Academic Rigor on a Christian Foundation

At St. Mary’s Episcopal School, we know that a strong moral, spiritual, and academic foundation for a child’s life is built in the first ten to twelve years. The small, multi-age classroom setting can be the most stable and nurturing environment for building that foundation.  In fact, St. Mary’s parents and faculty see the benefits every day:

• Our teachers develop a keen eye for each child’s needs and can be more flexible in their instructional approaches.
• Opportunities for student mentoring, leadership, and cross-age learning emerge daily.
• Fewer students means fewer classroom distractions and more time for learning.
• Accustomed to the consistent guidance of concerned, supportive Christian adults other than their parents, children open themselves more freely to new ideas and achievement.
• Students and their families receive personalized support from St. Mary’s faculty and staff.
• A constellation of specialists, parents, support staff, and volunteers surrounds each student, helping to prepare them for middle school and a lifetime of learning and success.

Assessment/Testing/Portfolios

Students are assessed both informally and formally on a regular basis by classroom teachers and other staff. Progress is formally reported several times during the year and a portfolio of student work is shared at conference times. Conferences are held in the fall and spring. Progress reports are issued in February and June.