College Prep, Redefined. From its founding in 1953, St. Johns Country Day School has always been a "college prep" school. But these days, nearly every secondary school prepares students for college, so what sets St. Johns apart? Many things, certainly, but above all it's our family atmosphere and future-facing curriculum that prepares students not just for college, but for life. We hear it again and again from our graduates-- when they got to college they not only "survived," they thrived. They had the skills they needed to excel in their coursework, understood self-leadership and motivation, and managed campus life with aplomb.