School Profile

Enrollment

St. Mark’s enrolls approximately 100 new students each year.

In 2009-2010, we welcomed 338 students total, with 81 percent boarding and 19 percent day. The student body included 39 international students, as defined by primary residence.

Class size

The average size class is 10 students. The student teacher ratio is 5:1, and all teaching faculty live on campus.

Tuition

For 2009-2010, tuition is set at $43,600 for boarding students and $34,800 for day students

Academic schedule

St. Mark's operates on a two-semester calendar year with exams in January and June. A minimum load of five courses is required; it is highly unusual for a student to carry six courses. Classes meet six days a week, including half-days on Wednesday and Saturdays. A full day is divided into seven, 45-minute periods.

Diploma requirements

In order to graduate, students must complete four years of English, one year of courses in both the arts and religion, three years in mathematics (Algebra I and II and Geometry), three years of one language, two years of lab science, and U.S. History.

Accreditation

St. Mark’s is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). Affiliations include the National Association of Independent Schools, the College Entrance Examination Board, and the National Association for College Admission Counseling.

Scholarships

While we do not offer merit-based scholarships, 27 percent of the student body receives financial aid on the basis of demonstrated need. Families should contact Director of Financial Aid David Lubick at davidlubick@stmarksschool.org. Please note that admission decisions are made separate from financial aid decisions. Thus, no applicant is disadvantaged for applying for financial aid.

Dress code

While we do not require coats and ties, we do expect our students to conform to a dress code best described as “neat casual.” No jeans are allowed, and boys must wear collared shirts. Girls can wear either dresses, skirts, or dress pants. Sneakers are allowed.

Student leadership opportunities

St. Markers have ample opportunity to assume leadership roles. Each year, seven VIth Formers lead the student body as monitors — senior members of Student Congress that run twice-weekly school meetings and meet weekly with the deans and head of school. The Admission Office selects a number of students to aid its efforts, as admission prefects, big brothers and sisters to incoming students, and orientation team members. Leadership opportunities also exist through the Alumni/ae Office, the chapel program, the Deans’ Office, and dormitories. To prepare St. Markers for the many opportunities available, the dean of students conducts spring and fall leadership training sessions to assist students in developing skills and to encourage them to engage in strategic planning.

Community gatherings

In addition to special occasions throughout the year — such as Athletic Awards, addresses from the Head of School, and guest speakers — the school community gathers in its entirety several times a week. Twice weekly, on Wednesday and Saturday mornings, the monitors run a school meeting, at which community members share announcements and good cheer with one another. Also twice weekly, the school community gathers in chapel: Tuesday and Thursday mornings. The service ends with a prayer and often features guest speakers addressing timely issues.

Religion

One year of religion class is required for graduation. We have students of all faiths here, and the school community gathers twice a week for chapel. Services touch on many spiritual ideas and include guest speakers from local churches, temples, and other religious and service organizations. Often student and faculty speakers use chapel as a venue for sharing messages of personal significancee.