St. Margaret’s School (VA)
Overview
St. Margaret's is a girls' Episcopal boarding and day school serving grades 8-PG on the Rappahannock River in Virginia. An innovative S.T.R.E.A.M college prep program integrates Science, Technology, River, Engineering, Arts, and Math in a remarkable educational experience. Five reasons girls belong at St. Margaret's School: College Preparedness: Challenge yourself with a collaborative STEAM curriculum and rigorous academics, including Advanced Placement and Dual Enrollment courses to start earning college credit. Our college counselor will help you to navigate the different colleges and degree fields to best prepare you for life after graduation from St. Margaret's. River Program: St. Margaret's offers a waterfront campus along the Rappahannock River. The river weaves through all aspects of school life, from the classroom to activities. So jump into a sailboat, take care of an oyster garden, conduct science labs from our beach, and explore our riverfront community. Episcopal Community: Grounded in Episcopal tenets, St. Margaret's School is for girls who want to be part of a welcoming and inclusive community where they can be their authentic self. Our girls live by the "Gospel of Doing" and these words from our school prayer: As we grow in age, may we grow in grace. Athletics: We encourage our students to challenge themselves and join the team. With many athletic opportunities to choose from - including crew, volleyball, and tennis - you'll be sure to find the team that's right for you. Visual and Performing Arts: Perform with the choir, direct a school play, set up an easel to paint on our River Lawn, or be inspired in our ceramics studio. St. Margaret's robust arts program offers you a variety of visual and performing arts opportunities that will encourage you to explore your creativity and express yourself.

Academics
Summary: St. Margaret's prepares girls for success in college and beyond by fostering lifelong intellectual curiosity and promoting strong learning skills. Because we all learn differently, students are encouraged to develop their strengths and build study skills through small classes and individual attention. At St. Margaret's, we tailor our curriculum to how a girl learns best, which makes her self-confident and results in superior academic performance. The academic structure is flexible across several disciplines and, for our international students, a robust three-tiered English to Speakers of Other Languages program strengthens fluency and confidence. All students are given the support and encouragement they need to work to their greatest potential in an appropriately challenging program of studies. We put a great emphasis on STEAM, which creates heightened career aspirations for many girls in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Our River Program helps girls learn about science in everyday life, emphasizing our natural environment, and offers many exploration and service-learning opportunities. And, our Visual and Performing Arts programs engage girls in creative learning and expression. St. Margaret's girls learn to become creative, independent thinkers. They find their passions here and reach their potential.
Department Director
Student/Teacher Ratio: 5:1
Average Class Size: 10
Summer Programs: Not Offered
Full Time Teachers:
Number of AP Courses Offered: 8
Teachers Holding Advanced Degrees: 0%
Number of IB Courses Offered: 0
Learning Support
- Evening Study Assistance
- Learning Center
- Learning Differences Support
- ADD/ADHD Support
English
- Literature
- AP English Language
- AP English Literature
- American Literature
History
- European History
- Medieval History
- United States History
- World History
Foreign Languages
Religion / Philosophy
- T
Humanities / Social Sciences
- Psychology
Sciences
- Anatomy
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Environmental Science
- Engineering
Math
- Algebra
- Calculus
- Geometry
- Probability
- Statistics
- Pre-Calculus
- Pre-Algebra
Computer Studies
- Computer Applications
- Computer Science
- Robotics
- Digital Media
Music
- Choral Music
- Music History
- Voice
Performing / Visual Arts
- Art History
- Drama
- Graphic Design
- 3-D Art
Special Programs
- Community Service
- Exchange Programs
- Leadership
- Outdoor Education
- Physical Education
- Student Council
Distinctive or New Programs
- S
Campus Life
Dorm Life
Number of Dorms: 3
Average Students Per Dorm: 30
Number of Girls Dorms: 3
Number of Boys Dorms: 0
Dorm Amenities
- Laundry Facilities
- Lounge
- Vending Machines
- Wireless Internet
- Full Kitchen
- Refrigerator
Other Dorm Amenities
Fitness Room
Student Life
Believe great things lie ahead for you at St. Margaret's. While academics and studying are a priority, life outside the classroom is active and fun. You become part of a sisterhood of friends from around the world who learn, live, and play together, building strong bonds and creating cherished memories. We share values, based on our Honor Code, respect and trust one another to maintain a high level of personal integrity reflected in our Be Statements. Our student leaders ensure St. Margaret's is a place where the voices of our community are heard and valued. Life on the river is good year-round. Our arts programs give girls opportunities to express their creativity. And, student-athletes thrive here. We have fun together in residential life and co-curricular activities. We go on outdoor adventures, boating, fishing, water skiing, tubing, canoeing, paddle boarding, sailing, swimming, camping, and just relaxing with friends on the dock and beach. We have many clubs for girls with diverse interests, and afternoon activities that help us stay healthy and fit. Our social calendars are filled with shopping, eating out, attending socials with other schools, cultural events, plus rooting for our Scotties at home and away games. There is time for you to pay attention to your personal well-being, and time for you to try new things.
Facilities
- Basketball Court
- Pool
- Soccer Field
- Athletic Fields
- Equestrian Facilities
- Rowing Facility
Other Facilities
- River Program with Crew, Sailing, Kayaks, Paddle Board, Canoes, Boating, and other opportunities.
Clubs & Organizations
- Community Service
- Dorm Proctors
- Honor Council
- Literary Magazine
- National Honor Society
- Photography Club
- Student Government
- Yearbook
- Recycling Club
Arts & Athletics
Summary: Athletics at St. Margaret's St. Margaret's believes that a solid athletic experience is essential to its overarching program in keeping with the traditional independent, college-preparatory school philosophy. The interscholastic athletic program at St. Margaret's strives to develop each student physically, emotionally, socially, morally, and creatively. We believe that participation in interscholastic athletics is an integral part of our student's development and provides a wholesome physical outlet to complement a rigorous academic program. Participation in a team promotes teamwork, personal resolve, character, maturation, and preparation for a life of personal commitment. It is expected that every St. Margaret's student has an opportunity to become involved in the athletic program as a player, manager, statistician, or student athletic assistant. It is all part of self-reliance, commitment, and leadership. Arts at St. Margaret's Our Arts programs nurture and develop highly creative artistic personalities who are educated and skilled in the visual and performing arts. Music, voice, drama, dance, drawing, painting, photography, mixed media, ceramics, and more are all artistic forms of expression you may pursue at St. Margaret's through our curriculum and student clubs. In-class instruction and mentoring, individual instruction, and after-school activities offer many ways for students to creatively express themselves, try new things, and discover their interests. In addition, our student artists enrich the surrounding community by participating in art-themed service projects, performances, and local contests.
Arts Department Director:
Athletics Department Director: Cornelius Snead
Arts
- Art History
- Drama
- Graphic Design
- 3-D Art
Interscholastic Sports
- Basketball
- Crew
- Field Hockey
- Lacrosse
- Soccer
- Softball
- Swimming
- Volleyball
Recreational Sports
- E
Graduates
Summary: St. Margaret's School has offered a college preparatory education for over 100 years on the banks of Virginia's Rappahannock River. Our Office of College Counseling helps navigate students and their families through the process of choosing a college that will be the best fit and align with a student's interests and career aspirations. At St. Margaret's, this highly individualized process officially begins during a student's sophomore year then becomes more focused during their junior year with opportunities to visit colleges and meet with admission representatives. We connect students with the SAT, ACT, and PSAT, as well as preparation courses. We also offer a variety of Advanced Placement and Dual Enrollment courses through our partnership with Rappahannock Community College, so our students have the opportunity to start earning college credits while attending St. Margaret's. Individual meetings with the Dean of College Counseling continue to take place into a student's senior year as we guide them through the college application process, navigate scholarship opportunities, and support them through their enrollment.
College Information
Percentage of graduates who attend college: 100.0%
Middle Percentile of SAT Scores | Reading | Math | Writing |
---|---|---|---|
25th percentile | 480 | 490 | |
75th percentile | 620 | 660 |
College attended in the past 5 years by our graduates:
Merit
Merit Scholarships: Offered
Students Receiving Merit Scholarships: %
Average Merit Scholarship: 0
Current Endowment Amount: $0
Vital Information
Student Body Type: All Girls
Total Boarding: 50
Total Day: 20
Total Enrollment: 70
Boys: 0
Girls: 70
Boarding Grades Offered: 8-12
Day Grades Offered: 8-12
School Type: Middle, High School, Post-grad
Dress Code: Uniform
Applications Accepted: SAO, Gateway to Prep
Application Deadline: Rolling
Tuition & Financial Aid
7-Day Boarding: $57,500
5-Day Boarding: $46,150
Day Tuition Fee: $21,000
Need-Based Aid: Offered
Payment Plans: Offered
Students Receiving Aid: %
Average Awarded: $0
School Finances
Merit Scholarships: Offered
Students Receiving Merit Scholarships: %
Average Merit Scholarship: $0
Current Endowment Amount: $0
Contact
Director of Admissions: Edwina Bell
Admissions Phone: 804.443.3357
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.sms.org
Nearby Schools
- Christchurch School - 28mi / 44 km
- Episcopal High School - 63mi / 102 km
- Woodberry Forest School - 73mi / 118 km
- Fork Union Military Academy - 78mi / 125 km
- Georgetown Preparatory School - 78mi / 125 km
- Sandy Spring Friends School - 84mi / 135 km








