St. Mary’s High School

St. Mary’s Academy is Oregon’s oldest continuously-operating secondary school. A nationally recognized school of excellence, St. Mary’s is an established Catholic all-girls college preparatory high school that readies students for the future. We invite you to review our Profile of Distinction.

With a 150-year tradition of educating young women, St. Mary’s continues to serve a diverse school community and offer a challenging academic program which fosters the development of the whole person. St. Mary’s is large enough to provide a wide variety of experiences yet small enough to focus on the individual needs of each and every student.

In a nurturing and supportive environment, the faculty and staff challenge students to exceed their potential and provide them with skills, strength, and resources to meet those challenges.

St. Mary’s twelve pioneer Holy Names Sisters’ vision for the future, determination, and spirit of sacrifice made it possible for St. Mary’s to shape the lives of more than 10,000 young women since 1859.

Harvard Graduate School of Education research found young women attending an all-female high school exhibit greater educational and personal gains than in co-educational schools.

St. Mary’s provides a solid spiritual foundation through its four-year religion curriculum, campus ministry program, retreats, and service opportunities. The curriculum provides students with an understanding of human development, Catholic Christian theology, world religions, ethics, and social justice.

The Campus Ministry Department sponsors activities that nurture spiritual growth and development. Students are encouraged to actively participate in all-school masses and weekly liturgies. Staffed by St. Mary’s faculty and alumnae, the Junior Encounter and Senior Metanoia focus on improving relationships between self, others, and God. These spiritual retreats provide a time for reflection and valuable insight for making life decisions.

The St. Mary’s family of students, parents, faculty, and staff work together to give time, talent, and service to the greater Portland community. Programs such as Hands Full of Heart, Holiday Food Baskets, tutoring at St. Andrews Nativity School, serving the homeless at St. Francis Dining Hall, and elderly outreach with Friends Across Generations exemplify St. Mary’s call to service.

St. Mary’s – unlike other private schools – does not require its students to take part in community service projects. By making service voluntary, St. Mary’s encourages students to see service as part of their lives not as an obligation to receive their diplomas.

Designed to meet the needs of young women in today’s challenging and diverse world, St. Mary’s offers a variety of opportunities to explore and give back to the community.

St. Mary’s is an environment rich in values and grounded in the Catholic tradition where each young woman can develop her individual potential. The liberal arts curriculum is designed to provide a comprehensive and world-centered academic program focused on preparing students for higher education.

St. Mary’s urban setting in downtown Portland enhances the school’s curriculum with unique access to enriching educational and cultural opportunities. Situated within a few blocks of Portland State University, Portland Art Museum, Oregon History Center, Multnomah County Central Branch Library, and the Portland Center for the Performing Arts, St. Mary’s draws upon a wealth of resources which complement the classroom experience.

Students at St. Mary’s discover that education is the result of study, hands-on experience, and a personal desire to seek out knowledge and new challenges.

With a faculty dedicated to each individual student, teacher advisors follow academic progress and social development throughout each student’s education at St. Mary’s.

Honored three times with the U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon Schools Program award, St. Mary’s represents the highest standards of teaching, curriculum, student activities, and service in the nation.

St. Mary’s Academy views athletics as an extension of the classroom where students learn the values of hard work, determination, and cooperation, while developing their talents as athletes. As a member of the Oregon School Activities Association (OSAA), St. Mary’s competes in nine 6A level sports – cross country, soccer, volleyball, basketball, swimming, golf, tennis, and track & field – in the Mt. Hood Conference. St. Mary’s Blues teams also compete in four club sports – alpine and nordic skiing, lacrosse, and dragon boat racing.

Many of the state’s finest female athletes developed their skills while at St. Mary’s. The all-female environment allows girls to thrive in the spirit of competition. Many former St. Mary’s student-athletes are now coaches and share the pride, inspiration, and commitment to the winning history of the school.

St. Mary’s Academy has won 15 OSAA state championships in five different sports. In addition, the Blues have won four academic state titles, twice winning the OSAA POWERADE Scholar Athlete Award for having the highest percentage of graduating seniors earning a 3.50 cumulative G.P.A. and a varsity letter in a 6A OSAA sanctioned sport. At the conference level, St. Mary’s teams have earned 53 titles, 41 as members of the Metro League and twelve in the Mt. Hood Conference.

At St. Mary’s teamwork, leadership, personal growth, and social opportunities are encouraged both on and off the playing fields.