A classical PreK-8 education in the Catholic tradition serving families throughout Rochester, NY.
A School Where Students Are Known, Challenged, and Formed
At St. John Bosco Schools, education goes beyond academics. Our students grow in wisdom, discipline, confidence, and virtue within a joyful community rooted in the Catholic tradition.
We partner closely with parents to create an environment where children are encouraged to become thoughtful learners, faithful leaders, and compassionate human beings.
Education the Way Childhood Was Meant to Feel
Modern education often moves too fast, relies too heavily on screens, and forgets the importance of character formation. At Bosco, students experience something different:
- Real conversations
- Meaningful friendships
- Active classrooms
- Teachers who truly know them
- A community grounded in faith
This is a place where children are encouraged to grow slowly, deeply, and joyfully.
Most Catholic Schools End at 5th Grade. Ours Is Just Getting Started.
Our Middle School program helps students navigate some of the most important years of their development with strong academics, meaningful mentorship, and deep formation in virtue. Students are challenged intellectually while remaining grounded spiritually and socially.
Faith Is Not Just A Subject.
It Shapes Everything We Do.
At St. John Bosco Schools, the Catholic faith is woven into every part of the student experience — from classroom discussions to daily interactions and community life.
Testimonials
What Families Are Saying
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Frequently Asked Questions
We're a classical, independent school in the Catholic tradition, serving Pre-K through 8th grade in East Rochester, NY. We offer a rigorous, faith-based education rooted in the pursuit of truth, beauty, and goodness — and we're the only school in the Greater Rochester area providing a classical education that teaches the fullness of the Catholic Faith.
Classical education flips the modern approach on its head. Rather than spoon-feeding information to memorize, we ask questions that help students discover truth for themselves — which is where real joy in learning comes from. Children move through the Grammar, Logic, and Rhetoric stages, building wisdom and virtue alongside academic skill. The result: students who think clearly, write well, and love what they're learning.
We serve Pre-K through 8th grade. Pre-K through 5th is our Lower School, and 6th through 8th is our Middle School. Because most diocesan schools end at 5th grade, our Middle School is a natural next step for families looking to continue a faith-filled, academically rigorous education.
We're at 501 Garfield Street in East Rochester, NY, serving the Greater Rochester area. Buses run for many local districts including Greece, Irondequoit, Webster, Fairport, HFL, and more — most of our families live within a reasonable drive, and we've welcomed students from communities throughout the region.
Enrollment for the new school year opens in early February, but we accept applications year-round. The process is straightforward: inquire through our website or call the office, and we'll respond within 24 hours to share information and schedule a tour. If either side wants more clarity on fit, we offer an optional shadow day. After registration, we'll connect you with a current family to walk you through your first year at Bosco.
Our tuition is significantly lower than comparable private middle schools and on par with other faith-based schools in the area. We'll send you our full tuition schedule when you inquire. Additional scholarship opportunities are available — please ask about them when you come in for a tour.
A few things set us apart. The Catholic faith is woven into everything we do — it's not an add-on subject. Our classical approach develops thinkers, not just test-takers. We're intentionally a small, screen-free community where teachers know every student by name, and where parents are true partners in their children's formation rather than spectators. Families often tell us it feels like school did when they were kids — in the best way.
This isn't a "drop off and go" school, and we say that proudly. We ask parents to partner with us — to volunteer where they can (field trips, lunch and recess duty, school events), to reinforce what's taught in the classroom at home, and to back the teacher when a teacher calls home. Our strongest families see promoting Bosco as part of their broader mission. If you want to be involved in your child's education, you'll feel right at home here.
We're refreshingly counter-cultural here. You won't find 1-to-1 devices in our classrooms, and most of our families wait until high school before giving their children cell phones. Children deserve a childhood that's present, curious, and engaged — not mediated through a screen.
We're an independent school in the Catholic tradition, not a diocesan school. That independence lets us teach the fullness of the Catholic faith and maintain our classical curriculum without competing priorities. We're recognized by the Institute for Catholic Liberal Education (ICLE) and have been honored with the Raising Rochester Leadership Award.
Yes. While our identity and formation are unapologetically Catholic, we welcome families of all backgrounds who want a rigorous classical education and who are open to the faith forming the heart of school life. Many of our families come to us specifically because they're seeking that environment.
The best next step is to schedule a tour. You'll meet our President, Andy Follaco, see students in classrooms, and get your questions answered in person. Most families tell us the visit is what made the decision for them.
Give Your Child an Education Rooted in Faith, Virtue, and Wonder
Now accepting applications for the 2026-2027 school year.