St. Mary's has been such a special part of our family's life. Our daughter has been there since she was two and a half, and now seeing her grow into a confident middle schooler heading into 8th grade feels so meaningful. So much of her childhood has been shaped by this school, and as a parent, that is something I will always be grateful for. When she was little, the most important thing to us was knowing that she was somewhere safe, loving, and truly cared for every day. St. Mary's gave us that peace of mind from the very beginning. It was such a comforting feeling to drop her off and know she was in an environment that felt warm, secure, and nurturing. That feeling has stayed with us all these years. What makes St. Mary's so special is that it really feels like a family. The teachers and staff care deeply about the students, and the school does such a beautiful job making families feel welcomed and connected. The families and community are also wonderful. Everyone is so friendly and supportive of one another, and we have made such special friendships here over the years. There is a true sense of belonging at St. Mary's, and it is one of those things you feel right away when you are on campus. One of the things I have loved most is watching how much St. Mary's has helped our daughter grow in confidence, curiosity, and independence. The school gives students so many opportunities to speak in front of others, present, perform, and participate in ways that really help bring them out of their shell. My daughter has especially loved being part of the school plays, and it has been so sweet to see how much those experiences have helped her grow. I also really appreciate the IB approach because it keeps learning interesting and connected. The way subjects are tied together helps students stay engaged and curious, instead of everything feeling separate. It has helped make learning feel more meaningful and exciting. St. Mary's also continues to grow and improve, from the beautiful new building to the thoughtful updates they keep making throughout the campus. But what makes the school truly special is the feeling you get when you are there. It is safe, warm, welcoming, and full of heart. It is the kind of place where children are encouraged to grow, families feel connected, and students leave with confidence, curiosity, and a strong sense of belonging. We are so grateful for the years our daughter has spent at St. Mary's and for the beautiful foundation this school has helped give her. read more

Unclean sometimes and the academic isn't strong but it is a nice school with good teachers

I wish I could give it a zero star review. I went to SMAA for middle school and probably the worst 3 years of my life. The pastor got fired and replaced for being a perv. The principal and dean and some teachers were bullies. I am still traumatized from them. I wish I could go back now that I am an adult and give every single faculty a piece of my mind. I will never put my kid through that. Also do not think that private school means better kids from better/richer families. Richer families means spoiled kids, and spoiled kids are neglected, and neglected kids with money buy better drugs. Save your money and go anywhere else, use it towards college. read more

Great school. They put children first! The staff members are educated and dedicated. Highly recommend. Overall rating, 100 out of 10!

Do not waste your time with this school. They collect money for application and then one mistake your child makes in the assessment they call you and say your child cannot study there and cannot be approved. I wasted my money and time. How can they reject a 4 year old for imitating an animal during the assessment??? It's a 4 year old, come on, It's not even reasonable! read more

This is a terrible school with a one size fits all mindset. It is definitely an elitist school that gives preferential treatment to those that make the biggest donations. My son was traumatized here, made to feel inferior, that he needed extra help when he was just young. He is a such a kind, Intuitive little guy. This place began to crush his spirit. I am not a rose colored glasses person believe me. Their "professionals" advised he be in different "therapies" he did not need. We spent countless dollars following their advice until 3 actual doctors told us there is literally nothing to be concerned of. He is just young, give him time. Their lunatic Dr Koch "psychologist" or whatever he claims his training may be, literally told us my 5 year old needed to be medicated. He proceeded to insult my profession in investment banking and where we lived. The teachers (not all) are low grade that claim to care about your kids, but they don't unless they fit the mold. Do not look for your child to be inspired by thinking outside their box. It is a place of labels, injections and ridiculousness. If something seems wrong it usually is. Listen to it. My son is in a loving private school environment elsewhere at the top of his class and loves learning, reads three grades above his grade level. Amazing what a nurturing, kind environment does. Do not send your kids here unless you are planning to raise robots. read more

My child went to school here, and it was a horrible experience. Though we met a few nice families, it is all about money and status. The staff were lying and cheating and put money before kids. Even when a child bullied another child he was never reprimanded because of parental donations. If you want a school to help instill real value in your child, this is NOT the place. ... for more details and a great summary read NATASHA P's review.. she was lucky to avoid this train wreck. read more

Words can't explain how much we love St Mary's and it's amazing teachers, staff and families. I was shocked to read some of the reviews, I genuinely felt like they were speaking about another school. Our daughter has attended St Mary's for 2.5yrs, through the craziness of 2020, and we couldn't be happier! The teachers truly care about their students, they nurture and work with them to be the best they can be. 2020 was such a tough year and they did an incredible job with online classes and then in person school as soon as possible. The communication was excellent throughout. I noticed in other reviews that they said the school is all about who makes the biggest donations, and I feel that couldn't be further from the truth! One thing I love about St Mary's is that it's not an elitist school that only wants you if you're driving a Bentley and going to donate to a new building. There are so many different families, from different backgrounds, different counties(we moved to the US 2.5yrs ago), different cultures and different socioeconomic backgrounds. Everyone is included, welcomed and treated equally. St Mary's teaches a world view which is so important, especially these days. Our daughter has flourished and we have made life long friends by going to St Mary's. We can't wait to be able to send our twins to St Mary's next year! If you are searching for an incredible school, you have found it! read more

It has all the bells & whistles but lacks consistency when it comes to education! Little to NO DIVERSITY there. High turnover rate among the teaching staff, and they are always asking for $$ (as if tuition wasn't enough). They spend too much $$ on un-necessary things such as over the top brochures, fancy gala invitations, and advertising instead of focusing on after school enrichment programs (which should be free) for the kids! Too much bureaucratic drama and politics going on at this school! I took my child out of there after 5 years -- best decision I ever made!! This school is so overrated read more

I sent my child to St. Mary's for 3 years (IB middle school programme). Coming from a declining elementary school, I happily sought refuge and we were in HEAVEN the first year! My child began to catch up and surpass his grade level by 7th grade. By the end of 8th grade, he is standard in going to high school. My child had received very good "western grades" but poor IB grades--so go figure.... During our 3 years there, we noticed an increasing turn over rate and an exodus of good teachers when the new headmaster took over. Sharon is very personable, charming, and really interacts as if she is one of the parents at the school. My biggest complaint is the special treatment some students had over others by the middle school administrators; the strange values applied to disciplining middle school students, and the unchecked racism (slurs etc) among the children. The sports program is a complete joke. It ruined my child's joy for team play because of poor coaching. The art program is not challenging at all. The sciences are sadly nonexistent without the excellent bio teacher. The math and English teachers are OK (great, considering all of the above). I personally know 3 families that are leaving the school and many 8th grade families went back to public school. I hope it works for you! If it doesn't, just know that you were not the only one to be disappointed. BTW, you don't get an IB diploma. It is a standard St mary's one. read more

St. Mary's was not only an incredible elementary school, it was family. Both of my children are now in college, but we're blessed to have gone there years ago. Their closest friends still today we're with them at St. Mary's, and their most influential and inspiring teachers as well. I cannot speak Highly enough of St Mary's and the staff there, simply the best! read more

Wonderful school, great community. The teachers care. The administration is phenomenal. Can't say enough good things.

This is the best school we have ever been too. The teachers and staff are incredible. The kids are welcoming, kind, and accepting. We moved to St. Mary's after my son was being bullied at a private Catholic School. We were very reluctant to move because we wanted to teach our son to stand up for himself. Needless to say, taking a stand to move to St. Mary's and not tolerating bad behavior is standing up for yourself. My son is now thriving. We have our sweet boy back! The school does an amazing job of encouraging their students to think for themselves. Cannot write enough about how blessed we feel to be able to send our son to such a great school. Thank you Saint Mary's!! read more

This is our second year at St. Mary's in the EEP (early edu. program). I have seen tremendous positive growth in my child since he started preschool there. His teachers this year have been stellar - warm, caring, nurturing, and they understand young people's minds. My son bounces into class every morning with a smile on his face. He loves school, and he loves learning. I feel like these are such foundational years for children. He gets Spanish every day and they start the beginnings of the IB program. The only thing I haven't been too happy with is that we were all opted into the new hot lunch program. That is difficult with a picky toddler. I've been trying to embrace he is trying new foods, but it was another cost on top of tuition. Overall, St. Mary's has been a wonderful place for my family. I am a strong believer in independent schools and St. Mary's continues to have a strong curriculum and impressive IB program. read more

We've been at the school for 2 years now and with the new headmaster, there's definitely been a change. The school is completely focused on academics and is the only primary & middle school that offers the International Baccalaureate program in the OC. The curriculum has a much more global perspective, which is completely absent in our public school system, kids are required to lean Spanish starting in Kindergarten, and they teach the kids to think and ask questions...not just memorize facts! I've got 3 daughters at the school and they can never wait to go back to school when we are on vacation! Go figure?! I hope my kids continue to love learning like they love going to St. Mary's! read more

An absolutely wonderful school and an out of this world staff. They go out of their way to make sure that the kids are getting a top of the line education and letting us parents know exactly what is going on. My kids enjoy going there and they run to see their teachers every morning. Plus the staff in the development office is great and work so many extra hours to make sure that the school is getting all the support they can get. It has been a great experience and i have made many new dad friends along the way. read more

We've been at St. Mary's for seven years and couldn't be happier. Our daughter started in Kindergarten and is now finishing up sixth grade. We were attracted to the school for its International Baccalaureate curriculum and its incredible sense of community. St. Mary's has exceeded expectations on both fronts. Our daughter has flourished both academically and socially, and it has been a pleasure to watch her grow and develop. Her teachers have been excellent...strong educators but caring and compassionate at the same time. She has two years left at St. Mary's and while graduating will be exciting, there will be a tinge of sadness that our time at St. Mary's is over. read more

Our kids have been very happy at St. Mary's and we have seen their progress during the 5 years that we have been there. We've been fortunate to have very good teachers who seem to really care about the kids. We also like the community feel of the school. It took us a couple of years to understand the IB program, but now we see its value and consistency through the years. Our only complaint has been the rising tuition from when we started 5 years ago, which is difficult for families with multiple children. read more

This school is in the midst of a crisis that has been brewing over the last few years, and is quickly going downhill. Several of the best teachers have left the school in the past few years (notably the Athletic Director Mr. Green which is when things started to go bad), and the academic integrity of the school is in question. This school has now become a business. Simply put, if you want to buy a grade for your child, this is good school. If you want your child to be actually academically prepared for High School and beyond, this school is a disaster. Luckily, I got my child out in time. I pulled my child out a year ago, and it was the best decision I ever made. Here is a list of the major problems we faced with our child at this school: 1. Students are only in school for roughly 168-175 student days, which is less time in class than a public school. For the 2017-2018 year, I heard they shortened the school year by additional 2.5 weeks. 2. The numerous activities and assemblies on campus take away from time in class, which compounds the lack of time for education. 3. Students who attend this school are actively BEHIND in achievement to students in a public school simply because of the fewer minutes and days in a desk. 4. Few of the teachers are credentialed in the subjects they teach, and most have no real practical experience as credentialed educators or in the private sector. The school tends to hire family members, friends or really anyone who is available to teach, regardless of qualifications. 5. The school has a remarkably high turnover rate among teachers, and the people they replace them with are not qualified. 6. They hide behind IB as a marketing tactic, but don't believe in its value or offer an IB diploma. 7. They offer too many classes in a school day. On the surface this seems like a good idea, but in reality my child was mentally exhausted by taking 8 classes a day. I heard the school tried to address this with a complicated 6 period rotating block, but unfortunately that still means they are taking 8 classes, but only 6 a day. It is worrisome that they feel it is okay for students to not see their core academic teachers daily. 8. They made my child take a standardized test called an ERB, and then did nothing with the data. I don't even know what it was for. While there are many great things about St. Mary's, unfortunately the school is not serious about EDUCATION, and is more concerned with "student experiences." While that sounds nice on paper, unfortunately it meant that my child and his friends were falling behind his peers at the public school. We felt it was necessary to move him to a public Middle School which would focus more on academics in order to properly prepared him for High School and College. read more

My daughter has attended this school since she was 2 1/2 years old and now she is in 8th grade. I can't imagine any other school that compares to St. Mary's. The sense of community and involved parents is one of the many reasons we've stuck around. The teachers are top notch and the staff incredible. Feeling blessed. read more

This review is not for the faint of heart. Like many others, we had high expectations for St. Mary's. My siblings and I all attended private Jesuit schools and wanted to raise our children with the same academic upbringing. We've been disappointed with St. Mary's agenda. It's clear St. Mary's is more focused on money than education. The proof statements: 1) Head Master made a direct point to me that this school is a business, 2) teachers told me this school is not intended for dual income parents, 3) academic calendar is shorter than public schools which are suffering cutbacks and furloughs, 4) countless fund raising events, 5) requesting donations from grandparents during their school tour. As you can see, it's important to do your own due diligence. If you place a higher emphasis on exclusivity over academics, then this school is an option. read more

We have been at St mary's 2 years now. I do think the new headmaster has done wonders for the school. For us it is much more diverse than our public school we were previously attending. The highlight for me is the international exchanges that the school offers. My daughter will be attending the international school of Milan this Spring and my son has decided to focus on Chinese. He hopes to go on an exchange in Singapore. I don't think there is another elementary/middle school like it in Orange County! read more

Wonderful school. Excellent experience for our only daughter. In life it is normal to get what you pay for. St Mary's is worth every penny.

St. Mary's has been a wonderful educational experience for our children. When my Wife and I were touring schools, one of the first things we noticed is how cheerful the kids were here. We later learned about the IB program which among other things, teaches children to view education from a world view and to think for themselves. We have been with the school for 3 years and have been very happy with their progress. The leadership at St. Mary's constantly strives to improve the educational and physical learning environment evidenced by the recently completed overhaul of the campus. The new collaborative learning environment spaces make the campus feel more like university than an elementary school. The schools academic test results are very impressive compared to other well thought of schools in the area so we know our kids are not only getting an amazing education but also enjoying it in the process. read more

Yes, St. Mary's has all the Bell and Whistles and they are always trying to improve their school! They try to improve their schools not only for themselves but to make sure that the children at St. Mary's get the best education possible. I'm a new mom at the school. My children feel at home there. The staff and parents are really good at making everyone feel welcome. My kids are of a mixed race. I don't see any problem with diversity there. As a matter of fact, The Silver Angels Award was awarded to Silvia James last year. As for the school wanting money! ALL schools want money . Public schools are now asking for money through donations,etc. St Mary's and the families of this school raise money so our kids can get the best education and have the best technology to help them better educate our children. Furthermore, by us raising money also helps to keep our tuition fees from going up! As for enrichment programs, the public schools don't have FREE enrichment programs! We pay taxes for public school and The Lottery( A joke) is suppose to help subsidize those programs??? Okay I think I rest my case!! To all families who are looking for a private school to send their children, I do recommend St.Mary's and All Angels. The student to teacher ratio is small and their is a lot of opportunity here! COME take a tour and SEE for yourself!!! read more

This school is WAY OVERATED! Our kids were in private school for about six years, then we decided to try St. Mary's because of the IB program. Having another private school to compare this school really helped me realize what a low calibre school is. The Headmaster and Principal are laughable. Both don't like any suggestions that requires any amount of work on their part. If you were to suggest any changes, you better believe, you will recieve a call from the headmaster and not a good one at that. He has very little patience and acts irrationally. He really needs to think before acting. The school has no advance programs for children who are academically furthur ahead; it is a "one shoe fits all." They have minimum day each Friday and has more time off than most of the schools in the area. Some of the kids are unruly compared to the other private schools in the area. St. Mary's have low academic standards. They strive to meet the minimum requirement to stay open. If this review help one family from opting out in considering this school, then I have helped one family. I wish I had known more about this school before signing up. read more

After 17 years at St Mary's our time is closely coming to an end. With much sadness!! Both of my boys started attending when they were 2 years old & we never looked back. Our longevity there should be a testament to what as awesome institution it is!!! The teachers care about the child!!! They don't just teach to the student. They get to know each student & teach to how each individual learns!! The IB leaner profiles: inquirers, knowledgeable, thinkers, communicators, principled, open-minded, caring, risk-takers, balanced & reflective create global minded citizens. Yes it's a non-denominational Christian school , but there are students of many faiths that attend. Not only attend but are welcomed. My oldest who is a senior in high school transitioned into high school with such ease!! He has flourished. Not only have both my boys flourished academically but they are caring citizens!! They actually think "out of the box" when doing their school work. St Mary's encourages students to do this to succeed!!! In the years to come I will still be an advocate for St Mary's. We have been so blessed to be a part of such an awesome community!! read more