St. Margaret’s School (VA)

Tappahannock

Virginia

United States

Overview

St. Margaret's is a boarding and day school for girls grades 8 - 12 and a postgraduate program. Live and learn on the banks of Virginia's Rappahannock River. Learn why you belong here: www.sms.org. St. Margaret's School has been a place for girls to learn, grow, and thrive for 100 years. We believe in the power of all girls, value your uniqueness and respect your views. Each girl is given the individual support she needs to excel in the classroom and in all aspects of life. Girls gain strong academic skills here, develop leadership ability, and build character to prepare them to be successful on whatever path they take. Grounded in Episcopal values, we provide a welcoming, inclusive experience for girls from across the country and around the world. At St. Margaret's, you will belong to a close community full of opportunities that promote competence and build confidence to help you overcome challenges, try new things, and become your personal best.

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: 6:1

Average Class Size: 10

Summer Programs: Not Offered

Full Time Teachers: 20

Number of AP Courses Offered: 12

Teachers Holding Advanced Degrees: 65%

Number of IB Courses Offered: 0

Learning Support

Evening Study Assistance
Learning Center
Learning Differences Support
Peer Tutoring
Study Skills Assistance
Subject Tutoring
Technology Center
Writing Center
ADD/ADHD Support

English

Classics
Creative Writing
Honors
Literature
Poetry
Composition
AP English Literature
American Literature

History

European History
Honors
Medieval History
United States History
World History
Art History

Foreign Languages

Latin
Spanish
English as a Second Language

Religion / Philosophy

Ethics
The Bible
World Religions

Humanities / Social Sciences

Anthropology
Psychology

Sciences

Anatomy
Astronomy
Biology
Chemistry
Earth Science
Ecology
Environmental Science
Health
Marine Biology
Physical Science
Physics
Robotics

Math

Algebra
Calculus
Geometry
Statistics
Trigonometry
Pre-Calculus
Pre-Algebra

Computer Studies

Computer Applications
Computer Science
Robotics

Music

Choral Music
Music History
Voice

Performing / Visual Arts

Acting
Art History
Ceramics
Debate
Design
Directing
Drama
Drawing
Fashion Design
Journalism
Painting
Photography
Publications
Studio Art
Textiles
Theater History

Special Programs

Study Abroad
Community Service
Exchange Programs
Independent Study
Internships
Leadership
Outdoor Education
Sailing
Robotics
Public Speaking
Digital Design

Campus Life

Dorm Life

Number of Dorms: 3

Average Students Per Dorm: 40

Number of Girls Dorms: 3

Number of Boys Dorms: 0

Dorm Amenities

Laundry Facilities
Lounge
Wireless Internet

Other Dorm Amenities

Kitchen

Student Life

St. Margaret’s supports students' overall well-being and helps them establish a balanced lifestyle that includes time for both work and fun. By participating in after-school activities, girls also develop skills that are typically not addressed in the classroom, such as physical and social skills.

Facilities

Baseball Field
Basketball Court
Fitness Center
Indoor Basketball Court
Pool
Volleyball Court
Softball Diamond
Soccer Field
Tennis Courts
Weight Room
Athletic Fields
Waterfront
Equestrian Facilities
Cross Country Trails
Rowing Facility

Other Facilities

River Program with Crew, Sailing, Kayaks, Paddle Board, Canoes, Boating, and other opportunities.

Clubs & Organizations

Community Service
Dorm Proctors
Environmental Club
Foreign Language Clubs
Honor Council
Horseback Riding
Literary Magazine
Model UN
National Honor Society
Newspaper
Peer Counseling
Sailing Club
Student Activities
Student Government
Student Publications
Yearbook
Yoga Club
Radio Station
GSA
Outdoor Activities

Arts & Athletics

Summary: Arts Program Our Arts program nurtures and develops 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. Athletics Program We coach and support student-athletes to Be St. Margaret's; to become part of a team and belong to something bigger than themselves. To believe in what they can achieve and not be afraid to fail. To push themselves to become better people, better students, better teammates, and skilled athletes who are prepared to succeed in life. Whether you’re preparing for college athletics or just looking to try something new, there are plenty of opportunities here for you to push yourself and have fun.

Arts Department Director:

Athletics Department Director: Cynthia Walker

Arts

Acting
Art History
Ceramics
Debate
Design
Directing
Drama
Drawing
Fashion Design
Journalism
Painting
Photography
Publications
Studio Art
Textiles
Theater History

Interscholastic Sports

Basketball
Cross Country Running
Soccer
Softball
Tennis
Track and Field
Volleyball
Indoor Track

Recreational Sports

Aerobics
Basketball
Camping
Canoeing
Cheerleading
Crew
Cross Country Running
Dance
Equestrian
Golf
Hiking
Kayaking
Outdoor Education
Sailing
Soccer
Softball
Tennis
Volleyball
Yoga
Running
Outdoor Activities
Robotics

Graduates

Summary: St. Margaret’s college counseling is successful in helping students get into college while also giving them the skills they need to successfully complete their higher education. Guidance is offered to all grades, from preparing students for standardized tests to visiting colleges. Next Steps is the feature opportunity of the college advising program at SMS where students experience colleges and the application process up close and personal. They tour college campuses in the Mid-Atlantic and Virginia, learn from professionals in admissions offices about how to prepare their application, practice drafting a college essays, prepare a resume, create their Common Application and work with a top-rated test prep company to prepare for the SAT exam.

College Information

Precentage of graduates who attend college: 100%

Middle Percentile of SAT Scores	Reading	Math	Writing
25th percentile	420	460	470
75th percentile	550	540	570

College attended in the past 5 years by our graduates:

St John's: 5

Virginia Tech: 3

Penn State (main): 2

John Jay College: 3

The Citadel: 1

Merit

Merit Scholarships: Offered

Students Receiving Merit Scholarships: %

Average Merit Scholarship:

Current Endowment Amount: $5,000,000

Interested in St. Margaret's School (VA)?

Vital Information

Student Body Type: All Girls

Total Boarding: 61

Total Day: 30

Total Enrollment: 91

Boys: 0

Girls: 91

Boarding Grades Offered: 8-12

Day Grades Offered: 8-12

School Type: Middle, High School, Post-grad

Dress Code: Uniform

Applications Accepted: SAO

Application Deadline: Rolling

Tuition & Financial Aid

7-Day Boarding: $54,200

5-Day Boarding: $43,500

Day Tuition Fee: $20,400

Need-Based Aid: Offered

Payment Plans: Offered

Students Receiving Aid: 70%

Average Awarded: $

School Finances