Upper school students in a class session

Building Knowledge & Character

Since its founding in 1907, San Marcos Academy has offered a unique educational experience that provides for the intellectual, social, physical and spiritual development of each student. Although our world is constantly changing, we continue to build leaders as we always have by providing a rigorous education in a Christian environment that not only imparts knowledge but also instills character.

SMA’s Upper School (grades 9-12) is a private high school program that offers a rigorous curriculum in a seven class period day, designed to prepare students for college-level work. Students are required to follow the Texas state-mandated course curriculum to graduate and/or obtain one or more endorsements in the following areas: Arts and Humanities, Multidisciplinary, STEM, and Public Service. The Business and Industry Endorsement will be phased in for the Class of 2023 and beyond. (See TEA Graduation Toolkit for an explanation of each endorsement area).

The Academy offers honors classes in all core subjects as well as advanced placement and dual credit classes through Mary Hardin-Baylor University.  Learn more about our curriculum and course selections by exploring the SMA Course Catalog and course selection sheets posted in the section below.

Updated SMA Course Catalog Coming Soon

Upper School Course selections

Our course catalog and grade-level course selection worksheets provide a comprehensive list of courses offered to our Upper School students in the 2023-24 school year.

College Acceptances

Summer To-Do’s for Rising Seniors

Icon of 3 people

Upper School Programs

The Academy provides the following academic programs designed to meet the individual learning needs of each student:

Honors College Preparatory Sequence

Features

Challenging AP Courses

Dual Credit Courses

Up to 30+ College Credit Hours

College Calculus Credit Offered

Program Description

Those students intending to apply to a highly competitive college or university after graduation are encouraged to follow the Academy’s Honors College Preparatory Sequence. This sequence features challenging honors and AP courses as well as dual college credit courses. The Academy has a partnership with Mary Hardin-Baylor University for our dual credit courses, and SMA faculty members who teach these rigorous classes are considered adjunct professors of that university.

Many of our seniors have a college transcript to take with them when they graduate, having earned as many as 30 hours through dual-credit classes (AP classes could result in additional college credit ). While we offer outstanding instruction in all disciplines, the Academy is especially known for excellence in math preparation, offering College Algebra and Calculus A/B Honors.

Regular College Preparatory Sequence

Features

Flexible Scheduling

College-Level Prep

Small Private High School Class Size

Program Description

The Regular College Preparatory Sequence is recommended for students who desire to attend a college or university after graduation. This sequence features more flexibility in scheduling while ensuring that students are well prepared to meet the challenges of college-level work.

English as a Second Language

Features

Welcoming Environment

English Language Immersion

Program Description

Another outstanding academic program San Marcos Academy offers is English as a Second Language instruction. Unlike some boarding schools in Texas that require students to demonstrate a high level of English proficiency prior to acceptance, the Academy welcomes students who are less confident in their English skills. Students identified as English as a Second Language (ESL) students or English Language Learners (ELL) are immersed into the core content classes in order to provide the maximum potential for learning, understanding, and grasping the English language.

Accommodated Learning Program

Features

One-On-One or Group Tutoring

Re-Teaching of Subject Material

Testing Accommodations

Program Description

For those students with documented learning differences such as ADD, ADHD or Dyslexia, the Academy is pleased to offer an Accommodated Learning Program. Through this program, the Academy holds students to the highest academic standards while offering additional guidance and accommodations to meet their educational needs and reach their full academic potential. Accommodations can include quiet testing environment, extended time, oral administration of exams, repeated instruction, and tutoring. Encouragement and support is given to these students to help them achieve success.

icon of ellipses

Academic Resources

Most prep schools in Texas are not geared to working with students who need academic intervention, but SMA has a sophisticated web of resources that provide unique reinforcement for students who are still learning how to learn.

Credit Recovery

We offer opportunities for credit recovery through our blended classroom environment and through distance learning.

Evening Study

Boarding students benefit from attending evening study halls in the Residence Hall.

Progress Reports

Progress reports or Report cards are mailed out every 3 weeks to keep parents updated on their student’s progress.

1:1 Program

Students in grades 9–12 must have a laptop. Any Macbook or PC less than three years old, may be used. (Tablets or Chromebooks are not allowed.)

More Information

Feel free to contact the school office (512-753-8040) if you have any additional questions about SMA academics.