About
Why School of St. Mary
A Community & Family
The School of St. Mary is not just a building that children pass through. It is a community and a family that shapes who they become. For more than a century, the School of St. Mary has educated generations of Lake Forest children who have gone on to become leaders and scholars, and many return so their own children can have the same experience.
We invite you to discover what makes the School of St. Mary distinctive, and to see why families across the North Shore choose us for the most formative years of their children's lives.
We invite you to discover what makes the School of St. Mary distinctive, and to see why families across the North Shore choose us for the most formative years of their children's lives.
Our motto has guided us since 1917To Learn, To Serve, To Lead
At the School of St. Mary, we teach academics, faith, character, and social-emotional growth as one. In algebra, students learn responsibility, integrity, and how to see a problem from someone else’s perspective. In history, they learn what it means to be a good neighbor, a thoughtful leader, and a faithful citizen.
These values for life are what set a Catholic education apart. They are what our students carry into high school and through the rest of their lives.
Two campuses, designed for how children grow
Primary Grade Center: 900 West Everett Road
Home to our preschool through 3rd grade, the Primary Grade Center is a warm, nurturing environment where preschool play meets the start of formal learning. Our youngest Crusaders build literacy, numeracy, and school routines in a space designed for small bodies and big imaginations, with natural light and plenty of room to play.
Upper Grade Center: 185 East Illinois Road
The site of the original building, the Upper Grade Center, is home to grades 4 through 8. Here, students step into a more rigorous academic setting. Beginning in fifth grade, students move to departmentalized teaching, and STEAM continues alongside art, music, and physical education. Middle school traditions and opportunities prepare students for the academic and social demands of high school.
The move from the Primary Grade Center to the Upper Grade Center is part of the School of St. Mary experience. Faculty at both campuses celebrate it, prepare students for it, and support them through the change.
Academic Rigor with Real Personal Attention
At the School of St. Mary, small classes, teachers who know every student by name, and a rigorous program draw out each child’s strongest work. Families come for that reason, and they stay for it.
On the iReady assessment, 100% Annual Typical Growth means a student gained a full year's worth of academic material in a single school year. At the School of St. Mary, our students don't stop at 100%. In 2025-2026, our students achieved an average growth of 129% in reading and 111% in math.
On the iReady assessment, 100% Annual Typical Growth means a student gained a full year's worth of academic material in a single school year. At the School of St. Mary, our students don't stop at 100%. In 2025-2026, our students achieved an average growth of 129% in reading and 111% in math.
In 2020, we became the first elementary school in the Archdiocese of Chicago to earn National Blue Ribbon recognition three times. That record reflects a pattern we have maintained for decades.
What that looks like in practice
List of 4 items.
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Differentiated Instruction
Every classroom offers differentiated instruction, with acceleration for students ready for more and tiered support for those who need it. -
Mixed-Ability Reading and Math Tracks
Middle school reading groups are mixed-ability, so stronger readers model skills for their classmates. Beginning in 6th grade, students join accelerated or on-level tracks in math, with placement based on iReady Math scores, the CogAT, grades, and teacher recommendations. -
A Core Curriculum
Our core curriculum follows Archdiocese of Chicago standards, and every student takes Spanish, art, music, and physical education. Our STEAM program begins in fourth grade. -
Service Learning
Service learning runs through the school experience, including the National Junior Honor Society and Confirmation service projects.
The Fall 2026 iReady results show the same strength at three points in the program: by 8th grade, 76 percent of our students read above grade level, and 52 percent perform above grade level in math. In each chart, the bold figure combines students one grade level above with students two or more grade levels above.
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Fall 2026 iReady Math. The bold figure combines students one grade level above with students two or more grade levels above.
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Fall 2026 iReady Reading. The bold figure combines students one grade level above with students two or more grade levels above.
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We meet strong learners and emerging ones where they are, often in the same classroom, on the same day.
Whole-Child Support A Dedicated Team Behind Every Child
Support at the School of St. Mary extends beyond the classroom. Our student support team includes:
List of 6 items.
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A Director of Student Services
Our Director of Student Services oversees screenings, evaluations, and individualized service plans. -
A Social Worker
Our school social worker provides social-emotional support, transition groups for new students, and a safe place to talk. -
Character Formation, Every Age
At the Primary Grade Center, our social worker meets weekly with classrooms to build social and emotional skills from the start. At the Upper Grade Center, students join small, faculty-led groups that focus on values such as respect, empathy, and service. -
Tiered Academic Support
Tiered academic support is available in reading, math, written expression, and executive functioning. -
Accommodations
We provide service plans and accommodations for students with Catholic Medical Care Plans, Individual Catholic Support Plans, and learning differences. -
Sacramental Preparation
We prepare students for First Reconciliation, First Communion, and Confirmation in partnership with the Church of St. Mary.
Whether your child is a confident learner, an emerging reader, or somewhere in between, the School of St. Mary has the people and structure to meet their needs.
A Community that Feels like Home
Ask our families what surprised them most, and you will hear the same words again and again: welcoming, warm, like coming home.
Where Crusaders Go Next
Our graduates are well-prepared for the academic and social demands of competitive high schools throughout the Chicago area, including Loyola Academy, Carmel Catholic, Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart, Lake Forest High School, Lake Forest Academy, and Northridge Prep. We built our 8th-grade curriculum to make that transition seamless.
But when families talk about their graduates, they rarely lead with test scores. They share the leadership roles, the close friendships, and the grounding faith their children carry for years and decades.
But when families talk about their graduates, they rarely lead with test scores. They share the leadership roles, the close friendships, and the grounding faith their children carry for years and decades.
"Today, I am blessed to welcome the children of students I taught nearly thirty years ago. The true measure of a Crusader education is not found only in test scores or accolades. It is found in the adults our students become decades later."
- Principal Kathy Thompson
- Principal Kathy Thompson
By the Numbers
We'd Love to Meet You!
Words can only do so much. Our families will tell you the same thing: you have to walk through the doors. Schedule a tour, attend an open house, or simply call with questions. We would love to meet your family.
A Roman Catholic School Since 1917
To Learn, To Serve, To Lead
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