Mission Statement

We at St. Mary’s are proud of our Catholic heritage, our own traditions, and our history in the Stockton community. Because we believe that human beings are the pinnacle of God’s creation on earth, we at St. Mary’s strive to develop the total person - spiritually, intellectually, and physically. We realize that we must continue to be unique and contemporary, dedicated to developing students who possess the necessary skills for the future and who make choices which reflect Christian values. Our common goal as a community is to stress value-based instruction and academic excellence.

Type of School

St. Mary's is a Roman Catholic, four year, co-educational, comprehensive high school under the direction

of the Bishop of the Diocese of Stockton. It is fully accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and by the Western Catholic Education Association.

Location

The school is located on North El Dorado Street, one mile east of San Joaquin Delta College and two miles north of the University of the Pacific.

Campus

Located on twenty-five acres are four classroom buildings, an administration building, computer and technology classrooms, cafeteria, two gyms, football field, track facilities, baseball and soccer fields, five tennis courts and athletic facilities for a weight room and team sports.

Completed in the Fall of 2006 and now fully occupied is the Lagorio Family Academic Building. This new addition to the campus houses the Van Ruiten Family Library, the Capurro Technology Center, administrative offices and five state of the art "smart" classrooms with multimedia and Internet connections. Another addition to our campus is the Cortopassi Aquatics Center which opened September 2007. In addition, there is a student chapel and a residence for the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales priests and brothers.

Size

Current enrollment is 1068 students. 49% of the total student body represent Black, Hispanic, Asian, and American Indian minority groups. The faculty consists of 5 Religious (Priests, Brothers, and Sisters), and 110 lay teachers and support staff. Student/Faculty ratio is 16/1.

Curriculum

There are nine departments at St. Mary's from which students choose their required and elective courses: Religion, English, Social Studies, Mathematics, Physical Education & Health, Science, Computer, Foreign Language, and Fine Arts. Some courses are offered on three levels: remedial, college preparatory, and general.

Every student is required to take the following core program:

Advanced Placement courses offered

Advanced Placement exams administered

Honors courses offered

Calendar

The school year is divided into Fall Semester and Spring Semester. In addition to semester exams and grades, quarter grades are mailed home. Progress reports and deficiency reports are sent to parents halfway through each quarter grading period.

Marking procedures

GPA and class rank are calculated by converting

grade points and dividing by attempted

credits.

Parent Communication

St. Mary's uses PowerSchool, a web-based information system which enables St. Mary's parents to access student academic and attendance records daily

Placement Test

In late January, the Terra Nova Placement Test is administered to all freshman applicants. A course schedule is developed for each student based on the strengths and weaknesses indicated by the test, together with parent consultation. Students and parents are encouraged to have a “four year plan” as a guide for planning each year and as a tool for goal setting for the student.

Guidance

St. Mary’s High School, in its continued effort to meet the needs of the students and to build community, has provided a full staff of qualified counselors who are ready to help students at any time with anything from personal and academic problems to scheduling and college placement. The staff includes the academic dean, counselors, one for each grade level, a scholarship/financial aid counselor, and a licensed clinical social worker.

The counselors routinely meet with students throughout the year to help them in whatever way possible and to discuss educational plans with them. The Guidance Office is staffed during school hours. Students or their parents may request an appointment with a counselor during the school day. A licensed clinical social worker brings to St. Mary’s additional services.

Honors

In May 2010, the following received first and second honors:

50% of the freshman

47% of the sophomores

46% of the juniors

65% of the seniors

AP Scores

St. Mary's High School exceeded state and national test averages on AP exams from 1990 to 2010.

Graduates

Extra Curricular Activities and Co-Curricular Activities

The faculty and administration of St. Mary’s High School believe that involvement in extra-curricular and co-curricular activities is very beneficial to our students. These activities enhance the academic preparation by teaching

social and leadership skills. Extra-curricular and co-curricular programs offered by St. Mary’s High School are as follows:

Testimonials

In both my personal and professional life, I constantly utilized the foundation I received at St. Mary’s. That foundation was in the various disciplines of education along with the teaching of spiritual and Christian values of going out into the community to help others. This foundation has allowed me to grow as a human being and to practice putting community above self. - Doug Wilhoit, Class of 1961

I would like to begin by mentioning all those to whom I am indebted. First, I thank the faculty of St. Mary’s. Through such wonderful teachers, I have grown both in breadth of knowledge and, more importantly, in love of knowledge. I truly appreciate all that they have given to me, for I know that much of my desire to learn comes from them. And, I learned at the very start of my freshman year that all of us are called to be saints. A saint is just someone who devotes his or her life to the will of the Lord. The way to do this, that is, to live out God’s will, is to be who you are, and be that well. In the future, we will have to make many new decisions and undergo many new experiences. Throughout our lives, we must never forget the vocation destined for all; holiness. All of us can and must heed the call to sainthood. - Michael Kozina, Class of 2006; Salutatorian Speaker, 2006

Because of your generosity I have received a quality education by teachers that have deeply cared about my success academically and spiritually. My hope is to take the education that I have received here and succeed in college. I don’t know what I will be or where I will be, but there is one thing I know for sure. Someday I would like to be sitting in your seat. I would like to help others the way that you have helped my family. I would like to thank you and assure you that I will give back to my community as it has given so generously to me. - Chris McCaffrey, Class of 2007

The availability of scholarships allowed me to attend St. Mary’s and receive an excellent education and has given me the opportunity to become a part of a loving community that has made such an impact on my life. And for that I thank you! - Molly Bloom, Class of 2007

From day one at St. Mary’s, I knew there was something special about the school. It was odd for me for the first time to finally feel like I fit in at a school, almost like I knew I had found the right path. I have been moving from town to town and country to country since I was four years old. Not once in my many experiences of the “first day of school” did I ever feel as welcome and content as I did coming to St. Mary’s. This chapter in my life has made me grow as an individual I never thought I could be. I have learned to accept my failures, accept others differences, and even learned to accept God into my life because of my fortunate blessing of having a Catholic education. I have learned so much academically, but more importantly, I know I will leave St. Mary’s with morals and values that will help me all through my life. I am so glad to be blessed with an education from St. Mary’s. - Jessica Parrino, Class of 2009

When I started St. Mary’s my freshman year, I was intimidated in almost every aspect. I was afraid that I would not be prepared for the academics, that I wouldn’t make any sports teams, and most importantly to me, wouldn’t make many new friends. I can tell you  that the students and faculty here have proved each and every one of my concerns wrong. The academic program at St. Mary’s has an array of classes in order to meet the needs of a variety of students. Every single teacher at St. Mary’s is available to help students at least before or after school. Finding your niche at any school is a great way to feel at home in that place. SM tries to create opportunities for everyone to be involved. I feel that my spirituality has grown and that I get no greater satisfaction than from helping others. Our school quote from our patron saint, St. Francis de Sales, was “Be who you are, and be that well.” I really feel that this describes my experience at St. Mary’s and for that I am most grateful. - Kathryn Snyder, Class of 2008

I would like you all to know how much St. Mary’s has meant to me, and I always like to compare my experience here to a somewhat silly analogy in that I find myself (probably just like many other students) as being the branches and roots of a tree, and St. Mary’s the sail and water which nourishes and strengthens my growth. And it is with this help that St. Mary’s has given that I have been able to grow in all directions - not just as the branches or just the roots - but in all ways, making me a more well-rounded

individual, giving me a foundation and great balance of faith, family, friends, and education. As a recipient of scholarships, like many, I feel a personal responsibility to carry with pride the name of St. Mary’s on to my college and the greater future. - Caitlyn Orellana, Class of 2008

For more information or if you have any questions about St. Mary's

please call the school at 209 • 957-3340