The St. John’s English Department combines tradition and innovation to provide a rigorous, intellectually engaging English curriculum for our students.

All students receive a strong foundation in grammar, composition, research, and literary analysis, as well as an opportunity to explore a wide range of great works from within and beyond the traditional English literary canon. Beginning in their junior year, students may enroll in a variety of English electives based on the diverse expertise and passions of our faculty. Ranging from Shakespeare to Tolkien to Multimedia Journalism, the electives are one of the most unique and exciting features of the English program at St. John’s.
St. John’s English Department has an excellent track record with regards to our students’ performance in high school and beyond. The average Advanced Placement exam score for students in our AP English class is exceptionally high, and alumni who participated in both the regular and honors programs consistently report that they are extremely well-prepared for college-level reading, writing, and research.

At least one full credit of English is required of every student for all four years.  Students complete library research papers through senior year using the MLA formatting required by colleges.

For an introduction to some of the Department’s offerings, please visit Dr. Raymond Nighan’s web pages for AP English, Honors British Literature, and several senior elective courses.  Brother Martin Zewe’s ninth-grade English courses are also on this page.