Saint Mary’s School (NC)

Raleigh

North Carolina

United States

Overview

What sets Saint Mary's School apart from other schools? Our parents say it’s our small class sizes and extraordinary college admission services from two full-time college counselors. Our students say it’s the sense of community, the Honor Code, “space to be yourself,” and exciting, real-world experiences. However, two identity markers also make Saint Mary’s School a distinct option for high school: we are all-girls and we are a boarding school, as well as a day school. “Growing up girl” is harder than ever, and Saint Mary’s is intentional in its efforts in helping girls grow up healthy. In an all-girl environment, Saint Mary’s students enjoy not just equal opportunity, but every opportunity, and learning takes center stage without social distractions. Here girls are supported by a culture, climate, and community that together generate high levels of personal and academic self-confidence and a can-do attitude. It’s a place where it’s cool to work hard and be a good student. As a boarding school, Saint Mary’s provides a 24-hour learning environment focused on education supported by heightened interaction between students and their teachers who see their work as a calling, not a job. Day students at Saint Mary’s have unique advantages not found at other day schools with extraordinary access to the school’s facilities, programs and people—days and nights, weekdays and weekends. Of course, Saint Mary’s is more than college preparatory, independent, all-girls, day and boarding school. It is an honor code school; an Episcopal school; a tablet computer school; and a historic school with fun traditions. As one alumna aptly describes it: “Saint Mary’s is a fabulously modern take on a very traditional concept.”

Academics

Summary: Saint Mary’s School, a community dedicated to academic excellence and personal achievement, prepares young women for college and life. To accomplish our mission, Saint Mary’s School challenges each young woman to embrace the habits of an intellectual life, engages her with the past and the emerging future, and empowers her to serve and shape her world; fosters in each young woman a spirit of connection to others, guides her in developing her spiritual and ethical integrity, and prepares her to take responsibility for herself and her future.

Department Director Patricia Sasser, Ph.D.

Student/Teacher Ratio: 8:1

Average Class Size: 13

Summer Programs: Offered

Full Time Teachers: 36

Number of AP Courses Offered: 20

Teachers Holding Advanced Degrees: 80%

Number of IB Courses Offered: 0

Learning Support

Evening Study Assistance
Study Skills Assistance
Subject Tutoring
Technology Center
Writing Center
ADD/ADHD Support

English

Classics
Creative Writing
Honors
Literature
Poetry
AP English Language
AP English Literature

History

Asian History
Classical History
European History
Honors
Medieval History
United States History
World History

Foreign Languages

French
Latin
Spanish

Religion / Philosophy

Ethics
World Religions

Humanities / Social Sciences

Economics
Psychology

Sciences

Anatomy
Astronomy
Biology
Biotechnology
Chemistry
Ecology
Environmental Science
Physics
Biochemistry
Computer Science

Math

Computer Studies

Computer Applications
Computer Programming
Computer Science

Music

Choral Music
Individual Instructions
Music Appreciation
Voice

Performing / Visual Arts

Acting
Art History
Ballet
Choreography
Dance
Debate
Design
Drama
Drawing
Film and Video
Graphic Design
Journalism
Painting
Photography
Portfolio
Publications
Public Speaking
Stagecraft
Studio Art
Theater Arts
Modern Dance

Special Programs

Study Abroad
Community Service
Exchange Programs
Personal Finance
Independent Study
Internships
Leadership
Outdoor Education
Robotics
Digital Design

Distinctive or New Programs

Advisory Program: The Saint Mary’s School advisory program is a personalized, academic advising program designed to guide students as they navigate their high school experience. Seminar Program: The Saint Mary’s School seminar program integrates what we know girls need, with what we know of the changing world girls will be facing, to provide relevant, forward-looking, real-world opportunities to prepare girls for college and life.

Campus Life

Dorm Life

Number of Dorms: 3

Average Students Per Dorm: 40

Number of Girls Dorms: 3

Number of Boys Dorms: 0

Dorm Amenities

Game Room
Laundry Facilities
Lounge
Wireless Internet

Other Dorm Amenities

Student Life

Saint Mary’s knows you want more than just a classroom experience. That's why our Academic and Student Life teams work together to make sure your Saint Mary’s experience doesn’t end with your last class of the day. You will find the possibilities are endless for you to explore your interests and discover who you are and who you want to become. Leadership education is integrated into all activities across campus. You will be challenged to ask questions and examine the “why” of things as you are empowered to speak up and speak out. You will enjoy the freedom to be you – the REAL you, as you develop a personal sense of accountability and respect for yourself and others. And you will utilize the resources found in our urban Raleigh location, to contemplate how your actions impact our school, our wider community, and even our world. Whether joining a club, running for student government, dancing the night away at Winter Formal, traveling to a mixer off campus, or working in the school’s community garden, you will be an important part of our vibrant living and learning community. And no matter what you choose to do, you can be sure your classmates and the network of dedicated adults will be there to encourage and celebrate you every step of the way.

Facilities

Fitness Center
Indoor Basketball Court
Indoor Pool
Technology Center
Volleyball Court
Soccer Field
Tennis Courts
Dance Studio
Weight Room
Athletic Fields
Lacrosse Field

Other Facilities

Tennis Courts
Athletic Playing Fields (2)

Clubs & Organizations

Amnesty International
Chess Club
Classics Club
Community Service
Debate Club
Diversity Club
Dorm Proctors
Drama Club
Environmental Club
Food Council
Foreign Language Clubs
Future Business Leaders of America
Gardening Club
Honor Council
International Club
Literary Magazine
Math Club
Model UN
National Honor Society
Newspaper
Peer Counseling
Photography Club
Quiz Bowl
SADD
Science Bowl
Sexualities Club
Student Activities
Student Government
Student Publications
Yearbook
Young Democrats
Young Republicans
Robotics
Anime Club
Poetry Club

Arts & Athletics

Summary: The Saint Mary’s School community enjoys a vibrant 24/7 campus, alive with after-school activities, athletics, community service projects, visual arts, weekend outings, and performance opportunities.

Arts Department Director: Jennifer Moran

Athletics Department Director: Robert Weltz

Arts

Acting
Art History
Ballet
Choreography
Dance
Debate
Design
Drama
Drawing
Film and Video
Graphic Design
Journalism
Painting
Photography
Portfolio
Publications
Public Speaking
Stagecraft
Studio Art
Theater Arts
Modern Dance

Interscholastic Sports

Basketball
Cross Country Running
Dance
Field Hockey
Golf
Lacrosse
Soccer
Softball
Swimming
Tennis
Track and Field
Volleyball

Recreational Sports

Yoga
Fitness
Robotics

Graduates

College Information

Percentage of graduates who attend college: 100%

Middle Percentile of SAT Scores	Reading	Math	Writing
25th percentile
75th percentile

College attended in the past 5 years by our graduates:

University of North Carolina at Wilmington:

Vanderbilt University:

Wofford College:

University of North Carolina at Asheville:

University of North Carolina at Charlotte:

University of California - Santa Cruz:

University of California - Los Angeles:

University of California - San Diego:

University of California - Davis:

University of California - Irvine:

Pennsylvania State University:

Princeton University:

University of California - Berkeley:

Tulane University:

King's College London:

North Carolina A&T State University:

College of William and Mary:

University of Richmond:

Wellesley College:

Wake Forest University:

University of St. Andrews (Scotland):

University of Michigan:

Virginia Commonwealth University:

Bryn Mawr College:

Carnegie Mellon University:

George Washington University:

University of South Carolina:

Sewanee: The University of the South:

Furman University:

Washington and Lee University:

North Carolina State University:

Tufts University:

Emory University:

New York University:

Howard University:

Boston College:

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill:

Notable Alumni

Betty Ray McCain ’50C

Class of 1950

Former North Carolina secretary of cultural resources and first female chair of the North Carolina Democratic Party

Marie Watters Colton ’41C

Class of 1941

First female speaker pro-tempore of the North Carolina General Assembly and international diplomat

Margaret Highsmith Dickson ’67HS

Class of 1967

A North Carolina state senator.

Margaret Rowell Good ’94HS

Class of 1994

Florida State House of Representatives.

Mary Dana Hinton ’88HS

Class of 1988

President of Hollins University and former president of the College of Saint Benedict, both women's colleges.

Eleanor Wilson McAdoo

Class of 1908

Daughter of President Woodrow Wilson, author, and head of the Red Cross in Washington, D.C.

Caro Bayley Bosca ’41C

Class of 1941

World War II WASP aviator and world record-holding champion pilot.

Margaret Jones Cruikshank

Class of 1896

First female president of Saint Mary's.

Nell Battle Lewis

Class of 1918

Author, journalist, attorney, suffragist, first female columnist for The News & Observer; and woman’s rights advocate.

Quotes From Alumni

““One of the greatest opportunities and one of the most critical decisions I made in my life was going to Saint Mary’s, because that decision, that opportunity put me on the path to where I am today.””

-, Class of 2002, Attorney-At-Law

“"Having this healthy, safe place for girls to learn about who they are, and learn about what it means to be a woman who has passions, as well as having adults get behind you on those things, is so important! It's so often not something that girls get," Carrie says.”

-, Class of 2012, Business Owner, Photographer

““It was the BEST education I could have hoped for,” she explains. “I credit a lot of my success to Saint Mary’s because I was taught how to approach my point of view thoughtfully, independently and confidently. I lived alongside peers and our mentors – those faculty and staff who lived on campus with us. I was also fully engaged on campus through a balance of after class activities and the rigor of the academic program.””

-, Class of 2003, Creative Strategist

“Array”

-, Class of 2001, Director of Admission and Engagement

“"The resources offered are incredible at Saint Mary’s, and I hope students embrace the fantastic opportunities they have to make a difference in the world, while also being mindful of how uncommon this experience is.””

-, Class of 2006, Associate Director, Center for Sustainable Business Joseph M. Katz Graduate School, University of Pittsburgh

““Saint Mary’s stayed with me. I forged great friendships, and I still keep in touch with those women. The professors who influenced me, challenged me in ways I appreciate to this day.””

-, Class of 1991, District 2 Commander City of Durham

“"Saint Mary’s helped me feel more confident in the classroom because of its single-sex environment and small class sizes. Now as an educator myself, I can provide that same comfortable space for girls to build their own confidence."”

-, Class of 2012, Kindergarten Teacher, The Hewitt School

““Saint Mary’s stayed with me. I forged great friendships, and I still keep in touch with those women. The professors who influenced me, challenged me in ways I appreciate to this day.””

-April Browne ’88HS ’91C, Class of 1991, District 2 Commander City of Durham

-Meredith Miller ’12, Class of 2012, Kindergarten Teacher, The Hewitt School

-Liza Fleury Rabinowitz ’03, Class of 2003, Creative Strategist

““I am so impressed with the girls who graduate from Saint Mary's today. I know it’s because of Saint Mary’s that they have the confidence to go out and get what they want, and they leave here with the ability to advocate for themselves and others; they have the confidence to share their voice; they know they have a network of Saint Mary’s women who support them in all they take on; and they leave us feeling prepared for what lies ahead in college, career, making friends, serving their communities, and much more.””

-Emily Smith ’01, Class of 2001, Director of Admission and Engagement

-Dr. Leslie R. Marshall ’06, Class of 2006, Associate Director, Center for Sustainable Business Joseph M. Katz Graduate School, University of Pittsburgh

-Tiffanie Agee ’02, Class of 2002, Attorney-At-Law

-Carrie Coleman ’12, Class of 2012, Business Owner, Photographer

Summer Programs

Summary: With everything from drama to tennis; from biology explorers to ballet and more; there's something for everyone this summer at Saint Mary's. Our goal is to make the summer a fun and enriching experience for children of all ages. Campers will grow in self-confidence and knowledge in an environment specifically designed for their age group. They'll meet other campers with similar interests and building lifelong friendships. Enjoy our historic, 23-acre, gated campus conveniently located in the heart of downtown Raleigh. Choose from over 30 half-day, full-day, and residential programs for children in rising-kindergarten to 12th grade.

Department Director: Allison Leggett

2022 Day Camps, Week 1-5

Director: Allison Leggett

Application Deadline:

Start Date: 2022-06-20

End Date: 2022-07-29

Tuition From:

Tuition To:

Website: https://www.sms.edu/our-programs/summer-saint-marys

Boarding:

Financial Aid Available: No

2022 Residential Camps

Description: * Miss Nancy’s Manners Camp (Enrichment) | Week 2 (June 26-30) Sun - Thurs | RESIDENTIAL | Grades 4-8 | $1,095 Miss Nancy always said, “True etiquette stems from a caring heart for all people. To include all, to welcome all, to love all is more important than how to fold napkins.” Honoring the lessons that were taught by Mrs. Nancy Rascoe for more than 25 years, Saint Mary's is hosting Miss Nancy's Manners Camps for young ladies at Saint Mary's School. Each day the girls will participate in tennis, swimming, canoeing and outdoor play, sprinkled with etiquette lessons, note writing skills, public speaking, flower arranging and a few new lessons on managing social media. Daily competition is a must, with sportsmanship as the goal. Miss Nancy said, “manners have to come from the heart, and the inward manners must match the outward manners.” The girls will learn Bible verses and quotes that relate to kindness and unselfishness as well as the basics of manners. They learn how to set and clear a table, serve one another, and dine formally. They will complete the week with a Graduation Tea for parents and grandparents, hosted and prepared by the girls. Girls will live in the dorms and have meals prepared for them each day in the Theo Coonrod, Head of School home on the beautiful 23-acre gated campus of Saint Mary’s School in downtown Raleigh. Items needed for camp will be sent upon registration. All meals and some snacks will be provided throughout the week.

Director: Allison Leggett

Application Deadline:

Start Date: 2022-06-26

End Date: 2022-06-30

Tuition From:

Tuition To:

Website: https://www.sms.edu/our-programs/summer-saint-marys

Boarding:

Financial Aid Available: No

Merit

Merit Scholarships: Offered

Students Receiving Merit Scholarships: 12%

Average Merit Scholarship: 12,019

Current Endowment Amount: $34,145

Interested in Saint Mary's School (NC)?

Vital Information

Student Body Type: All Girls

Total Boarding: 125

Total Day: 170

Total Enrollment: 295

Boys: 0

Girls: 295

Boarding Grades Offered: 9-12

Day Grades Offered: 9-12

School Type: High School

Dress Code: Casual

Applications Accepted: SAO

Application Deadline: Rolling

Tuition & Financial Aid

7-Day Boarding: $62,850

5-Day Boarding: N/A

Day Tuition Fee: $31,600

Need-Based Aid: Offered

Payment Plans: Offered

Students Receiving Aid: 34%

Average Awarded: $33,810

School Finances