Saint Mary's School

Saint Mary's School in Raleigh, North Carolina, is an independent, Episcopal, college-preparatory, boarding and day school dedicated to academic excellence and personal achievement for girls in grades 9-12. Founded in 1842, the historic, residential 23-acre campus is within easy driving distance of world-renowned Research Triangle Park and the Raleigh-Durham International Airport. Saint Mary's School is the fourth oldest girls' boarding school in the United States.

Since our inception, Saint Mary's has been dedicated to the academic excellence and personal achievement of our students. We look at life academically, socially, and spiritually. Our integrated, hands-on academic program is demanding. Our leadership and life skills curriculum creates responsible citizens and community ambassadors. Outside the classroom, we offer dozens of sports, clubs, activities, and volunteer opportunities. In addition, our Episcopal tradition inspires students to grow as young women of integrity and honor.

Saint Mary's offers a comprehensive range of programming and opportunities to prepare our students to compete in college and in today's complex and fast-changing global world. Saint Mary's School offers 16 Advanced Placement courses and a full complement of honors courses, competition in 11 sports and on 16 teams, a comprehensive fine arts program, leadership education, advising, and co-curricular programs, a wireless campus and one-to-one convertible laptop program. Saint Mary's students are challenged to find their courage, explore their passions, and open their hearts and minds to new ideas as they prepare for independence and success in college and life.

More than thirty of the school's nationally recruited faculty and staff live on campus, and 83 percent of the faculty holds advanced degrees in their field. The student/faculty ratio is 8:1 and the average class size is 12.5 students. The school's 264 students represent 10 states and seven foreign countries.

Everything we do at Saint Mary’s is focused on the development of young women at one of the most critical stages of their lives. Saint Mary’s students find their voice, advocate for themselves, fail, succeed, engage in their learning, discover new friendships, compete, enhance their strengths, and follow their passion. Sound exciting? You bet it is!

For over 175 years, Saint Mary’s has been educating young women, providing them with an outstanding academic experience in an Episcopal community fortified by sound principles of honor, integrity, civility and fellowship. Of course, those 175 years provide an amazing array of traditions and sense of place. The academic advancement of each individual student is of utmost importance at Saint Mary’s, as is the development of character in each young woman at the school. Living in a supportive community of trust empowers girls to take risks, overcome challenges, develop confidence and establish deep friendships that last a lifetime.

Opportunity awaits our girls on every inch of our campus. Scholars, athletes, artists, actors, musicians, dancers, singers – everyone finds a home here because all their talents are needed to make the school come alive. And, many girls discover new talents and interests they never knew they had. Perhaps uncovering a hidden talent is the most rewarding experience for a young woman at Saint Mary’s. In addition, leadership opportunities abound as girls serve as student government leaders, prefects, judicial committee members, marshals, student ambassadors and captains. Situated in the heart of thriving downtown Raleigh, N.C., our girls have access to real-world experiences, internship opportunities and a rich cultural environment. Our graduates leave Saint Mary’s with a portfolio of experiences which will enable them to flourish in their next school environment, continue on a path of servant leadership, and take on any obstacles that may attempt to hinder their progress. 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

Core Values

• We value the transformational growth that takes place when teachers and students experience the joy of learning together. A collaborative academic culture nurtures intellectual courage, curiosity, and creativity.
• We value intellectual, physical, and spiritual wholeness. We inspire young women to discover their talents, pursue their passions, and achieve their personal best.
• We value honor and integrity as central to building character. Our individual and shared commitment to honor, embodied in the Honor Code, creates a foundation of trust and respect essential to an ethical and moral life.
• We value relationships that connect us to each other and to the larger world. We aspire to be a nurturing community that respects the dignity of every human being.
• We cherish and celebrate our heritage, one that is rich in tradition, Episcopal values, and opportunity for women. The best of our past forms the foundation for the best of our future.