St. Mary’s School, located in the heart of Oak Ridge, reached a significant milestone this school year. The 2023-2024 school year marks 25 years of being an accredited institution. While the education practices and standards and the accrediting organization’s name has changed (originally Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, then Advanced Ed, and now Cognia), the devotion of the St. Mary’s faculty and staff to continuous improvement and their unwavering commitment to their students has not changed.  

 

The school accreditation process is an opportunity for improvement. The organization gives the institution a framework of standards analyzed and evaluated for proficiency. The standards examine everything from policies and practices to the culture and climate of the school. Through school visits, interviews, and panel discussions they evaluate the institution and provide improvement goals and areas of commendation.  

 

St. Mary’s opened its doors in 1950 and serves a student population of around 200 from five counties. They offer small class-sizes from 3-year-old preschool to 8th grade. General academics are enhanced with dedicated science labs for both their elementary and middle school students, physical education, music, Spanish, art (including drawing, pottery, and glasswork), library, and technology (including coding, 3D printing, keyboarding, and program usage). Aside from their amazing academic programs, students, families, and even visitors comment on the loving, family atmosphere of the school.  

 

At St. Mary’s your child can truly experience a journey that matters. If you are interested in exploring more of what St. Mary’s has to offer, visit their website at school.stmarysoakridge.org or contact their admissions office for at tour, 865-483-9700.