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Academics

Rector: Reverend Matthew Wigton  | Principal: Jerry Belanger  |  Counselor: Tracy O’Connell

Established in 1894, St. Mary Cathedral School of Gaylord, Michigan is a Roman Catholic school, serving 300+ students Pre-school through twelfth grades.  Our smaller class sizes ensure individualized attention and offer an environment dedicated to teaching more than just the basics.  St. Mary Cathedral School works tirelessly to provide a dynamic academic experience, rooted in Gospel values and taught by an innovative, educated, and dedicated staff. 

Profile
  • 1: 16 current teacher to student ratio
  • 322 Students Pre-K through 12th Grades
  • 98% average of St. Mary graduates that attend post-secondary education
  • 23 Average Composite ACT Score
  • 99% Student participation in extra-curricular activities
  • 20% of the student population receives some level of tuition assistance
Schedule
  • Four 9-week academic quarters
  • Daily sessions meet for 53 minutes (HS Only)
  • Maximum of seven credits may be taken yearly (HS Only)
  • Weekly adoration and Mass
Accreditation & Assessment

St. Mary is fully accredited by the Michigan Association of Non-Public Schools (MANS).  MANS is recognized as the essential voice advancing equity and excellence for all of Michigan’s faith-based, Christ-centered schools.  St. Mary School is part of the Diocese of Gaylord.  The Diocese of Gaylord Catholic schools remains aligned to College Readiness where 99% of our students go on to attend post-secondary education.  Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA) assessment is used to track student growth over time.  We also use ACT, PSAT and NWEA battery of tests to measure college readiness in grades 7-12.

It is essential to note that important decisions about students are never made on the basis of a single assessment.  Information gained from testing contributes to the balanced view of student growth that includes each student’s daily work, performance on a variety of classroom assessments, and the observations and insights of the teachers.

Class Offerings
  • Advanced Placement courses (HS Only)
  • Dual-enrollment at North Central Michigan College and Kirtland Community College (HS Only)
  • Full range of academic courses
  • The arts and physical education
Graduation Requirements

Religion                                                4 credits

English                                                 4 credits

Mathematics                                         4 credits

Science                                                4 credits

Social Studies                                       3 credits

Spanish I & II                                        2 credits

Physical Education and Health             1 credit

Electives                                               3 credits

Visual, Performing, Applied Arts           1 credit

Total                                    26 credits        

Staff
Extra-Curricular

Sports:

  • Football
  • Cross-Country
  • Volleyball
  • Basketball
  • Cheerleading
  • Softball
  • Baseball
  • Track & Field
  • Archery
  • Golf

All other sports can be played through Gaylord Community Schools & club sports at the Gaylord Sportsplex!

Clubs:

  • Cathedral Players Theatre
  • Youth in Government
  • Student Leadership Forum
  • National Honor Society
  • Student Ambassadors
  • Student Council
  • Youth Group
  • Pro-Life
  • Band
  • Choir
  • Mission Trips

Robotics, Programming & other  respective clubs can also be found through First In Michigan, 4H,  Michigan 4-H Tech Wizards,  Local Art,  Community Theatre

Service-Based Learning

At St. Mary we believe the intellectual and moral development of each student is nurtured and molded through service to others.  All high school students must complete the required amount of service hours prior to graduation:

Freshmen 20 Hours  |  Sophomores 20 Hours  |  Juniors 30 Hours  |  Seniors 30 Hours

Grade Point Calculation Scale

A          100-93%           A-         92-90%

B+        89-87                B          86-83

B-         82-80                C+        79-77

C          76-73                C-         72-70   

D+        69-67                D          66-63

D-         62-60                F          59% or less

Technology

Smart Boards  |  Chromebooks & iPads 1:1 ratio - Young 5 –12

Recent College Acceptances
  • Harvard University
  • The University of St. Francis
  • Boston College
  • University of Michigan
  • Michigan Technological University
  • Michigan State University
  • Western Michigan University
  • St. Mary’s College of
  • Notre Dame
  • Central Michigan University
  • Lake Superior State University
  • Olivet College
  • Lawrence Technological University
  • Marquette University
  • St. Thomas Aquinas College
  • Wayne State University
  • Kettering University
  • Texas A & M
  • Arizona State University
  • Northern Michigan
  • University
  • Grand Valley State University
  • Ferris State University
  • Ave Maria University
  • Young Americans College of Performing Arts
  • St. Norbert College
Have you heard?