St. Mary's School

13735 Notre Dame Place

Bryantown, MD 20617

12 Reviews

School District
Grade

PK-8
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by other on May 21, 2024

Options for private schools in our county are very limited, as are available spots in those schools. SMB parents, teachers, and staff have been warm and welcoming from the start, but this school claims to offer rigorous academics, and we have found it to be largely hit or miss in that regard. There are, as in any school, teachers who go above and beyond, and some who seem either checked out, or don't communicate well with parents about learning objectives and how well students are meeting goals. Our children have come home with test scores and undergone assessments with no information to help parents understand what scores meant for that child's performance. We've also been rushed through too-brief parent-teacher conferences. It is, at times, incredibly frustrating. Obviously, we want to support our child's learning experience and be sure they are meeting expectations. To make the experience even more disheartening (often disheartening), parents are frequently treated as a meal ticket. Nearly every piece of communication from the school is a request for money, and this is on top of volunteer requirements, paying tuition, and other expenses (uniform, etc.).
Submitted by other on April 15, 2021

I attended this school from first to eighth grade. The school was filled with great teachers who pushed and challenged their students to achieve the best they can be within their faith, academics, and extra curricular activities. Students have several activities to engage in and build them as strong minded individuals and characters. St. Mary's has allowed a safe place to grow and become a involved member of the community a great place to form aspiring leaders within society.
Submitted by parent on January 16, 2020

My son has been at this school for 2 years, and he absolutely loves his teachers. All the teachers know all the students. My son has a speech delay and they have helped him tremendously. At the kindergarten level, the children are reading, writing, taking Spanish, art, music, gym, computer class, science, math, library, as well as going to church every Friday morning. The before/after care teachers are effective. The children are allowed to play and get snacks for $15 for 3 hours. No they will not make your child do their homework but the children are allowed to. We love this school. It is very community oriented and I can't say enough great things about this school.
Submitted by parent on October 26, 2019

My son has been at this school for three years. Our entire family loves it.
Submitted by parent on June 08, 2018

The academics in the school are below average. The school allows students to make racial comments to other students and get away with it. The principle is the biggest bully of them all. She always takes the side of the white students. They have no clue about how the kids really are. The students are rude and the teachers do nothing about it. My kid HATES to get up and go to school. The girls are grown and the principle believes what they say with no proof. The aftercare staff is not competent enough to watch kids. No homework time is set up and the staff just sits and lets the kids do what they want. If you are looking for a school run far away. If you are black don’t even bother to look. I’m so glad that we will not be returning.
Submitted by parent on March 28, 2017

My experience has not been that great. Middle school math, science, language arts, and reading are completely unacceptable. I have a middle school student and I have to get my child outside tutoring because they are not being challenged. The public schools are teaching more in middle school than St. Mary's. I would assume that they are lacking in the lower grades and that is why the upper grade students are behind. A serious look at the curriculum needs to happen. I am afraid of my child trying to get into high school and not being able to pass the required test. I believe more challenging work and a longer school day might help. Also extra work in the summer to help with the down time. This is an average school. Nothing special but it is safe and clean. Prayer is a important part of the day and love is taught.
Submitted by parent on April 26, 2016

Our family loves this school! The combination of academic excellence, school programs and family involvement makes us so happy that we made the decision to send our children to SMB. This school provides an atmosphere that promotes learning in a nurturing environment. Teacher communication is great. The teaching staff at both the elementary and middle school levels are exceptional. SMB is strong across the board especially in math and science. This school is one of the best!
Submitted by parent on February 12, 2014

I love this school, but more importantly, my kids love this school. We are new to the area and had a hard time taking the fact of where my kids were supposed to go and then we found St. Mary's. The teachers are amazing, as well as the staff. They have three award winning teachers at the school but all of them should fall under this category as they go above and beyond with their students. We are a military family and my kids have been to a new school every year they have been in school and this is by far the best. We will be here for 4 years and I am not looking forward to leaving. The parent involvement is amazing, the best I have seen thus far. And we love that the class sizes are smaller so they can focus on their students better. The math program is excellent, as well as the reading, but by far my favorite is that they grade them on their penmanship! Some schools do not care what the hand writing looks like or if you can read it, but not St. Mary's, thankfully. Finally, I love the religious aspect of the school. The priest is very much involved in the school which is a great learning aspect for them. They love to learn about Jesus.
Submitted by parent on October 15, 2013

The teachers were quick to identify learning challenges with our youngest son. We met as a team and devised a plan for both in school and at home. After following the plan for a few weeks we have seen phenomenal progression in our child. The teachers (in particular the 2nd grade teacher) and the principal have made it a priority to assist in building the learning confidence in our son. In the meantime we have an older child at SMB who is consistently challenged and supported by the incredible middle school teaching team at SMB. We couldn't be more satisfied. This is money very well spent - a solid investment with high rate of return.
Submitted by parent on July 18, 2013

I'm happy to give 5 stars to St. Mary's School! My son was having trouble reading. I thought maybe he was just having trouble adjusting to the transition of lower elementary to intermediate grade. However, his teacher contacted me to come in and meet with her. The teacher, resource teacher and principal all worked with us to determine what his needs were and how we could all work together to help him. I am so grateful for their care and concern and am thrilled to report that he ended the school year reading slightly above his grade level and doing better in all subjects. Most importantly, he feels good about his abilities and is well prepared for 5th grade. He and our family know that his success is really due to the care, concern and capable staff at St. Mary's. We love this school!
Submitted by parent on January 16, 2013

We are parents at Saint Mary s Bryantown (SMB) for the past 9 years. I am on the School Advisory Board and my wife is the chair of a major fund raiser while also on the Home School Association and Parish Counsel. SMB is family and just like any family there are different relationships. I will note that my child has been taught by EVERY teacher at the school and I have a myriad of empirical observations to show that the teachers do care and are engaged. Additionally, there are no less than five teachers who have been recognized by top awards for their teaching excellence. So while the foreign language and sports may not be as comprehensive as the public school system, if your emphasis is on sciences and the three R s , you will be sufficiently impressed. If you are looking for a quality education in a moral and structured environment, SMB is the place to educate your child. Working with the teacher (which we did several times), does effect change. Even so much change that our child is now on the National Junior Honor Society. We moved here after my military service and I can say that our family is treated with equal respect and dignity without regard to name, background or culture.
Submitted by parent on November 13, 2012

I couldn't imagine a better environment for my children to learn! While other schools are bragging about the increase in enrollment, I'm quite happy w/ the size of our school. It's truly a family which makes me feel great about leaving my kids in the faculty's care. When you see how well the principal interacts w/ the students, you know it's a good fit. She is kind & very involved, attending nearly every function that is held at school and away from the campus. Father Conley is also involved & knows the names of every student there. These are things that led me to St. Mary's & will keep me here for many years. My oldest is learning at a high school level and my youngest is doing a great job w/ reading at such a young age. When your children are excited to go to school, that school is doing something right. I'm totally impressed w/ the students, who I find to be mannerly and polite. A huge thank you to our principal, Mrs. Caniglia, who makes this school her home away from home and the students, faculty, & parents her family. There isn't anywhere else I'd rather have my children!