Benilde Program

Our Benilde Program, named for visionary and innovative Lasallian educator St. Benilde Pierre Romancon, offers a college preparatory program for highly motivated students with diagnosed mild learning differences. Students in Benilde are completely integrated into the academic, spiritual, and cocurricular life of the St. John’s community.

Where Support Leads to Success

Direct Admission for 9th Grade, Only

Each day, students attend a direct instructional Benilde period focused on developing and strengthening written language, reading comprehension, and verbal communication skills within the context of the curriculum. During this instruction, students are taught strategies to improve higher-level reasoning skills and self-management. Students are motivated and engaged in the learning process.

While many students in the Benilde Program receive support throughout their four years at St. John’s, several are in the program for only two years. The program is designed for students with the potential to succeed as life-long learners who plan to attend competitive four-year colleges and universities.

Alumni from the program have attended schools such as Bucknell University, Catholic University, Northwestern University, Pennsylvania State University, University of Maryland, University of North Carolina, and Villanova University.

> 90% participate in SJC athletics
> 50% participate in the fine and performing arts
~30% participate in the Cadet Corps Leadership Program
60% are named to the honor roll each quarter
25% 11th & 12th grade students enroll in honors and AP courses

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Who is the ideal student for the Benilde Program?

Ideally, a Benilde student...

Has a sincere interest in attending St. John’s College High School
Demonstrates average to above-average cognitive abilities
Has a diagnosed learning difference documented by a comprehensive psychological evaluation completed within three years of application to the program
Demonstrates the ability to manage the demands of a college-preparatory curriculum and learn in a classroom of 21 students
Demonstrates the ability to navigate social situations adeptly
Is emotionally healthy
Does not have a history of behavioral problems that would interfere with classroom learning

Q: What are the goals of the Benilde Program?

Q: How does the Benilde Program support students?

The Benilde Program supports students with...

A restructured course schedule to reduce our students’ homework load*
One scheduled 60-minute period of direct strategy instruction per day
Multisensory strategy instruction within the content areas
Emphasis on improving executive functioning and self-management
Strong focus on the how, when, and why of technology use
Blended learning summer history courses

* There are no modifications to homework, assignments, or the curriculum; all students are held to the same academic standards.

Q: Do students in the Benilde Program take a foreign language?

Q: What support and testing accommodations are available for students in Benilde?

Support is provided on an individual basis.

Testing accommodations are facilitated by Benilde faculty and adapted using the suggestions on the student’s comprehensive psychological evaluation.

Teachers receive an accommodations profile for each Benilde student and collaborate regularly with Benilde faculty.

Benilde Homework Club is available to students three afternoons a week.

Q: How can I learn more about the Benilde Program?

Q: What is the admissions process?

Complete the St. John’s application, check the box indicating interest in the Benilde Program, and state your interest in the personal statement.

Submit a complete comprehensive psychological evaluation completed by a licensed psychologist within three years of application to St. John’s. The evaluation must include diagnoses, summary, and recommendations.

Schedule a visit day.