About Saint Mary's Catholic School
Accreditation
Saint Mary’s Catholic School is accredited through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and the Diocesan Department of Education of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston, South Carolina.
In 2009, Saint Mary’s Catholic School was recognized as a Blue Ribbon School of Excellence by the United States Department of Education. This school recognition is awarded to elementary schools that distinguish themselves as among the nation’s most successful institutions of learning. The school chosen are judged to have strong leadership, high-quality teaching, and appropriate and up-to-date curriculum and policies, as well as practices which ensure a safe environment conducive to learning, strong parental interest and involvement, and evidence that the school helps students of varied ability levels achieve.
Curriculum
Saint Mary’s Catholic School provides a well-rounded, challenging academic curriculum providing a firm foundation in Reading, Mathematics, Religion, Language Arts, Geography, History, and Science. A variety of enrichment courses, including Foreign Languages, Music, Physical Education, Computers and Art are offered on all levels. In addition, qualified eighth-grade students may take a full-year, high school-level course in Honors Algebra 1, Honors English and Honors Spanish 1 or Honors French 1. No Special Education or Alternative Education Programs are offered. For all grades, the hours of the school day are from 8:10 AM to 3:00 PM.
Religious Affiliation
The school is under the guidance of the Dominican Sisters of Saint Cecilia Congregation of Nashville, Tennessee. Over the past 145 years, the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia have given the fruit of their contemplation in the apostolate of Catholic education. The Congregation is presently in over 30 schools across twelve states.
Test Scores
Students participate in the Diocesan Standardized Testing Program (the Iowa Test of Basic Skills). The composite score of the student body is consistently above the national averages.
Faculty and Staff
4 Dominican sisters; 15 full-time professionals; 6 part-time professionals; 7 para-professionals. All faculty members are state certified and/or endorsed. Over 50% of the faculty hold Masters degrees or higher. K4 thru 2nd grade have full-time assistants. A full-time nurse is also on duty.
Student/Teacher Ratio
The average student/teacher ratio is 20 students per teacher. The average class size is 30 students.
Religious Education
All classes have daily instruction in Roman Catholicism, Virtue Education, and Gospel values. Students attend regular liturgical services, including a weekly student Mass.
Technology Instruction
Saint Mary’s Catholic School has a strong commitment to the integration of technology with in the curriculum. The school has a computer lab for weekly instruction in an all Apple environment. All classrooms are equipped with computers. The Middle School enjoys wireless technology, enhanced with SmartBoards. Third Graders master basic math facts with the help of an electronic FlashMaster; Fourth Graders use a personal electonic dictionary; Middle School students are issued iPads which are used daily during classroom instruction, and are taken with them when they graduate St. Mary’s.
Library
The school has en excellent lending and reference library with over 8,000 volumes, iMac computers and a full-time librarian.
Extracurricular activities
Students are encouraged to participate in school activities such as Student Council, Yearbook, Chorus, Rosary Club, Safety Patrol, Chess and Band and Special Service-Oriented Projects. Many of our students are active in Parish Scout Troops, Parish Middle School Youth Group, and the Greenville Church League Basketball Program as members of the Saint Mary’s Parish teams
Meals
Children bring their own lunch. Special lunches : baked potatoes, pasta, salad bar, and pizza are offered for purchase periodically during the month. Milk is available for purchase daily.
Transportation
Saint Mary’s Catholic School does not provide transportation. Many parents form car pools to share the responsibility of bring children to and from school.
Extended Day Care
After-school care is available to students of Saint Mary’s School from 3:15-6:00 pm every school day. There is a separate charge for the service.
There is no question that any success that my future may hold will be in some way attributable to my nine years at St. Mary’s.…
— Daniel