how to open my mind and find my own voice.
Maya Albano '22
I could not be happier anywhere else. Every day this school challenges me in new ways, but the faculty and students are always ready to support me. TJ makes me feel at home and confident.
Carter Cashen '23
Ever since coming to TJ, I've found myself becoming more curious over the years, developing a true passion for subjects that I would've never given a second thought to previously. In essence, TJ is excellent at developing model students that genuinely make an effort to expand their knowledge and—in turn—contribute to society, which I feel is true after studying here.
Chase Albano '26
TJ is a special place where you can be smart and silly at the same time.
Laurie Shornick, Past Board President, Parent '17
You Get More Freedom As You Grow.
A TJ day gives you room to breathe. Classes are 35 minutes long, with breaks between them and open time in the afternoon.
As you get older, more of that time becomes yours to manage. You might meet with a teacher, get ahead on your work, or spend time with friends. By high school, you’re making more of those choices for yourself.
Yes. TJ is both a boarding school and a day school. Boarding students live on campus in supervised residences and fully participate in academic and community life. Day students join all classes and activities while living with their families.
What makes TJ academically strong?
TJ offers a rigorous liberal arts and sciences curriculum with small classes, discussion-based learning, and Advanced Placement courses. The school maintains a 6:1 student-teacher ratio and a high proportion of faculty with advanced degrees.
How competitive is admission to TJ?
Admission to Thomas Jefferson School is selective and holistic. The committee reviews academic records, recommendations, student work, interviews, and engagement outside the classroom. Applicants should demonstrate intellectual curiosity and readiness for a rigorous college preparatory environment.
Does TJ offer financial aid?
Yes. TJ offers need-based financial aid to eligible families, including international applicants. Financial aid decisions are based on family financial documentation and available institutional resources.
What are some of TJ’s rankings and recognitions?
Thomas Jefferson School is consistently recognized for academic excellence and community diversity:
#1 Best Boarding High School in Missouri (Niche)
#2 Best College Prep Private High School in Missouri (Niche)
#2 Most Diverse Private High School in Missouri (Niche)
Top 3% Best High Schools for STEM nationally (Niche data)
Top 5% Best College Prep High Schools in America (Niche data)
These rankings reflect TJ’s strengths in academics, community diversity, and college preparation.
Where do TJ graduates go to college?
TJ graduates matriculate to a wide range of selective colleges and universities in the United States and internationally, supported by personalized college counseling. The school’s high college matriculation rate underscores its success in preparing students for next steps.
What is student life like at TJ?
Student life at TJ blends rigorous coursework with community activities, shared meals, athletics, clubs, and cultural opportunities in nearby St. Louis. The residential program emphasizes responsibility, independence, and collaboration among students and faculty.
Statement of Non-Discrimination
There shall be no discrimination by the School in the selection of its governing Board, in the employment of personnel, in the admission of students, or in the administration of the School’s programming because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, sexual orientation, marital, veteran, or handicapped status in violation of existing state or federal law or regulations.
