St. John’s College Summer Academy

St. John’s College Summer Academy is a one-week, pre-college program for intellectually curious high school students who are eager for serious academic engagement. Rooted in St. John’s distinctive Great Books curriculum, the program invites students to explore some of the most influential texts written over the past 3,000 years through close reading, thoughtful questioning, and discussion-based seminars.

Classes are intentionally small and conducted in seminar-style settings led by St. John’s College faculty. Rather than lectures or exams, students are challenged to articulate their ideas, listen carefully to peers, and draw connections across disciplines. Sessions are interdisciplinary by design and appeal to students interested in literature, philosophy, history, politics, law, the arts, and the history of mathematics and science.

Students may attend the Summer Academy in a residential format on St. John’s historic campuses in Annapolis, Maryland, or Santa Fe, New Mexico, or participate in an online version of the program. Residential students live in St. John’s residence halls for the duration of the week, attend college-level classes led by faculty, and take part in extracurricular activities and excursions organized by student leaders. Online students participate in live, faculty-led seminars conducted over Zoom, allowing for meaningful discussion and engagement in a virtual setting.

Length & Eligibility

Each Summer Academy session lasts one week and is designed for motivated high school students ages 15 to 18 who are excited by discussion-based learning and rigorous intellectual inquiry.

2026 Session Offerings

Annapolis (Residential)

• A Week with Shakespeare | June 21, 2026 – June 26, 2026
• Sight and Insight | June 28 – July 3, 2026
• Equality and Inequality | July 5 – July 10, 2026

Santa Fe (Residential)

• Wisdom and Widerness | July 5, 2026 – July 10, 2026
• Courage and the Soul | July 12, 2026 – July 17, 2026
• Thinking about Paintings and Poetry | July 19, 2026 – July 24, 2026

Online

• Shakespeare’s Macbeth | June 15 – June 18
• Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice | June 15 – June 18
• Selections by James Baldwin | June 15 – June 18