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.