Saints Philip and James School (SSPJ) in Exton recently announced that two of its eighth-grade students, Colin Graveley and Raphael-Joshua Reyes, have been recognized as 2021 Neumann Scholars. This honor entitles them to a four-year scholarship to an Archdiocesan high school of their choice, which totals more than $40,000 in scholarship money for each student. The scholarship is named after Saint John Neumann, the fourth bishop of Philadelphia, who founded more than 200 Catholic schools in the Archdiocese.

Neumann Scholars are academically talented eighth-grade students in Archdiocesan parochial schools who achieve this honor through a process that involves essay writing and a rigorous standardized test. This year, 459 qualified students sat for the test, representing 112 Catholic elementary schools in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Just 40 of these students, from 30 of the schools, were named Neumann Scholars.

Sixty-five percent of SSPJ's eighth- grade class was eligible to sit for the test, and Colin and Raphael-Joshua were among eight recipients in Chester County. Colin and Raphael-Joshua were recognized during an announcement made via Zoom by The Connelly Foundation and attended by Archbishop Nelson Perez on Dec. 4, 2020. Colin and Raphael-Joshua both plan to attend Bishop Shanahan High School in the fall.

SSPJ educates children from age 3 through eighth grade. Its students consistently achieve scores in the top 20th percentile on the Terra Nova standardized test, which tests achievement in multiple disciplines. The school's curriculum includes honors math in grades five through eight, as well as an advanced math program for the fourth grade. There is a comprehensive and integrated STREAM (science, technology, religion, engineering, art and math) curriculum throughout all grades as well as fully equipped science and STREAM labs.

The curriculum is enriched with weekly classes in technology, music, art, Spanish and physical education for all grades. More information about Saints Philip and James School can be found at http://www.school.sspj.net.