All families must sign-up for a registration time. Day Students, New Boarding Students, and Returning Boarding Students will have different days on which they may register which are listed below. To sign up for a registration time, email the school office at SchoolOffice@smabears.org with your preferred date and time.
- Day Student Dates: July 24-28, 2023, or August 2-4, 2023
- New Boarding Student Date: August 7, 2023
- Returning Boarding Student Date: August 8, 2023
PreK through 12th grade Student Health Forms must be filled out prior to registration. Return forms to the school office or email them to SchoolOffice@smabears.org.
PreK through 5th grade must have proof of a wellness check and will not require a physical before they will be allowed to participate in PE.
Students in grades 6th through 12th must have a current physical form from your child’s doctor. The doctor may use their own form.
For students in grades 6–12 who will participate in sports or fine arts competitions, parents should complete the online registration process for TAPPS Eligibility and Rank One. Welcome to the Rank One Parent Portal.
Physicals must be completed before participation in summer camps and before the start of the school year. Students without valid or completed physical will not be allowed to participate in PE, Athletics, or Camps.
For further clarification or questions, contact Coach Toby Wade, Athletic Director, at WadeT@smabears.org.
Following are additional links to for registration for all grade levels.
Questions and Answers Find the Information You Need
A: Students should attend registration with a parent or guardian. The process will take between one and two hours for most students. The registration process begins in the school office of the Middle/Upper School academic building (Cavness-Reed Hall). During registration, families will make stops at the school office, business office, Student Health Center, IT department, Library, Bookstore, and Uniform Store. Students will also get a photo taken for their school ID, so they should have an appropriate haircut and wear appropriate attire. Middle and Upper School students will receive a class schedule and will have an opportunity to approve that schedule or make changes as needed. Texas boarding school students will move into their dorm rooms once all other registration tasks are completed.
A: Invoices and other financial information, as well as instructions for using Blackbaud Tuition Management, will be sent out by email once a student has been accepted. If you have not made arrangements for payment prior to your student’s registration date, please be prepared to do so during registration. Additionally, supplies and uniforms purchased through our campus bookstore or uniform shop must be paid for at the time of registration (by check, credit/debit card or cash).
A: Registration will go more smoothly if you can bring the following items:
- Current record of immunizations as required by public & private schools in Texas (if not already submitted to the school)
- Medical Insurance Information (copy of your student’s insurance card)
- Current physical examination (signed by a physician) and any medications that need to be left in the Health Center. This includes over-the-counter medications as well as prescription medications, especially for boarding students.
- Students and parents who will be driving their vehicles on campus regularly will need a permit for their automobile(s). Please have your license plate numbers handy for this purpose (we recommend taking a photo of your license plate so the number is available on your phone).
- Boarding students should have everything they need to move into their dormitory room. (Refer to our (Residence Hall Checklist)
A: San Marcos Academy is a Texas Christian school located in Central Texas, and our academy serves students throughout the TX Hill Country and surrounding areas, along with accommodations for international boarding students. As an accredited private Christian school, we provide a nurturing environment with a fun and challenging atmosphere to prepare and equip students with the knowledge, skills, and discipline they need to succeed after graduation. For local residents we offer day school for students in PreK through 12th grade, and we provide a 5-day boarding option for students within a 70 mile radius. For international students, we provide full-time boarding options for boys and girls in grades 6-12. Please contact us for more info regarding day school and boarding questions.
A: The SMA private Christian academy is dedicated to providing care for each child by offering small class sizes and a low student-to-teacher ratio to ensure quality educational development opportunities. With our comprehensive college preparatory curriculum and adherence to classical Christian values, our mission is to provide a learning environment where each teacher plays a role in educating each child and youth based on their unique needs. Our staff excels at teaching while building character and helping develop leadership skills to ensure each student is well-rounded and equipped with the education and skills they need.
A: San Marcos Academy was founded in 1907, two years after Rev. J. B. Holt spoke at a meeting in Lockhart on the need for a Baptist school to provide quality Christian education opportunities in the southwestern area of the state. After fundraising by the citizens of San Marcos and the Southwest Texas Baptist Conference, SMA opened its doors for the first students in 1908. Since then, our mission has been to help students reach their potential by equipping them with quality education and leadership skills while instilling Christian-based ideals and values. From young children in PreK and elementary school to young men and women in upper school, we strive to promote excellence in academics for students of all ages.
Our website offers a variety of information about our central Texas Christian school, and it is an excellent resource to learn more about how the school was established, so please feel free to browse the About Us, Academics, and Campus Life sections of our site to discover more information.
Uniforms and Supplies For Our Texas Boarding School & Day School
Most of the required supplies on the lists posted below are available for purchase at our school store, The Sabre, and can be purchased during registration in the fall. Call or email Alyssa Clutter (512-753-8026) for any questions about school supplies or books.
Upper School students will not have a specific supply list as their supplies will vary from class to class. Upper School students do need to provide a laptop for school use.
- Pre-K Supply List
- Kindergarten Supply List
- 1st Grade Supply List
- 2nd Grade Supply List
- 3rd Grade Supply List
- 4th Grade Supply List
- 5th Grade Supply List
- Middle School Supply List
*Upper School Students will need to bring a fully charged laptop to school each day for their classwork. Students do not need to bring the laptop to registration but should have it on the first day of school for notetaking and finding links to their online textbooks in some classes. Teachers will advise students of any other supplies they may need for class.
Please view our dormitory room check list to see which items we recommend for your boarding student during their stay at the San Marcos Academy Texas boarding school.
Textbooks and consumables for all grades will be checked out to students from the Upper School Library by the librarian, Mrs. Amanda Robbins.
SMA sells a majority of required uniform items on campus including products from our online uniform provider, FlynnO’Hara Uniforms. A few basic items can be purchased through a retail store such as Target or Wal-Mart. Please visit our Uniforms Page to view a list of uniform requirements and for information on how to order items through the FlynnO’Hara website. Items sold through our own SMA Bookstore or in our Bear Outfitters uniform shop may be purchased during registration or by appointment with the bookstore manager. Call or email Alyssa Clutter (512-753-8026) for any uniform questions.
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Our registration process was easy and informative. Everyone was so helpful and kind. I was afraid we wouldn’t have all the documents, but I was fully prepared thanks to your kind information beforehand. Our daughter was so happy and though we both shed a tear when we parted, I left her in good hands and felt even more assured God lead us to the right place. Thank you again.
—New Upper School Parent