Picture yourself here!
It is with great pleasure that I can say I’ve been a proud Knight for almost 30 years. Starting as a biology teacher and now as the president of our beloved school, it truly is an honor and privilege to serve the St. Mary’s Ryken community. Throughout this booklet you’ll find lots of ways to make the most of your experience as an SMR Knight. From our robust fine arts programs, to our athletic teams, faith life and clubs, all of our students find something to support their interests, find a new passion and grow their leadership skills.
It is such an exciting time to become a St. Mary’s Ryken student! We recently opened the St. Mary’s Ryken Flight Academy with over 24 flight simulators and the MIL Family STEM and Innovation Wing. This space houses a wind tunnel, virtual reality, 3-D printers, drone lab, robotics build area and space for STEM classes. This year we are renovating our Chapel of Charity, where everyone in the SMR community has the opportunity to attend daily Mass and spend time for personal reflection and prayer. Later this year, a new turf field will be installed in the stadium.
I hope you will join us for our fall open house on Sunday, Oct. 22. You’ll have the opportunity to meet students and teachers and tour our beautiful campus. Also, look on the back cover for information about our Knight for a Day program. It’s the best way to get the true St. Mary’s Ryken experience.
I look forward to meeting you. It’s a Great Day to Be a Knight!
Dr. Rick Wood President and CEO, St. Mary’s Ryken
Our Xaverian values:
St. Mary’s Ryken is a Catholic, coeducational, college preparatory school community operated under the Xaverian Brothers’ sponsorship dedicated to academic excellence and individualized student growth.
As a Xaverian Brothers sponsored school, we embrace the spiritual values of our founders: simplicity, humility, compassion, zeal and trust. These values define our community and call us to lives of faith and service.
being a Catholic community educating the whole child preparing our students for success in higher education and beyond offering and promoting academic excellence fostering mutual respect to ensure a safe environment for the spiritual, mental, physical and emotional development of our students
protecting the rights and embracing the contributions of all individuals within our community
acknowledging the transitional period between adolescence and young adulthood and supporting the growth of our students
addressing the learning differences of our students within the college preparatory curriculum motivating our students to show integrity and leadership in actions through responsible citizenship
We realize you have many choices for your child’s high school experience. Let us prove that St. Mary’s Ryken is the right choice for your family!
Each day at St. Mary’s Ryken, students are welcomed by faculty and staff who share a strong moral foundation rooted in Xaverian values of compassion, humility, simplicity, trust and zeal.
Graduates from Catholic schools generally experience higher earning potential than public school graduates.
Catholic schools outpace public schools in national assessments
year after year, according to The Nation’s Report Card,* the country’s leading measure of academic achievement in public and private schools.
* Source: https://www.nationsreportcard.gov
At St. Mary’s Ryken, your child’s future success is at the forefront of everything we do, and our alumni are proof of that.
were awarded to the 164 graduates in the SMR Class of 2023! On average, the Class of 2023 earned $134,000 per graduate in scholarships.
A dynamic sense of family and community has become our hallmark. The St. Mary’s Ryken community reaches beyond the high school years with students, alumni, athletic teams and faculty maintaining connections for years. This includes a solid alumni network that leads students to professional opportunities and strong friendships beyond high school.
On-campus technology includes a 1:1 iPad program, and Project Lead the Way Biomedical, Computer Science (focus on cybersecurity) and Engineering (focus on aerospace) courses that lead to internships and networking opportunities with local industry experts.
As a member of the highly competitive Washington Catholic Athletic Conference, we offer a well-rounded athletic program with 23 varsity sports.
Annually, we celebrate championship-winning teams and student-athletes who commit to four-year universities to continue playing their sport.
Students are offered numerous leadership and extracurricular opportunities through clubs, mentoring, volunteering and positions within their athletic teams and fine arts groups.
The importance of service to others and servant leadership is instilled in the St. Mary’s Ryken curriculum and practiced daily. Service to others is modeled by our faculty and staff.
St. Mary’s Ryken Campus Ministry is the backbone of our school community, and over 200 students a year benefit from the faith formation and spiritual direction program. We offer daily Mass, monthly schoolwide liturgies and an on-site chapel for daily prayer and reflection.
Our teaching environment and college-like campus promote self-discipline, and we instill high expectations for proper behavior on and off campus.
More than 150 college preparatory, honors and Advanced Placement courses are offered, including Project Lead the Way and dual enrollment opportunities with the College of Southern Maryland and Notre Dame of Maryland University.
Our faculty is committed to being accessible to students and parents, and has a genuine interest in the students’ success. Tutors and mentors are available in all subjects.
41 honors courses
28 AP courses
(Anne Arundel, Calvert, Charles, Prince George’s, St. Mary’s and King George counties)
15:1 student-tofaculty ratio
20 average class size
The Scholars Program offers accelerated curriculum concentrations to our students who want a more rigorous and advanced course of study.
The SMR Scholars Program offers STEM pathways in:
Biomedical Science
Computer Science (focus on cybersecurity)
Engineering (focus on aerospace)
And the following Humanities pathways:
Global and International Studies
Humanities
Performing Arts
Visual Arts
The STEM curriculum uses Project Lead the Way (PLTW), the nation’s leading provider of STEM programs. PLTW’s success in preparing students for higher education has been recognized by colleges and universities.
To view benefits of the program, selection criteria and courses for each pathway, scan the QR code:
The Campus Ministry Department encourages and supports students’ spiritual growth and development. Students are able to seek spiritual formation through Mass, theology class, daily prayer, service opportunities, mission trips, retreats and spiritual direction.
On campus, the Caritas Resource Center serves as a location for students to earn service hours, but, more importantly, understand the importance of serving others. At the center students can assist with helping those less fortunate prepare to move from homelessness to housing, participate in a mobile food pantry, and help to prepare and pack items that are needed for the moves.
St. Mary’s Ryken supports a well-rounded education that includes a competitive athletics program, fine arts curriculum and numerous extracurricular activities.
An appreciation of the arts is a priority at St. Mary’s Ryken. The Fine Arts Department offers a host of visual and performing arts classes taught by faculty who are accomplished, practicing professionals in their field.
An abundance of performance opportunities and extracurricular clubs are available to students who wish to hone their talents.
29 fine arts courses
Multiple theatre productions per year
(All students are invited to audition!)
A variety of chorus, dance and instrumental showcases on campus
Local and regional competitions and performances throughout the year
3 honor societies:
Waterfront art suite, including a ceramics studio, darkroom and gallery space
Leadership, integrity, teamwork and sportsmanship through Athletics
23 varsity sports, including a new dance team
30 Class of 2023 graduates will continue to use their talents as collegiate athletes
70% of students participate in the athletics program
Teams by season:
Fall
Cheerleading
Cross Country
Dance
Field Hockey
Football
Sailing
Boys Soccer
Girls Soccer
Girls Tennis
Volleyball
Winter
Boys Basketball
Girls Basketball
Cheerleading
Dance
Boys Ice Hockey
Girls Ice Hockey
Swimming
Wrestling
Spring Baseball
Golf
Boys Lacrosse
Girls Lacrosse
Sailing
Softball
Boys Tennis
Track & Field
As part of our mission to focus on individualized student growth, St. Mary’s Ryken offers support services to students with learning differences. Students apply through the regular admissions application.
To learn more about the levels of support and documentation needed to receive services, scan the QR code:
Our fully qualified staff provides assistance in reading, writing and math for students with diagnosed learning disabilities and medical conditions that can affect their performance in the classroom. Services include classroom and testing accommodations, and daily or weekly meetings with a resource specialist.
The SMR counseling team supports students socially, emotionally and academically throughout their four years. Students are assigned a counselor based on the student’s last name and stay with that counselor throughout their time at SMR. This fosters a strong counselor-student relationship. An on-site school therapist is available to meet with students needing additional support.
The SMR Counseling Department is an invaluable team player in your child’s college choice journey. With age-appropriate events and workshops for both students and parents starting freshman year, the team shows it’s never too early to prep for the college application process. The counseling team provides:
A robust college preparation and application process curriculum integrated into academic classes
Student workshops on how to write college essays, apply for scholarships, apply to college and choose the right school College night events with appropriate content for each grade level and parents
SMR-sponsored college tours during the school year
Annual on-campus college fair with over 40 colleges represented
Coffee With Counselors events are held quarterly. These morning events are open to all SMR parents and are an opportunity to talk to the counseling team about various topics, including:
Course selection
College preparation for all grade levels
Mental health
Technology and social media
Freshman Experience
Freshman Experience is a four-day summer program designed to acclimate incoming freshmen to the SMR campus, learn the curriculum, and meet faculty and fellow classmates. It also gives students a chance to make new friends before the school year begins.
Knights Apprentice Program
New students are paired with upperclassmen who help to guide and mentor their freshmen and transfer mentees into becoming successful new Knights. Mentors are selected based on their ability to be positive, responsible role models.
During orientation, students will prepare for the school year through several activities, including: connecting with their mentors, meeting their teachers, learning about student activities, attending technology check-in and participating in a Battle of the Houses!
St. Mary’s Ryken is a special place. Our 87-acre, waterfront campus offers a high school experience like no other in the Southern Maryland area. Our college-like campus prepares students for life after high school. Each day, students attend classes in six different buildings, allowing for plenty of time outdoors.
Daily Mass is held in the Chapel of Charity. (Renovations in 2023.)
The auditorium is used for fine arts events, theatre productions, student assemblies and parent meetings.
The spaces include a virtual reality system, 3-D printers, robotics arena, robotics build rooms and two large classrooms for labs.
Classroom spaces are equipped with modern furniture, Apple TVs and Wi-Fi.
Coming soon! New turf for the MIL Family Stadium and renovations in the Chapel of Charity
The St. Mary’s Ryken Flight Academy is an interactive classroom that provides all students with an opportunity to learn about the field of aviation.
Centrally located on campus, this all-inclusive health and wellness facility bridges the upper and lower campus. It’s the main hub for most school events, all-school Masses and indoor athletic competitions.
Students utilize the college-level training facilities to maintain the level of competitiveness required as members of the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference. All SMR community members have access to this space.
SMR athletic facilities include a state-of-the-art, 1,000-seat outdoor sports stadium with a professional-level, NFL-grade turf field and a six-lane track.
Located on Breton Bay, St. Mary’s Ryken offers opportunities for students to try many new and different activities, such as sailing — which is offered during the fall and spring.
The school day starts at 8:10 a.m. and ends at 2:40 p.m.
Freshmen carry a full roster of seven classes plus a study hall. Each day has four class periods (1-4, then 5-8), on a rotational schedule. Each student will have a study hall every other day so that they can complete assignments and meet with teachers as necessary. The rotating schedule varies the routine for students, which sets them up for success in the classroom. It also lessens the impact of early dismissal on students who participate in extracurricular activities.
There are 10 minutes between classes and 30 minutes for lunch.
The Course Map is a visual tool to assist with understanding course requirements for each grade.
Below is a typical freshman schedule:
Theology
Literature and Composition
Conceptual Physics
Ancient World History
Algebra I or Geometry
World language of their choice
2 electives
To view the rotational schedule, scan the QR code:
28 credits required for graduation
As a school community, we are committed to proving to you that St. Mary’s Ryken is the right choice for your family and your child’s future!
In the Xaverian tradition, a challenging Catholic, college preparatory, educational program is a hallmark of St. Mary’s Ryken. As a center of growth and learning, SMR expects that all students and faculty are committed to academic integrity and excellence as well as spiritual growth. Such an atmosphere instills the desire to learn for the sake of learning and increases our students’ personal confidence as they experience success in the classroom, on the stage, in the community, among their peers and on the athletic field. Understanding the importance of developing the whole, unique individual, it is our hope that an SMR graduate will:
Be a person of moral character, be able to nurture a relationship with God through prayer, be a steward for social justice, and possess an understanding of Catholic theology and tradition
Possess a deep intellectual curiosity with a passion for lifelong learning, have the ability in personal and professional pursuits to effectively utilize evolving technology and understand how it impacts our society, have the competency for critical thinking and analysis in the humanities and the sciences, and be well prepared for post-secondary academic pursuits
Be a confident, self-assured young adult capable of developing enduring personal relationships and nurturing a spirit of harmony; be open to diversity and possess a global perspective; and be committed to making a difference in their community by their leadership.
164 graduates
>18,200 service hours completed in their community
27 were accepted into honors colleges or universities
31 AP Scholars (4 Capstone Diplomas)
14 will attend a Catholic college
2 National Merit Commended Scholars
38 received the SMR Scholars Program Diploma of Distinction
30 graduates will continue to use their talents as collegiate athletes
>$22 million in scholarships were offered
266 colleges and universities offered admission in 36 states, Washington, D.C., and the United Kingdom.
2 will be attending service academies (U.S. Naval and U.S. Coast Guard)
>41% received scholarships totaling over $100,000
70% received at least one scholarship
Auburn University
Baylor University
Benedictine College
Christopher Newport University
College of the Holy Cross
Davidson College
Drexel University
Duke University
Duquesne University
Elon University
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Emory University
Flagler College
George Mason University
Howard University
James Madison University
Loyola University Maryland
Michigan State University
Mount St. Mary’s University
Pennsylvania State University
Randolph-Macon College
Roanoke College
Rochester Institute of Technology
Rutgers University
St. John’s University –New York
Saint Joseph’s University
Saint Vincent College
Salisbury University
Southwestern University
Syracuse University
Temple University
Towson University
United States Coast Guard Academy
United States
Naval Academy
University of Birmingham
University of Colorado
Boulder
University of Delaware
University of Manchester
University of Mary
University of Maryland –Baltimore County
University of Maryland
University of Minnesota
University of North
Carolina Wilmington
University of Oregon
University of Pittsburgh
University of South Florida
University of Tampa
University of Utah
Villanova
University
Virginia Tech
West Virginia
University
Yale University
“
As a Catholic family, we understand the importance of a Catholic education while also valuing academic excellence and community. We decided to send our three daughters to St. Mary’s Ryken because of the emphasis on Catholic values, the academic excellence they provide, and the supportive and caring environment. Catholic schools not only provide an outstanding education, but instill values like morality, teamwork, and respect.
This experience has not only shaped our daughters to become better Catholics, but has set them on the road towards a bright future.”
—Ping Cain, P ’20, ’23, ’24 Kathleen Cain speaking during the Class of 2023 commencement ceremony“
Every day we make sacrifices for the well-being of our kids, and when it came to high school there was no question that we needed a school that would provide not only a good education but an opportunity to be closer to God and their Catholic faith.
As a college preparatory school, SMR has opened doors to the colleges that our children want to attend. It feels good to know we have prepared our children to carry their faith with them as they continue their studies and enter the world as independent Catholic young adults.”
—John
and Amparito Mullery, P ’22, ’24“ Our family made the decision to send our daughters to Catholic schools so that they would be surrounded by faith-filled environments that would foster their spiritual development as well as provide academic excellence, service to others, character development, athletics and other extracurricular activities that promote teamwork and sportsmanship. A Catholic education has also provided my daughters with the values of respect, faithfulness, and service, and we are grateful that these core values are an important part of their education. Their Catholic education has also provided them with many leadership and service opportunities that helped motivate them to be responsible students and community members. It has been a great experience and a commitment we are thankful we made many years ago.”
—Amy Ashley, P ’23, ’26
The Mullery Family: John, Alexandra ’22, Amparito and JP ’24
In 2021, SMR marked its 40th anniversary as St. Mary’s Ryken. Because of the fortitude and determination of the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth and the Xaverian Brothers, the all-girls St. Mary’s Academy and all-boys Ryken High School were merged to combine their vision of continuing Catholic education to serve high school students in Southern Maryland.
The newly formed St. Mary’s Ryken High School opens in September on the grounds of the former Ryken High School with 560 students. Brother Matthew Burke is the principal. The St. Mary’s Academy property becomes home to the College of Southern Maryland.
The performing arts building, Romuald Hall, is constructed. The building houses a 320-seat theatre and media center and also becomes home to the history department.
Many other renovations are finished, including a new cafeteria, refurbishments to the exterior of Paschal Hall and its classrooms, and the lower athletic fields and tennis courts.
The library in Rupert Hall is renovated to become the Chapel of Charity in honor of the Sisters of Charity.
SMR joins the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC), the most prestigious private school athletic conference in the country. By being part of the WCAC, SMR student-athletes are more likely to have the chance to continue to play their sport in college.
Class of 2023 graduates who will continue to use their talents as collegiate athletes. 26 St. Mary’s Ryken High School
The Knights football team begins its first season.
In June, construction begins on a stadium with a turf field and six-lane track.
The Donnie Williams Center opens and becomes the campus hub for many school, community, spiritual, sporting and alumni events. The MIL STEM Innovation Wing, which includes a computer lab, robotics arena, STEM spaces and wind tunnel, also opens.
The Caritas Resource Center opens to assist the less fortunate in the local community move from homelessness to housing. By 2023, the CRC is assisting over 70 families per year.
The St. Mary’s Ryken Flight Academy opens with 24 flight simulators.
2023-24
The school year opens with 700 students from over 40 middle schools in Maryland and Virginia.
Applicants to St. Mary’s Ryken are evaluated based upon the following criteria:
Submission of the online SMR application with application fee
Appropriate ability as demonstrated on the Archdiocese of Washington High School Placement Test (HSPT)
High level of academic achievement in the seventh and eighth grades
A demonstrated desire to attend SMR
Recommendations of principals and/or teachers
Satisfactory disciplinary and attendance history
In-person or virtual interview with a member of the SMR community may be required
SMR reserves the right to revoke acceptance at any time for academic and/or disciplinary reasons.
$19,225
Flexible payment plans are available.
Financial aid at St. Mary’s Ryken is based on a family’s ability to pay. The primary responsibility for funding a child’s education lies with the parents. As such, we expect that each parent will fund the child’s education to the extent that they are able. Our financial aid program is designed to assist families after they have considered all of their own resources. Financial aid is available for qualifying families from both the Archdiocese of Washington and SMR. Applications for tuition assistance must be completed by using TADS, the tuition assistance program.
St. Mary’s Ryken awards merit-based scholarships to incoming freshmen in the areas of academics, leadership, service and fine arts. The scholarship competition takes place in January of the 8th grade year. Merit-based scholarships are four-year scholarships, and therefore, high school transfer students are not eligible.
Scan the QR code to learn about scholarships:
Transportation
St. Mary’s Ryken students come from Anne Arundel, Calvert, Charles, Prince George’s, St. Mary’s and King George counties. Transportation is available for all students.
A late bus (activity bus) is available for students who reside outside of St. Mary’s County. It departs the St. Mary’s Ryken campus at 5:30 p.m. every school day when athletic practices or other activities are occurring.
Scan the QR code to learn about transportation options:
You are invited to our Fall Open House on Sunday, Oct. 22.
Knight for a Day
Please contact the Admissions Team at admissions@smrhs.org if you would like to schedule a family tour. Tours are offered year round.
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Students in grades 8-10 are invited to join our community for the day to learn more about SMR. This is the best way to get the true St. Mary’s Ryken experience. Visiting students are paired with a current SMR student, attend classes, enjoy lunch on us, explore our beautiful campus, and experience a day in the life of an SMR student.
