“It is something that belongs to the girls,” reads an editorial in the inaugural issue of the St. Margaret’s School Magazine, “their own particular property ... in which they can all share, and to which everyone may contribute.” That was in 1911, just a few years after the school was founded by three women who wanted to offer something, well, more—more support, better academics—and to allow girls to dream bigger dreams. While the editor was writing about the magazine—that’s what she’s referring to as the “property”—she could just as easily be writing about the school itself. Since the beginning, St. Margaret’s has been just that: a place where girls feel a sense of home, a place where they can share something of themselves and where their contributions are valued. While the school has grown over the years, including a move in 1970 to the current 22-acre property, that tradition has remained. St. Margaret’s was at the forefront of girls’ education when it was begun (in that first issue of the magazine there is a photograph of girls playing basketball, which would have been notable at the time) and it remains so today. It was the first all-girls STEM school in the country and a leader in that regard, as in 2019 when they hosted a STEM Leadership Conference, “Sustaining Our Future.” The campus is, frankly, gorgeous, sympathetic to the cultural and natural environment, and includes LEED certified facilities. Programs are challenging in all the right ways, inquiry-based, and instructors are keen to include lots of real-world experience, getting the learning out beyond the walls of the classroom. The accomplishments of the alumnae are a symbol of the strength of the school, and the list of notable graduates includes the full range of endeavour, from engineering, the sciences, to environmental activism and the arts.
St. Margaret's School
St. Margaret's makes every day an amazing day for both of my daughters. My daughters have had an excellent academic education while learning and practicing values in an environment that challenges, supports and inspires them. They especially love the big sister/little sister program and multi-grade learning sessions. They also enjoy the multitude of opportunities they have to get in front of an audience to speak, perform or lead, and I love that subjects such as mental health and social justi... View full review
St. Margaret’s is amazing. The entire faculty goes above and beyond. Our daughter is nurtured and supported in all areas. She loves the ability to try many new things as well as focus on those she loves best. Small class sizes and an all girls environment provides a peaceful setting. View full review
The teaching staff always had time to support my child. Before school, during spare blocks and after school. View full review
The school has been an exceptionally welcoming environment for our family. Perhaps most importantly our children have felt they were an important part of the school community from their first day at school. Our children love the school grounds, with its sizeable woodlot and fields for play, the technology enabled classrooms and the care and attention that both teachers and administrators display. Our kids also love the STEM focused curriculum and the range of extracurricular activities that th... View full review
All 3 of our daughters very much enjoy St. Margaret's School (SMS) and are very proud to be a part of the SMS community! They know they are safe and secure in their environment, both in the classroom and outside of the classroom and are able to be their own person while they learn, play and have fun with their friends. The all-girl environment encourages them to use their voice and promotes leadership in a way that builds their self-confidence and self-esteem. As a boarding school, the girl... View full review
St. Margaret’s School is more of a home than simply a school. With small class sizes teachers are able to offer different teaching styles for the wide variety of learners. Teachers are readily available both before and after the school day, which is greatly appreciated by all students. There are numerous opportunities available at SMS and its safe environment allows for students to expand their boundaries without fearing failure. The Library at SMS is a comfortable study space for students to ... View full review
