Every student at St. Mary’s Academy for generations has felt the indescribable feeling of opening an acceptance letter to her top-choice school.  This year, all 43 members of the 2025 senior class felt it on a new level having achieved something historic: 100% college acceptance to top-choice schools before December 2024. 

St. Mary’s Academy, one of the oldest Black Catholic schools in the country, has been shaping young women into well-rounded leaders for over a century and a half. As an esteemed college preparatory institution known for its rigorous curriculum, St. Mary’s has long upheld a tradition of 100% college acceptance for its graduating classes. This year, however, the Class of 2025 elevated this legacy to new heights by achieving a record-breaking milestone: every senior received an acceptance letter to their top-choice schools during the fall semester, marking the earliest full-class acceptance in the school’s history. 

While previous classes have achieved full acceptance, no class before has done so entirely during the early acceptance season, widely known as the first phase of the college admissions process. Surpassing expectations, the Class of 2025 not only reached this goal months before National College Decision Day with many students earning scholarships.    

“The application process this fall was very stressful,” one senior said. “As soon as August 1 came, I set up my Common App and started adding colleges to my list. The very first school I applied to was Spelman, of course. Spelman is my dream school. Once I finished with Spelman, I started applying to the rest of the colleges on my list. So many essays were written, so many tears fell, but I finished. Now, all I have to do is make a decision.”  

St. Mary’s Academy played a crucial role in preparing students for the college application process. St. Mary’s encourages its seniors to utilize platforms like the Common Black College App and the Common App, which made the process more manageable. The guidance from the administration, along with structured timelines, ensured that students were organized and confident throughout their applications. 

Many seniors benefited greatly from this support. “SMA has been preparing us for this since we entered high school,” said one senior. “Mrs. Rogers laid out a timeline of what our senior year would look like. The college counseling team provided valuable advice, helping us manage deadlines and navigate tough decisions like deferrals or deciding between schools.” 

The Class of 2025’s collective success is a testament to St. Mary’s Academy’s commitment to academic excellence and college preparedness. “This record-breaking milestone isn’t just about the individual achievements of each student,” said Pamela Rogers, St. Mary’s President/Interim Principal. “It reflects the strength of a community that’s committed to empowering young women and ensuring they’re equipped to succeed in every phase of their lives. Our focus has always been on guiding students to achieve their dreams, and this achievement speaks volumes about their resilience and determination.”