St. Mary's South Side Catholic High School

Ethan, one of our 2025 seniors, reminded us exactly why your support matters:

“Whether you’re headed to college or going straight into a career, you leave St. Mary's prepared. Our teachers care. Our campus is a second home. And the brotherhood is something you carry with you for life...I know there’s no way I’ll ever be able to repay the generosity that’s been shown to me and my classmates - through scholarships, opportunities, mentorship, and so much more. But what I can do - and what all of us can do - is live in a way that honors that support.

We can be young men who show up, who speak up, and who lift others up. We can be dependable sons, good neighbors, hardworking employees, and strong leaders in our communities. We can treat others with dignity and respect, no matter where life takes us. And we can carry the spirit of St. Mary’s with us - in every decision, every interaction, and every step forward.

That’s how we say thank you. That’s how we give back."

Ethan understands and has experienced that people who invest in St. Mary's gives him and his classmates "the chance to become the best version of themselves and the ability to make a difference in the world".

Your support on Give STL Day can remove barriers to high quality Catholic education in the city that enables young men to be future ready in any college, trades, or career they choose. 

St. Mary’s South Side Catholic High School is a private all-male high school providing exceptional education to 205 young men at a tuition cost that is significantly lower than other private all-male secondary schools in the St. Louis area.

Founded in 1931, St. Mary’s has been an integral part of the City of St. Louis’s Dutchtown neighborhood. Over 7,500 living alumni can testify to the quality of the St. Mary’s educational experience, which includes individualized academic learning, enriching extracurricular opportunities, and encouragement for personal growth.

As part of our accreditation process through the Cognia Improvement Network (CIN) in 2021, St. Mary's received extraordinary recognition and an Index of Education Quality (IEQ) score significantly higher than the institutional average for schools applying for accreditation over the last 5 years.

St. Mary's became an independent school in 2023 after previously operating as an Archdiocesan school. July 1, 2023 marked the beginning of our new entity, and with unwavering community support, we have been able to increase faculty salaries, graduate our first two cohorts of pre-apprentices, and welcomed our largest freshman class in over five years.

Rooted in the Marianist spirit, we are a beacon of hope, a community anchor, and a welcoming home for our students.

St. Mary’s is unlike any other high school in our region. St. Mary's educates 205 students in grades 9-12 on our campus in South St. Louis City. Almost all—97% receive tuition assistance to attend.

Students are from 41 zip codes and reflect the social and economic realities of the region: 84% are students of color; 15% do not speak English as the primary language at home; 67% are non-Catholic; over 82% of our families earn $75,000 or less; and 36% live at or below the federal poverty level. 

Teachers implement a differentiated instructional approach, ensuring every student—each with unique learning and processing capacities—is challenged and working toward his potential. As a result, St. Mary’s hallways are filled with young men who are diverse in both background and academic ability: over 29% have learning challenges supported by trained learning specialists and learning consultants. 

Additionally, we recognize and encourage exploration of differing future paths. Built into our course catalog are opportunities for students to earn college credit, participate in a pre-apprenticeship trades program, and explore career options. By increasing awareness of the options for success, we empower our students to control their own circumstances and create their own futures. We are creating a stronger workforce for our city.