In 1976 the Saint James School, along with the Montgomery Academy, was named in a suit filed against United States Secretary of the Treasury William Simon and Commissioner of Internal Revenue Donald C. Alexander by five black women from Montgomery charging that the two men had encouraged the development of segregated schools by allowing them tax-deductible status.

In 1991, a modern new high school building was constructed on the Vaughn Road campus, and after a devastating tornado destroyed the school's elementary site on Vaughn Road (in the early morning hours on March 6, 1996), more construction was soon underway.

[6] Saint James School admits students of any race, religion, color, gender, creed, and national and ethnic origin.

The school's athletic teams include baseball, fast pitch softball, basketball, cheerleading, dance, cross country, football, golf, soccer, tennis, track and field, volleyball, equestrian, and wrestling.

Many students have gone on to play either college or professional sports, including Davis Daniels and Mervyl “MJ” Melendez (Major League Baseball) and Collin Duncan and KJ Jackson (NCAA football).

[16] Varsity Girls Outdoor Track and Field won the 1A-3A state title in 2019.