Enquire to study in the UK 
Imagine gliding across a pristine river, the rhythmic strokes of your oars echoing in the quiet morning air. The feel of the waves beneath your boat, the thrilling rush of speed, the company of your teammates. This is the life you can experience at St. Margaret’s School in Tappahannock, Virginia.
Established in 1921, St. Margaret’s is a private boarding and day school for girls in grades eight to 12 and postgraduate. The girls at this Episcopal school live by the “Gospel of Do,” a philosophy that inspires young women to chase excellence while kindling kindness and resilience.
This ethos, fused with the power and beauty of the river in all aspects of education, makes SMS a place for girls to thrive.
At St. Margaret’s School, students are prepared to row any boat class, from 1X to 8+. Source: St. Margaret’s School
One-of-a-kind sculling and rowing programme
At SMS, rowing is a way of life. The school’s riverfront campus is just 100 feet from one of Virginia’s most scenic rivers: the Rappahannock River. On calm days, students can practise long-distance rows, while the nearby Hoskins Creek provides a sheltered location for focused training. The goal is not to just compete and win but to work in teams and work on themselves, setting out each rower to thrive both on and off the water.
The school is serious about gearing girls into well-rounded student-athletes. This is clear in its approach to rowing. Under the expert guidance of Head Coach Troy Howell, who brings decades of experience, the programme gets students to master the basics of sculling and rowing from the get-go. He likens rowing to musicianship: “Joining a crew and thinking that you can make an eight go fast when you can’t row a single or a pair very well is like joining an orchestra before you know how to play an instrument.”
Unlike other traditional rowing programmes prioritising training in large teams or machine-based training, SMS starts with singles and pairs before moving on to fours, quads, and eights. Doing so makes rowers more adept and much faster when they advance to larger boats.
But if water activities are not for you, the school offers other types of sports as well. Whether you’re into volleyball, field hockey, equestrian, or tennis, there’s something for everyone. These athletic programmes build your physical strength, teamwork, discipline, and confidence, ensuring that each student grows as an individual and as a member of the community.
And if your passion lies in the arts, the Visual and Performing Arts programme has many options for you to explore and express your creativity. You might find yourself performing with the choir, directing a school play, or setting up an easel to paint on the River Lawn. The school’s facilities, including a ceramics studio, provide the perfect space to experiment and develop your artistic talents.
Whether you’re interested in science, technology, or the arts, St. Margaret’s School offers a special and transformative educational experience. Source: St. Margaret’s School
Where the river shapes scholars and leaders
An SMS education is more than textbooks and classrooms. With its S.T.R.E.A.M. (Science, Technology, River, Engineering, the Arts, and Mathematics) programme — an extension of the traditional S.T.E.A.M. curriculum — the school integrates the river into every aspect of learning.
“The river is not just water; it’s our laboratory for exploration, a serene chapel for reflection, an athletic venue for challenges, and a recreational park for joy. It’s our world’s epicentre, teaching, inspiring, and connecting us to nature’s profound beauty and wisdom,” says Richard Moncure, S.T.R.E.A.M. Director.
SMS meets each student’s individual needs. The school offers a flexible college preparatory curriculum tailored to your ability and interests. From placement tests to personalised academic counselling and opportunities for earning college credit, the academic journey at St. Margaret’s is as dynamic and diverse as the students themselves.
High-achieving students can challenge themselves with Advanced Placement/Honours courses in all disciplines, online courses, or even dual enrolment in community college. Independent study is available too. And, to support international students, the school offers a three-tiered English language programme to enhance their language skills.
St. Margaret’s School is accepting applications on a rolling basis for the 2024-25 school year. You can also follow the school on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and X.
