Saint Mary's School United States Flag

A 5.0 1 Reviews Recommended North Carolina, US

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Admission Office admission@sms.edu

School Overview

Data & methodology
Overall A
Matriculation A+
Academics A-
Extracurriculars B+
Geo & Community A
Reviews B+
Urban boarding experience All-girls Empowering young women leaders Rigorous, top tier academics Individualized college counseling Robust extracurricular offerings
At Saint Mary’s School, we challenge girls academically – to be BOLD, to be INSPIRED, to be PREPARED, and to become EXTRAORDINARY. What sets Saint Mary's School apart from other schools? Our parents say it’s the safety in an urban environment, the small classes, and extraordinary univeristy admission services. Our students say it’s the sense of community, the Honor Code, “space to be yourself,” the location (near cultural centers, concerts, shopping, and restaurants), and feeling accepted and empowered in their learning and social growth. 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. 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. Saint Mary's offers the AP Capstone diploma program, so that students can develop critical thinking, research, collaboration, and public speaking skills, culminating in a special designation.
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, for 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 an old school with a storied history and proud heritage. As one alumna aptly describes it, “Saint Mary’s is a fabulously modern take on a very traditional concept.”
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Saint Mary's School | Raleigh, NC - Ranking | Tuition & Admissions (2026) | FindingSchool
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School Stats

Average
Current school
Tuition
$66,500
Enrollment
315
International Students
9%
Faculty with Advanced Degrees
71%
Teacher-Student Ratio
1:8
Endowment
$45 million
AP
26
Average SAT Score
1300
Average ACT Score
28
Class Size
13
Boarding %
46

Matriculation


College Matriculation

(2025)
Ranking University/College Students
#2 Columbia University 1
LAC #3 Swarthmore College 1
#20 University of California: Los Angeles 1
#23 University of Michigan 1
#25 University of Virginia 1
#28 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 1
#28 Wake Forest University 1
#47 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 1
#49 Pepperdine University 1

Academics

AP Scores

(2024-2025)
Number of students who took AP tests
155
Number of tests taken
350
81%
Score 5
Score 4
Score 3
Other scores

AP Courses

(26)
Biology
Calculus AB
Calculus BC
Environmental Science
French Language and Culture
Psychology
Biology
Calculus AB
Calculus BC
Environmental Science
French Language and Culture
Psychology
Spanish Language and Culture
Statistics
Chemistry
English Language and Composition
English Literature and Composition
United States Government and Politics
United States History
Studio Art: Drawing
Comparative Government and Politics
Physics 1
Physics 2
World History
Studio Art: 2-D Design
Research
Seminar
Spanish Literature and Culture
Computer Science Principles
African American Studies
Art History
Music Theory
View all

AP Equivalent and Beyond

(18)
Chemistry
Calculus with Precalculus A
Calculus with Precalculus B
Personal Finance
US History 110
US History 111
Chemistry
Calculus with Precalculus A
Calculus with Precalculus B
Personal Finance
US History 110
US History 111
Psychology
French 201
French 202
Spanish 201
Spanish 202
Topics in Acting
Dance Appreciation
Beginning Jazz Dance
Introduction to College English 101
Introduction to College English 102
Introduction to Communication and Public Relations
Speak Up! The Art of Public Speaking
View all

Sports

(15)
Basketball
Cross Country
Field Hockey
Golf
Lacrosse
Soccer
Basketball
Cross Country
Field Hockey
Golf
Lacrosse
Soccer
Softball
Swimming
Tennis
Track and Field
Volleyball
Cheerleading
Equestrain
Flag Football
Rowing
View all

Extracurricular Activities and Clubs

(36)
Admission Ambassadors
National Honor Society
Spanish Club
Young Democrats
Beacon - Senior Honorary Leadership Club
Echo - Senior Washtub Singing Group
Admission Ambassadors
National Honor Society
Spanish Club
Young Democrats
Beacon - Senior Honorary Leadership Club
Echo - Senior Washtub Singing Group
Film Club
Food Council
Judicial Board
Junior Classical League (Latin Club)
Ladies in Blue - a cappella group
Science Olympiad
Student Government Association
Technology Prefects
The Muse - Literary Magazine
The Stagecoach - Yearbook
Vestry
Young Republicans
Asian Student Union
Baking Club
Bookmarks Club
FOCUS
Grammar Club
HOSA (Future Medical Professionals)
Learn and Teach English Club
Letters for the Better
LGBTQIA+ Club
Model UN
Prefects
Self Defense and Wellness Club
Stocks and Finance Club
SMS Historical Society
Supersonic Dance Club
Sustainable Saints (Sustainability Club)
Women in Stem
and Youth and Government Club
View all

Arts

(20)
Chamber Choir
Dance
Music
Theater
Graphic Design
Art
Chamber Choir
Dance
Music
Theater
Graphic Design
Art
Tech Theater
Choir
Orchestra
Digital Photography
Drawing
Film Production
Portfolio
2D Art
Art Survey
View all

Contact Saint Mary's School


Admissions Officer
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School Link

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Saint Mary's School is a member of SAO (The Standard Application Online) platform. Click the button below to apply.

Basic Info

All-girls
Boarding Grades: 9-12
Urban
IB: No
ESL: No
Year Founded: 1842
Campus Size: 23 acres
Boarding Rate: 46%
Acceptance Rate: 56%
Religious Affiliation: Episcopal

Application Info

Deadline: Rolling
Interview: Zoom, On Campus, International Admission Visits
Pre Interview: No Requirement
Other Accepted Scores: Duolingo and TOEFL
School Code:
TOEFL: 5600
SSAT: 6790

Review(s)

5.0 wreath Overall Rating

FindingSchool Anonymous User
Anonymous User (Student) 05/01/2025
5 / 5
As an international student from China, studying at Saint Mary's School has been such a unique and meaningful experience for me. It's a small private all-girls high school in North Carolina, and honestly, I didn’t know what to expect at first. But after being here for a while, I can say it's been a mix of challenges and growth (in a good way!).
One thing I really like is how supportive the teachers are. Since English isn't my first language, I was really nervous about speaking up in class. But the teachers are super patient and always willing to help. It’s not one of those super competitive environments either — people are nice, and you can really focus on improving yourself without feeling too much pressure.
Of course, there are still things I had to adjust to, like the food (I miss Chinese food so much!!!), and being far away from home. But overall, Saint Mary's helped me become more confident and independent, and I’ve made some really close friends here.
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Reviews from other languages

A FindingSchool User 05/14/2026
5 / 5
5
5
5

Frequently Ask Questions about Saint Mary's School

Tell me a bit about Saint Mary's School.
Saint Mary's School is All-girls private boarding school located in North Carolina, US. It was founded 1842 , and currently has about 315 students, 9.00% of whom are international students.

For more official information, please visit http://www.sms.edu.
Does Saint Mary's School have rigorous academic requirements?
Saint Mary's School is offering 26 AP courses.

Saint Mary's School also have 71% of faculties whose degrees are master and above.
Where do Saint Mary's School students typically go for their colleges?
Based on the most recent matriculation data, 28.24% go to top 50 US universities and colleges*, 3.53% go to top 25, and about 2.35% go to Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Stanford and MIT.

*Ranking is based on the 2024 US News College Ranking.
What is the application requirement for Saint Mary's School?
Similar to most private schools in the US, Saint Mary's School’s typical admission requirements include school transcript, recommendation letter, application essay, and interview (often optional, but highly recommended).
What is the Boarding Tuition for Saint Mary's School?
The total fee for Saint Mary's School in 2024 is $66,500 which typically includes tuition, boarding fee, student management fee and a few other fees associated with managing international students.

For more information, please contact school’s admission team at admission@sms.edu .
Where is Saint Mary's School located?
Saint Mary's School is located in the State of North Carolina of USA. The closest major city is Raleigh, which is about 1 miles away from school. Most families can choose Raleigh-Durham International Airport to travel in and out of school.
How popular is Saint Mary's School on the FindingSchool network?
Based on FindingSchool monthly traffic data as well as onsite search record, Saint Mary's School is among the most popular schools, within top 159 for all schools on FindingSchool.

Also Saint Mary's School has been favorited by 159 users.
How do I complete an application for Saint Mary's School?
The first stop is to carefully review the school profile on FindingSchool to learn more about Saint Mary's School. Most of them are directly provided by the school.

Also it is highly recommended to visit Saint Mary's School’s official site: http://www.sms.edu or call them at 919-424-4100.
Are there additional schools that are located close to Saint Mary's School?
The closest major city is Raleigh. You can find out more schools near Raleigh here.
What is the FindingSchool rating for Saint Mary's School?
The overall rating for Saint Mary's School is A.

The section ratings of Saint Mary's School are:
A+ for Matriculation
A- for Academics
B+ for Extracurriculum
A for Community
B+ for Students and Parents reviews

Nearby City

Raleigh, the capital of North Carolina, is renowned for its prestigious universities, including North Carolina State University. Together with Chapel Hill and Durham, it forms the Research Triangle, a hub for technology and academic research. The city is home to historic landmarks like the North Carolina State Capitol, a Greek Revival-style building from the 19th century, featuring a statue of George Washington dressed as a Roman general in its rotunda. Raleigh’s blend of educational institutions, cultural attractions, and vibrant tech industry makes it a dynamic and growing city.

Population (2022) 392,552
Cost of Living Lower than average 4%

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