St. Margaret's Episcopal School (Top Ranked Private School for 2025-26)

Name: Open House
Start: 2025-10-25T09:00:00-07:00
End: 2025-10-25T12:00:00-07:00
Location: St. Margaret's Episcopal School

31641 La Novia
San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675

View full size Get directions

Tel: (949) 661-0108

www.smes.org

REQUEST INFO

SAVE SCHOOL

St. Margaret's Episcopal School Photo #1 - Every graduate is prepared and qualified to enroll in a four-year college or university, and because of the school's reputation for the depth and quality of its education, more than 100 leading colleges and universities across the country visit St. Margaret's annually to recruit its graduates.

St. Margaret's Episcopal School Photo #2 - The Outdoor Classroom is where children can immerse themselves in nature, hone observation skills, practice cooperation, develop academic concepts and physical skills, learn problem-solving skills and, of course have fun. Designated as a Recognized Outdoor Classroom Site" by the California Outdoor Classroom Project, the Outdoor Classroom is a science lab, artist's studio, science lab, library, symphony hall, theatre and gym.

St. Margaret's Episcopal School Photo #3 - Our mission at St. Margaret's Episcopal School is to educate the hearts and minds of young people for lives of learning, leadership and service.

St. Margaret's Episcopal School Photo #4 - St. Margaret's is upheld by the basic principles of our Episcopal tenets that individuals and institutions are called to strive for justice and peace among all people, and to respect the dignity of every human being. Episcopal schools exist not merely to educate, but to demonstrate and proclaim the unique worth and beauty of all human beings.

St. Margaret's Episcopal School Photo #5 - The Outdoor Classroom nurtures learning in our youngest Lower School students in unique ways. St. Margaret's has a K-1 Outdoor Classroom teacher who conducts science lessons in the space, in addition to collaborating with St. Margaret's Lower School visual arts teacher and homeroom teachers to design curriculum and provocations tailored for this unique outdoor setting.

St. Margaret's Episcopal School Photo #6 - Our Middle School program provides opportunities for students to engage in activities that support their growth as learners, leaders and compassionate members of the community. We believe early adolescents should be exposed to a vibrant program that enables them to explore challenges in academic, athletic, artistic and leadership programs.

St. Margaret's Episcopal School Photo #7 - A pillar of our school's mission is to educate students for lives of service. Our community believes that an essential outcome of St. Margaret's education is that students and graduates feel the compassion, responsibility and calling to serve others and be active and contributing citizens within their communities and the world.

St. Margaret's Episcopal School Photo #8 - The athletic program is central to our mission and integral to the learning process. Through athletic competition we strive to achieve the highest degree of integrity, sportsmanship, and mutual respect. Our program celebrates the student-athlete and the teacher-coach, while striving to instill in our students a meaningful and solid foundation from which to lead healthy and productive lives.

St. Margaret's Episcopal School Photo #9 - The arts are integral to the development of every student. Classes in theater, dance, orchestra, band, choir and visual arts challenge students to be creative thinkers and problem solvers. The 45,000-square-foot Performing Arts Center along with a 6,000-square-foot Visual Arts Center support a vibrant arts program.

St. Margaret's Episcopal School Photo #10 - As a college-preparatory institution, St. Margaret's academic excellence is rooted in vigor, choice and relevance and made possible by a strong foundation of educational expertise, research and best practices.

St. Margaret's Episcopal School Photo #11 - At St. Margaret's Episcopal School, we believe that everyone is on an artistic journey. Through experiences in the visual arts, music, dance, theater and technical arts, students discover and nurture the artists within.

Our mission at St. Margaret's Episcopal School is to educate the hearts and minds of young people for lives of learning, leadership and service.

Founded in 1979, St. Margaret's Episcopal School is the premier, independent, college-preparatory day school in Orange County serving 1,234 students in early childhood through grade 12.

St. Margaret's is situated on a picturesque 25-acre campus in historic San Juan Capistrano, California, with dedicated campuses for each school division, modern classrooms and facilities, including a performing arts center, science and technology labs, library, athletics fields and gymnasiums.

Quick Facts (2025-26)

Top Ranked CA School
Grades: Prekindergarten-12
Enrollment: 1,234 students
Average class size: 15 students
Application Deadline: Dec. 1 / Feb. 1 / rolling
Source: Verified school update

Upcoming Events

Open House - Sat., October 25, 2025 - get more information!

Top Rankings

St. Margaret's Episcopal School ranks among the top 20% of private schools in California for:

School Overview

School Membership(s)School Assoc.

National Association of Episcopal Schools (NAES)
National Association for the Education of Young Children
National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS)
Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)
California Association of Independent Schools (CAIS)

Religious Affiliation

Episcopal

Grades Offered

Grades Prekindergarten-12

Year Founded

1979

Summer School Offered

Yes

Last Day of School

Wed. Jun 3, 2026

Student Body

Total Students

1,234 students

Student Body Type

Co-ed

% Students of Color

61%

State avg.: 51%

Students by Grade

St. Margaret's Episcopal School Student By Grade

Academics and Faculty

Total Classroom Teachers

137 teachers

Student-Teacher Ratio

9:1

National avg.: 13:1

% Faculty w/Advanced Degree

67%

Average Class Size

15 students

Number of AP Courses

26 courses

List of Courses Offered

Link to List of Courses

Advanced Courses

Advanced Placement Art HistoryAdvanced Placement Biology

Advanced Placement Calculus ABAdvanced Placement Calculus BC

Advanced Placement ChemistryAdvanced Placement Chinese Language and Culture

Advanced Placement Computer ScienceAdvanced Placement English Literature and Composition

Advanced Placement Environmental ScienceAdvanced Placement European History

Advanced Placement French LanguageAdvanced Placement Human Geography

Advanced Placement Japanese LanguageAdvanced Placement Latin Vergil

Advanced Placement Music TheoryAdvanced Placement Physics B

Advanced Placement Physics CAdvanced Placement Spanish Language

Advanced Placement StatisticsAdvanced Placement Studio Art: Drawing

Advanced Placement Studio Art: Three-Dimensional DesignAdvanced Placement Studio Art: Two Dimensional Design

Advanced Placement U.S. GovernmentAdvanced Placement United States History

Advanced Placement World HistoryAdvanced Theatre

Advanced Theatre IIAlgebra II Honors

Chemistry HonorsEnglish II Honors

English III HonorsFrench III Honors

Geometry HonorsLatin III Honors

Pre-Calculus HonorsSpanish III Honors

Spanish IV Honors

Show More (21)Hide

Average SAT score

1386

(Out of 1600)

Average ACT score

(Out of 36)

Matriculation DataMatric. Data

View Matriculation Data

Classroom Dress Code

Formal

Specific dress code for each school division. Upper School students wear kahki pant/shorts with school-color shirt, except on formal days, jacket is required.

Tuition and Acceptance Rate

Admission Deadline

Dec. 1 / Feb. 1 / rolling

Admissions Director

Phoebe Larson

Admissions Associate

Beth Carey

Application URL

Online Application

Sports

Total Sports Offered

17 sports

Sports

BaseballBasketball

CheeringCross Country

DanceDiving

EquestrianFlag Football

FootballGolf

LacrosseSoccer

Surf TeamSwimming

TennisTrack and Field

Volleyball

Show More (1)Hide

Extracurriculars

Total ExtracurricularsTotal Extra-curric.

11 extracurriculars

ExtracurricularsExtra-curric.

Club or Organization:

Admission AmbassadorsAssociated Student Body

Character CountsHonor Committee

Peer CounselingTartan Inclusivity and Diversity Education

Arts and Music Programs:

ChoirConcert Band

OrchestraTheater Technical Arts

Theater-Music and Dance Productions

School Notes

School Motto: Educating the hearts and minds of young people for lives of learning, leadership and service.

St. Margaret's Episcopal School is a diverse community dedicated to developing the whole child. We nurture spiritual growth, an appreciation for life-long learning, the courage to lead and a responsibility to give to others. Our graduates are independent thinkers of integrity and compassion who reveal their resilience and collaborative nature in the face of challenge and opportunity.

CORE VALUES

Character: We emphasize integrity, spirituality, empathy, perseverance and responsibility.
Community: We champion mutual respect, engagement, collaboration, service learning and a commitment to the common good.
Balance and Breadth: We believe personal growth, balance and well-being are fostered through a broad range of academic, artistic, athletic and co-curricular opportunities.
Equity and Inclusion: We embrace and celebrate the identity of every human being, and advocate for equity, inclusion and justice.
High Expectations: We prepare and empower our students to discover and develop their unique gifts and talents to achieve their full potential.

Source: Verified school update

REQUEST FREE INFORMATION

Frequently Asked Questions

What sports does St. Margaret's Episcopal School offer?

St. Margaret's Episcopal School offers 17 interscholastic sports: Baseball, Basketball, Cheering, Cross Country, Dance, Diving, Equestrian, Flag Football, Football, Golf, Lacrosse, Soccer, Surf Team, Swimming, Tennis, Track and Field and Volleyball. St. Margaret's Episcopal School is ranked as one of the top 20% of private schools in California for most sports offered.

What is St. Margaret's Episcopal School's ranking?

St. Margaret's Episcopal School ranks among the top 20% of private schools in California for: Highest average SAT score, Highest average ACT score, Largest student body, Most AP courses offered and Most sports offered.

When is the application deadline for St. Margaret's Episcopal School?

The application deadline for St. Margaret's Episcopal School is Dec. 1 / Feb. 1 / rolling (applications are due on Dec. 1 / Feb. 1 but additional applications are reviewed year-round as space permits ).