Academic Information

The Academics Office is excited to welcome new students and families to St. Mark’s in the fall. Between now and then, academic leaders of the school will be working hard to ensure incoming students are placed in courses that best support their growth and success. To help us place students thoughtfully, we will use an Academic History and Interest form alongside transcripts and teacher recommendations to get a full picture of each student. If needed, we may also ask students to take a placement test. Key dates for this process are outlined below.

Wednesday, April 22: Students receive login credentials for their St. Mark’s email. Once students are logged into their St. Mark’s email account, they’ll see information about how to access Blackbaud. Blackbaud is our School’s online system for student and family information. During the academic year, students and families will use Blackbaud to view schedules, access report cards, and track attendance. Instructions for activating St. Mark’s Email and Blackbaud accounts can be found here.

Friday, April 24:
Directions for how to access the 2026-2027 Academic Information & History Form will be sent to students' St. Mark's email. This form is a key part of developing each student’s course schedule and must be completed by May 8.

As mentioned above, the information provided in this form is an important part of developing a student’s course plan for next year. Please fill out the form as thoroughly as possible.

Friday, May 8:
2026-2027 Academic Information & History form is due.

Late May/Early June:
If the Math or Modern & Classical Language Department Heads are unsure of final placement, they will reach out with information about a placement test.

Late June:
The academics office will reach out with a list of recommended courses for the 2026-2027 school year. This list will not be finalized until scheduling is complete, but it will provide families with a likely outline of the core disciplines we recommend.

Mid-August:
Finalized course schedules will be released on Blackbaud.

Frequently Asked Questions

III Form Student FAQs

What is a typical course load for III Form students?

What courses do III Form students take?

English: Writing Workshop (required)
History: Human Geographies (required)
Science: Biology (required)
Mathematics: Placement determined by Department Head (may include a placement test)
Modern or Classical Language: Level 1 or Placement determined by Department Head (may include a placement test)
Art, Music Ensemble, or Computer Science
Foundations of Learning & Wellbeing

I am repeating my III Form year. Do my prior courses from my previous school count towards the St. Mark's graduation requirements?

IV Form Student FAQS

What is a typical course load for IV Form students?

What courses do IV Form students typically take?

English: Survey of Literary Genres (required)
Science: Chemistry or Quantitative Chemistry (required)
Mathematics: Placement determined by Department Head (may include a placement test)
Modern or Classical Language: Level 1 or Placement determined by Department Head (may include a placement test)
The 5th and 6th classes are usually a combination of art, religion, history, or computer science.

Do my prior courses from my previous school count towards the St. Mark's graduation requirements?

The Academic Office and Department Heads will review incoming students' transcripts to determine whether prior coursework can count toward our graduation requirements. Some credits will transfer. For example, if you’ve taken a full-year Biology course at the high school level, you’d receive credit for one-year of our two-year lab science requirement, and we would have you take Chemistry in your IV Form year. Other disciplines, like art, require your prior courses to imitate our offerings in both content and credit-value (if a course at our school is a yearlong, full-credit course, the corresponding course from the prior school must also be a yearlong, full-credit course in order to be considered for transfer credit).

V Form Student FAQs

What is a typical course load for V Form students?

What courses do V Form students typically take?

English: Conversations in American Literature (Required)
History: US History or Advanced US History (Required in V or VI Form year)
Science: Choice of Advanced Science Offerings (by recommendation) or science electives
Mathematics: Placement determined by Department Head (may include a placement test)
Modern or Classical Language: Level 1 or Placement determined by Department Head (may include a placement test)
Optional: Additional elective in any discipline. Incoming V Formers typically take courses to fulfill their religion (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam) and/or art requirement.

Do my prior courses from my previous school count towards the St. Mark's graduation requirements?

The Academics Office and Department Heads will look at incoming student transcripts to make determinations on whether or not prior coursework can count toward our graduation requirements. Some credits will transfer. For example, if you’ve taken full-year Biology and Chemistry courses at the high school level, you’d receive credit for our two-year lab science requirement. We would still recommend you take a science in your V Form year. Other disciplines, like art or history, require your prior courses to imitate our offerings in both content and credit-value (if a course at our school is a yearlong, full-credit course, the corresponding course from the prior school must also be a yearlong, full-credit course in order to be considered for transfer credit).