At a Glance
A Small Catholic Elementary School in One of NYC's Most Diverse Neighborhoods
Families seeking a small, faith-based elementary education in a genuinely diverse community. This school is a strong fit for parents who want Catholic values woven into their child's daily school experience, who appreciate the intimacy of a sub-250-student school, and who live in or are willing to commute to the Rockaway Beach area.
- Tiny enrollment of 227 students creates a close-knit, family-like atmosphere
- Catholic identity with daily prayer, religious instruction, and service learning
- Very high diversity — children learn in a genuinely multicultural environment
- 17.5:1 student-teacher ratio means more individual attention
- Serves pre-K through 5th grade in one cohesive elementary experience
- Religious affiliation is central to the school's identity — families should be comfortable with Catholic values and instruction
- As an elementary-only school, families will need to navigate middle school selection after 5th grade
- No tuition or financial aid data provided — cost is an important factor to investigate directly
- The Rockaway Beach location, while charming, is geographically distant from many other parts of Queens and NYC
A Roman Catholic elementary academy operated by the Diocese, St. Rose of Lima integrates faith, academic rigor, and community service into daily school life. With a student-teacher ratio of 17.5 to 1, the school offers a personal, intimate educational experience rooted in Catholic tradition.
The student body at St. Rose of Lima is notably diverse, with a diversity index of 0.92 — among the highest in the city. No single racial or ethnic group forms a majority: White students comprise 33.5%, Hispanic 26.4%, Black 21.6%, multiracial 11.5%, and Asian 7%. This means children grow up learning alongside peers from many backgrounds — a real strength in today's interconnected world.
St. Rose of Lima is located in Rockaway Beach-Arverne-Edgemere, a laid-back coastal neighborhood in Queens known for its beach access, boardwalk, and tight-knit residential blocks. The area has seen gradual renewal in recent years while maintaining its community feel. It's a neighborhood where summer weekends revolve around the beach, and families appreciate the relative quiet compared to more urban parts of the city.
The school sits near Beach 84 Street in a residential area near the Rockaway boardwalk. Families in the immediate neighborhood can walk to school, though many families in this area rely on cars or public transportation.
Notable Programs
What Parents Are Saying
Mixed reviews - Niche rating 2.67/5 with complaints about unsafe environment, poor academics, limited facilities and extracurriculars; positive feedback on moral education and teaching life lessons
Synthesized from public parent reviews · Apr 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is ST ROSE OF LIMA CATHOLIC ACADEMY a good school?
- Published quality ratings aren't available for ST ROSE OF LIMA CATHOLIC ACADEMY yet on Motley. It's a private school serving grades Pre-K to 5 in Rockaway Beach-Arverne-Edgemere.
- What grades does ST ROSE OF LIMA CATHOLIC ACADEMY serve?
- ST ROSE OF LIMA CATHOLIC ACADEMY serves grades Pre-K to 5.
- How do students get into ST ROSE OF LIMA CATHOLIC ACADEMY?
- ST ROSE OF LIMA CATHOLIC ACADEMY runs its own private admissions process — typically an application, a visit, and sometimes testing.
- Is ST ROSE OF LIMA CATHOLIC ACADEMY public, charter, or private?
- ST ROSE OF LIMA CATHOLIC ACADEMY is a private school.
- What neighborhood is ST ROSE OF LIMA CATHOLIC ACADEMY in?
- ST ROSE OF LIMA CATHOLIC ACADEMY is in Rockaway Beach-Arverne-Edgemere, Queens.
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