St. Mark is a two-time National Blue Ribbon school and is home to the only SMARTLAB facility in DFW, serving students in preschool through 8th grade. Exemplary academics and instruction in art, music, foreign language, STEM, and physical education combine with faith and a spirit of community service to develop the whole child: mind, body and spirit.
Home to the only SMARTLAB in the DFW area.
St. Mark Catholic School has set the standard for private education in Collin County since 1982, serving students in preschool through 8th grade. Committed to academic excellence, emotional intelligence, and rooted in faith, St. Mark teaches the whole child: mind, body, and spirit.
The school has twice received the U.S. Department of Education “National Blue Ribbon Award” and recently qualified for a rare third nomination. Both students and faculty have been honored on the local, regional and national levels for academic excellence and innovative teaching methods. In 2018, St. Mark was named one of the top three schools in the nation for technology integration by Today’s Catholic Teacher magazine. The Diocese of Dallas “Teacher of the Year” hailed from St. Mark in both 2016 and 2017. All teachers are degreed and certified by the State of Texas, with many holding advanced degrees.
As home to the only SMARTLAB in the DFW area, students benefit from a fully integrated, customized facility where they explore multiple disciplines through applied technology and project-based learning. Experiences include graphic design, robotics, Photoshop, biomedical applications, digital animation, scientific data analysis, software engineering, music studio applications, circuitry, mechanics and structures, and much more. Students rotate through projects discovering, exploring, and applying a wide range of technologies to their work, which is then presented to the class. Further, an appropriate level of challenge is provided to each student, addressing all learning styles.
Innovation meets tradition as the classic subjects of math, science, language arts, and social studies are taught from preschool through 8th grade. In addition, cursive handwriting, music, art, foreign language, and daily physical education are integral to the curriculum. Instruction is enhanced with the latest technology including iPads and Chromebooks, computer lab instruction, interactive smart boards, and an integrated STEM curriculum.
St. Mark is among only a few schools in the State of Texas to be recognized as a Digital Citizenship Certified School by Common Sense Media. The purpose of this program is to equip students with the skills they need to be responsible online citizens.
Learning differences are addressed by full-time resource teachers and a full-time guidance counselor. Differentiation is also utilized to target individual student needs in the classroom, in addition to small group work and on-site tutoring.
An integrated, structured guidance program encourages discussions about social/emotional issues at an age-appropriate level. Health is integrated into the curriculum, and emotional intelligence is fostered through various hands-on activities that challenge students’ perseverance. St. Mark also utilizes Pope John Paul II’s Theology of the Body program which teaches fifth through eighth grade students that all mankind should treat their bodies with reverence and live in a way that is worthy of our great dignity as human beings.
The student experience is enhanced through a wide variety of enrichment clubs and extra-curricular activities including numerous academic competitions, robotics, competitive speech, scouting organizations, drone club, engineering club, art club, and more.
Physical activity is encouraged through daily P.E. classes, outdoor recess, and many competitive sports teams. Preschool through 4th grade students may participate on parent-formed teams through various city leagues. 5th through 8th grade students have the opportunity to participate in thirteen different sports: baseball, basketball, cheerleading, cross country, football, futsal, golf, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, track and field, and volleyball. This year alone, St. Mark took home Championship titles in golf, football and volleyball.
A well-rounded Fine Arts program offers instruction and extra-curricular activities in art, music, band, orchestra, choir, and drama.
Daily religious instruction and weekly church services reinforce virtues and values, and encourage children to build on their faith. Community service is a cornerstone of the program. Students in preschool through 8th grade participate in monthly service projects, and middle school students are required to perform additional service hours.
To accommodate working parents, St. Mark offers an optional 7:15 AM drop-off time and morning supervision at no charge, as well as an After School Program that is available until 6:00 PM on school days with flexible pick-up times charged at an hourly rate.
Financial aid is available.
For more information, upcoming Open House dates, or to schedule a private tour, please call 972-578-0610 or visit http://www.stmcs.net.
