St. Mary's Academy

One of the things I love about St. Mary's is the supportive and non-judgemental environment. I feel a lot more confident being myself at school now because of how accepting people are. It`s a place where I feel encouraged to express myself and my opinions without fear of judgement from my peers. Many of the other girls who decide to attend St. Mary's also want to be a part of a community where they feel included and validated, which is why we are able to cultivate this type of inclusive environment. The amazing community of students and faculty at SMA is what truly makes it a special place!

I am a junior here at St. Mary`s and I am so glad that I chose to go to SMA. One of my favorite parts of the school is the community and the wonderful supportive teachers. Digital Learning has been hard for everyone but throughout the challenge, the community has stayed strong and really supportive, especially the wonderful teachers. The teachers are eager to still teach making learning during the COVID-19 pandemic enjoyable. Activities are still staying active and finding new ways to be completed and connect with others. St. Mary`s has been a great place to learn and grow and I feel like I have done that a lot since I have started attending SMA. I would recommend this school for anyone who is wanting to find out more about themselves and really grow as an individual.

My name is Lily, and I am a current junior at St Mary's. I honestly wasn`t planning to go to a private school for high school, let alone an all girls' school, but I am really glad that I chose to! From the first shadow visit, I felt at home. Not in a cheesy way, I promise. The environment is welcoming and free of harsh judgement, and I think that comes from the all-girl's experience. Classroom discussions have a mature quality that I feel was lacking in my co-ed schools. Having such a wide range of clubs and extracurriculars ensures that you will feel like you belong. Having a challenging academic environment is really very rewarding. There is always someone that can help you if you`re struggling, as well. The academic support center has been a big help for me, as well as friends and teachers. The teachers here at SMA have your best interest at heart and will always find time to help you. My biggest piece of advice is to use the activity blocks and studies provided to get work done. I've learned the work load is what you make of it.

I'm a junior at St. Mary's and I love SMA. My favorite things about St. Mary's are the amazing teachers, community, and opportunities students have. Especially during digital learning, teachers have been very flexible and worked with us to fit our needs. I always feel very supported at St. Mary's through my teachers, friends, and peers. Finally, there is such an amazing variety of things to try. We have so many fun sports, clubs, and leadership opportunities. I love this community and I hope you'll consider shadowing if you're thinking about St. Mary's!

I'm Payton, a current Junior at St. Mary's Academy in downtown Portland. I have always loved the strong and supportive community SMA has to offer and I feel it now more than ever. All the teachers have created a safe and nurturing environment for all the students online, which has created a great feeling of security. Everyone is eager to learn, despite being online, which has made the covid-19 experience a lot better. SMA has also done a great job at making sure there is a place for everyone despite not being at school. There has been so many different clubs and activities such as the sports leadership conference and improve club which I am a part of. These are just two of the ways SMA is helping all of the students during a stressful time, and I am so thankful to be a part of the community.