St. Mary’s Academy (SMA) is Denver’s premier Catholic, independent coeducational Preschool to Grade 8, and all-girls High School established in 1864 by the Sisters of Loretto. It continues to be a forward-thinking educational leader focused on values-based, purpose-driven education with rigorous academics, integrated service learning, outstanding faculty, and a commitment to individualized attention and developing the whole student.

SMA’s Loretto School Values of faith, community, justice, and respect guide all that happens. SMA is an inclusive community that welcomes students of every culture, religious tradition, and economic background. The Academy emphasizes understanding and appreciation of different perspectives and focuses on respect and how people treat each other – to love inclusively and unconditionally with compassion. This allows for a deeper understanding of others and one’s convictions in an increasingly complex, multicultural, and multi-religious world.

SMA at a Glance

• 700 Students
• 12:1 — student to teacher Ratio
• 84% — faculty who hold advanced degrees Over $2 million in need-based financial aid awarded annually
• 23% — student body receives financial aid assistance
• 31% — students of color
• 43% — students are Catholic
• 66 zip codes are represented
• 100% student and faculty participation in service learning
• 100% high school student acceptance to college and universities

Academics

• The Early Learning Program (Preschool and Prekindergarten) recognizes the pivotal significance of a child’s formative years, encompassing cognitive, social, emotional, and physical growth, and is grounded in the belief that joyful learning is the cornerstone of optimal childhood development.
• In the Lower School (Kindergarten-Grade 5), children engage in social-emotional exploration while experiencing authentic learning, including an introduction to design thinking.
• The Middle School (Grades 6-8) is designed for learners to build their independence, forge connections, explore their identity through community service, and nurture their passion areas.
• In High School (Grades 9-12), young women evolve to trust their voices, delve deeply into advanced-level coursework and service learning, and leave with a purpose as agents of change.

Arts

At SMA, art is more than a subject. The Academy’s commitment to STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) is reflected in the integration of arts into the core curriculum, fostering innovation and critical thinking. In all schools, SMA provides students with curricular and extracurricular opportunities to explore every avenue of art, from painting and sculpture to choir and band to theater and music production.

Athletics

Wildcats are scholar-athletes, able to immerse themselves in their love of the game while continuing to succeed in the classroom. Through competition, students develop leadership, self-awareness, personal growth, and positive sportsmanship.

Healthy and age-appropriate competition opportunities begin as young as Grade 3. SMA encourages all Grades 6 through 12 students to participate in the athletics program. High School athletes compete and win in state, league, and regional competitions in 11 sports. The golf team won the state championship in 2021, 2022, and 2023, and the swim & dive team won the state championship in 2024.

Service Learning

Service learning is at the heart of SMA’s values-based education, spanning all grades and schools. Through service, students embody the Academy’s commitment to love, embrace the art of learning from those they serve, and realize their capacity to shape positive transformations.

In the Lower School, service learning is achieved through collection drives, assemblies, nonprofits adopted by grade levels, and whole-school challenges. In the Middle School, Community Action Teams perform work in the community throughout the year. The High School sponsors an outreach club and a service day, and every single student performs 100 hours of independent long-term service with one of 120 nonprofit organizations before graduation.

The SMA Community

St. Mary’s Academy is a vibrant community where rich traditions and special events unite students, faculty, parents, and alumnae to form deep, lasting friendships.

With over 4,000 alumnae as part of the SMA legacy, the Academy stays connected through nationwide social opportunities, a mentoring program, and the annual Reunion Weekend on
campus.

Parents engage through volunteer opportunities, parent coffees, field trips, educational events, and more, forming valuable friendships and support networks.

The community gathers at events throughout the year, including continuations and graduation ceremonies, the annual Gala, Family Game Night, and Chalk the Walk. The annual Fall Festival, a favorite long-held tradition, brings everyone together to celebrate what makes SMA magical.

 

Hear more from President & Head of School Iswari Natarajan.