St. Anselm's Abbey School

St. Anselm's Abbey School is a Catholic, Benedictine day school in Washington, DC, serving roughly 250 boys in grades 6 through 12. The school's Benedictine identity—rooted in the neighboring monastery—shapes its educational philosophy around intellectual rigor, spiritual formation, and community service. Unlike many independent schools, St. Anselm's remains a close-knit, male-only environment where faculty know every student and his family.

Teaching at St. Anselm's Abbey School means working within a classical liberal arts framework. The curriculum emphasizes sustained study of languages, sciences, and humanities rather than trendy electives. Faculty are expected to engage students as whole people, not just test-takers. The Benedictine presence on campus reinforces that expectation. Many teachers report that the school's religious mission creates unusual clarity about educational purpose—something many secular independent schools struggle to articulate.

The school hires for core academic disciplines: English, mathematics, sciences, and the four languages St. Anselm's Abbey School offers—Latin, French, Spanish, and Arabic. Coaching roles and administrative positions open periodically. Most hiring occurs before the academic year, though the school's modest size means openings are selective rather than frequent.

Compensation for independent school faculty in DC typically includes modest salary increases tied to experience and credentials, though the school's enrollment cap limits resources compared to larger peers. Many faculty cite the intellectual community and mission alignment as meaningful parts of the package beyond base pay.

For educators drawn to Catholic intellectual tradition and classical curriculum, St. Anselm's Abbey School offers a distinctive alternative to larger, secular preparatory schools in the region.