Where every learner
is a leader.

Magnify their future

Admissions

Thank you for your interest in St. Mary’s Academy.  You will find SMA to be a faith-filled, academically rigorous, safe, and caring environment for your child or children.

St. Mary’s Academy admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at archdiocesan schools. St. Mary’s Academy does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.

The Admissions Office is happy to assist you with any questions or concerns about the application or admissions process.

We are excited to meet you and your family!

Applications

To be considered for admission, for the upcoming school year, a completed application with all supporting documents should be received by the Admissions Office by our Priority Application Deadline.

  • Applications open November 2023.
  • Families who are interested in enrolling for the current school year please call the Admissions Office at 770-461-2202.
  • The Priority Application Deadline is February 1. The online application and supporting documents must be submitted by the deadline for priority consideration. 
  • For admission to pre-kindergarten, your child must be four years old on or before September 1 of the enrolling year. For admission to kindergarten, your child must be five years old on or before September 1 of the enrolling year. For admissions to grade 1, your child must be six years old on or before September 1 of the enrolling year.
  • Tuition assistance is available to both Active/Non-Active Catholic and Non-Catholic families. Applications must be submitted by the Priority Application Deadline to be considered for assistance.

For information about St. Mary’s Academy Admissions, please contact:

Kiesha Porter

Director of Admissions

(770) 461-2202 ext. 413

admissions@smaschool.org

For information or questions about Financial Aid, please contact:

Mark Komdat

Director of Operations

(770) 461-2202 ext. 409

mkomdat@smaschool.org

Important Dates & Deadlines

how to Apply: Eight easy STEPS

COMPLETE ONLINE APPLICATION & SUBMIT CERTIFICATES

Complete the Online Application and submit all application documents by Tuesday, February 1, 2024. 

After completing the application, submit copies of the documents listed below to admissions@smaschool.org. Please put your child’s name and title of the form in the subject line. 

  • Birth Certificate 
  • Baptismal Certificate (for PK4-8 Catholic applicants only)
  • Immunization Record (form 3231)
  • Certificate of Vision, Hearing, Dental, and Nutrition Screening (form 3300)

Please note, you must submit all medical forms to complete the application. The physical form (below) must be submitted to enroll in St. Mary’s Academy. 

  • 5320 PE/Athletic Physician Clearance Form. Required for grades PK-9 for PE | Required for grades 9 – 12 for high school athletics. 

Immunization Requirements 
The State of Georgia and the Archdiocese of Atlanta require up-to-date or completed immunizations for school attendance. All students entering school (through 19 years of age) must be immunized according to the rules and regulations established by the Georgia Department of Human Resources (DHR). The Certificate of Immunization, Form 3231, is the official record of immunization. This certificate is required of each student and must be updated and readily available for auditing or for checking for exemptions in the event of disease outbreak.
 
For the current immunization requirements, please visit the Immunization Section on the Georgia Department of Public Health website at https://dph.georgia.gov/immunization-section.
 
Please note that the Archdiocese of Atlanta does not recognize Religious Exemptions

Need Help?

Families interested in receiving help with completing the online application are invited to attend a help session. Registration is required. call Kiesha Porter at (770) 461-2202 ext. 413.

Financial Aid  Application Help Session

Please call our office at 770-461-2202 (409) for more information. 

PAY APPLICATION FEE

Pay the non-refundable application fee of $100.00. Your application is not considered “active” until the application fee is received.

COMPLETE STUDENT QUESTIONNAIRE
(Applicants for Grades 6-12 Only)

Students applying for grades 6-12 need to complete the Student Questionnaire.

  • Email the student questionnaire to admissions@smaschool.org. Put the subject line STUDENT QUESTIONNAIRE – (Your Child’s Name) in the email.

Release of Records FORM

The Release of Records Form is part of the online application. Complete and submit the form to your child’s current school. Your child’s current school will, in turn, send the following documents to SMA: 

    • school transcript 
    • report card
    • standardized test scores
    • discipline/behavior records 

Student Evaluation Form(s)

Evaluations are part of the online application. Please submit the Student Evaluation Form(s) to your child’s teacher through the application portal.

Teacher Evaluation Form

Principal Evaluation Form (if applicable) 

Teacher Evaluation Form

Principal Evaluation Form

Math Teacher Evaluation Form

Language Arts Evaluation Form

Principal Evaluation Form

Admissions Screening process

The Admissions Screening process incorporates various methods to gather benchmark data for the Admissions Committee to review. Screenings for PK4 – 8 applicants will begin in February. Families will be notified with further instructions.

Screenings begin in February.

All 9th-grade applicants must take the Secondary Admissions Test (SSAT), and send scores to St. Mary’s Academy (Our Lady of Mercy)–school code: 5585. Applicants must register online at www.ssat.org

The SSAT will be administered on our campus on the following dates:

  • Saturday, November 11, 2023
  • Saturday, December 9, 2023
  • Saturday, January 6, 2024

All grades 10 – 12 applicants must have either SSAT or PSAT scores from their current school.  Applicants who need to take the SSAT must register online at www.ssat.org. Send scores to St. Mary’s Academy (Our Lady of Mercy)–school code: 5585.

The SSAT will be administered on our campus on the following dates:

  • Saturday, November 11, 2023
  • Saturday, December 9, 2023
  • Saturday, January 6, 2024                              *We prefer applicants register for the paper exam.

DOWNLOAD PARISH VERIFICATION FORM
(Catholic Applicants Only)

Download and submit the Parish Verification form to your home parish. Your parish will complete it and send it to St. Mary’s Academy for you.

SUBMIT ADDITIONAL OR UPDATED EDUCATIONAL/PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTING AND EVALUATIONS (If Applicable)

If you have completed the online application and need to submit additional Educational Testing, Psychological Testing, or Evaluations, please email a copy to admissions@stmarysbobcats.org. Please put the subject line TESTING EVALUATIONS – (Your Child’s Name) in your email. 

St. Mary’s Academy intends to provide students with diagnosed needs the opportunity to receive the benefits of a Catholic school education according to the school’s available resources.  We strive to provide the accommodations and/or modifications necessary within the scope of our resources for students who are identified as needing additional support.  Admissions decisions are made after a review of all educational, developmental, and relevant medical history related to the disability/learning challenge. 

Campus Visits

Guests will explore a variety of academic programs and extracurricular activities at St. Mary’s Academy. Learn about the admissions process, financial aid, tour our campus, and meet our remarkable teachers and students. There will be presentations, school tours, and refreshments! More information will be available in 2024!

Shadow Day provides a unique opportunity for prospective students to explore the distinguished learning environment and welcoming community at St. Mary’s Academy. Prospective students will be paired with a Student Ambassador and will follow the class schedule of their host. Shadow students will learn about our athletic and fine arts programs, student ministry, clubs, and engage with teachers and coaches. Plus, lunch is on us! Shadow students will enjoy lunch, meet other students, and see some of our new technology and campus upgrades. Registration is required.

Please check the Important Dates section of our Admissions page for the next available date.  Shadow day is available to students in the eighth grade or older. The day runs from 9:00 am to 1:30 pm. 

Attire: We ask that students wear their current school uniform if applicable. Otherwise, please wear business casual attire.

Materials & Lunch: We encourage students to bring a notebook and pencil/pen to take notes during the day. We provide lunch! Students will choose from the menu in the cafeteria.

We are excited to welcome you to our campus!

Please contact Kiesha Porter, Director of Admissions, for all inquiries at kporter@smaschool.org  | 770-461-2202.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR OUR NEXT SHADOW DAY

Join us for a Bobcat Breakfast and experience our new PK4-12th-grade Catholic school, St. Mary’s Academy. Our Bobcat Breakfast offers prospective families an opportunity to enjoy a light breakfast and learn about our new curriculum, technology, and campus upgrades. Before touring our campus, guests will hear presentations about the admissions process, financial aid options and will meet representatives from athletics, campus ministry, and fine arts. St. Mary’s is located on the current Our Lady of Mercy Catholic High School Campus at 861 Highway 279,  Fayetteville, GA, 30214. Masks are required and must be worn while on campus. RSVP is required. To find the date of our next Bobcat Breakfast, please check the Important Dates section of our Admissions page.

Reserve your spot below:

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR BOBCAT BREAKFAST

Please contact Kiesha Porter, Director of Admissions, for all inquiries at kporter@smaschool.org  | 770-461-2202.

If you cannot attend a Bobcat Breakfast, sign up for a tour. Come get an inside view of the new technology and campus upgrades at St. Mary’s Academy. As we expand to a PK4-12th grade Catholic school, we invite prospective families to see the transformation in person.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR A TOUR

Join us for our Summer Preview Day on Tuesday, June 27, 2023, from 8:00 to 9:30 am. The session will include information about the multi-child discount, financial aid, STEM curriculum, high school & middle school athletics, and Intramural Programs for grades 1-5. Campus tours will also be available. Please RSVP here.

ADMISSIONS FAQ's

Yes, students from all faith practices attend St. Mary’s Academy. SMA is a Roman Catholic educational institution, fully committed to the teachings of the Roman Catholic faith. All educative activity offered at the school is grounded in the Catholic faith; without it, the school is unable to achieve its mission. The school respects the personal conscience of individual students and their families. This freedom is recognized by the Catholic Church and we welcome children from all faith backgrounds. However, as a Catholic school it cannot relinquish its own freedom to proclaim the Gospel and to offer a formation based on the teachings of the Catholic faith and the values to be found in Christian education. All students will therefore be expected to participate in religious instruction and Catholic formation offered at the school except those intended only for Catholics; namely, the reception of the Sacraments. 

  • St. Mary’s Academy admits students of any race, color, and national and ethnic origin and grants the rights, privileges, programs, and activities accorded or made available to students at Archdiocesan of Atlanta schools.
  • St. Mary’s Academy shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, and national and ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, admissions processes, scholarship, and financial assistance policies, and other school-administered programs.
  • To enroll in St. Mary’s Academy, a student must be current with all immunizations in compliance with the State of Georgia. We do not recognize an exemption based upon a matter of conscience/religious exemption. To obtain a medical exemption the student’s pediatrician must provide documentation of a medical contraindication to be accepted.

Application decisions will be sent via email to families on April 1, 2023.

Our admissions committee is comprised of administrators, counselors, and teachers. This committee recommends students for admission to the principal.

When we receive a completed application, the Admissions Committee begins a comprehensive, holistic review of the application. In other words, we consider the applicant as a whole individual, not merely select parts. We strive to find students who will contribute to our community in meaningful ways, both academically and through our robust extracurricular programs. Therefore, one part of the application is not “more important” than the other parts. 

No. We only read the required evaluations.

No. If we need additional information or request an interview, then we will contact you.

Unfortunately, we are unable to meet with students and parents to discuss admissions. You are welcome to take a tour and your student is encouraged to attend a Shadow Day. 

Yes. We are able to provide some accommodations but we do not modify the curriculum. Students with documented educational plans who are accepted will meet with the Assistant Principal and School Counselor before the beginning of the school year to set up a Student Support Plan.

Yes. We accept a limited number of International Students every year. 

athletics sma bobcats

Bobcat Breakfast

if you missed our open house, save the date for St. MAry's bobcat breakfast!

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tuesday, november 14
tuesday, december 5

8:00 - 9:30 am

high | middle school &
pk4 - 5 sessions are available