Saint Mary's School academic curriculum follows the guidelines and academic standards provided by the Archdiocese of Washington Catholic Schools Office. The school is designed for students from Preschool through eighth grade. Since students enter school with a wide range of skills, each student is motivated to explore and develop his/her skills and talents in a variety of academic and extracurricular programs.
Our curriculum focuses on the development of the whole child. The classes are self-contained in kindergarten through third grade. Departmentalization begins in the fourth grade and continues through eighth grade.
Classes are taught in a loving, supportive, Christian environment. There is a strong emphasis on faith development, and Catholic identity is visible throughout the school. Students are encouraged to learn about and practice the Catholic faith and to live this faith through community service and outreach programs.
Teachers use formal and informal assessments at all grade levels. The Scantron Performance Standardized Assessment is used in Kindergarten through Eighth grade and is administered three times a year (beginning of the year, midyear, and end of the year).
Writing portfolios are integrated into the language arts curriculum at all grade levels, allowing students to monitor their progress in writing each year.
