In 1998, seven local nuns, along with lay women from parishes across the metro, gathered around a shared concern: High poverty rates and low academic proficiencies among African American students in the City of St. Louis. With academic insecurity on the rise, this group was being impacted greater than any other.
It was here in this economic climate that their mission seemed to become clear: Break the cycle of poverty in the City of St. Louis by providing urban adolescents with a quality education. While a local boys’ school was providing a solution for young men in the area, there was a gaping hole for adolescent females. This left the religious sisters asking, “What about the girls?”
On Dec. 10, 1999, Marian Middle School was incorporated, becoming the only all-girls, faith-based middle school to serve urban adolescent youth in the area. Not only did Marian offer middle school girls a quality education, they offered it with a holistic approach that touched every area of their lives, serving as a foundation for career success.
Thus, during August 2000, 14 founding students began a lifelong, holistic journey toward success that continues today.
Each year, Marian educates up to 65 girls, from sixth to eighth grades, from more than 20 zip codes across the area. At least 95% of Marian students are of color, and 90% live below the poverty line. At Marian, they attend school 10 hours a day, 10 months out of the year, receiving spiritual, academic, social, moral, emotional and physical support daily.
“All children deserve a reliable and sustainable education,” says Mary Elizabeth Grimes, president of Marian Middle School for the past decade. “They deserve an education that helps them excel academically and prioritizes their individual gifts and talents.”
She says what drew her to this role is her deep passion for education and a desire to make a positive impact on the lives of young people, especially girls. "The opportunity to shape educational policies, create a nurturing environment for learning, and foster personal growth in the lives of young girls is incredibly fulfilling. We're helping Marian Girls reach their full potential,” she adds.
With high levels of poverty often comes trauma. Through a focus on wellness, Marian staffers are helping their girls defy the odds. They offer an expert “CARE Trio,” comprised of an on-site school counselor, school-based licensed therapist and a family resource advocate to provide wrap-around connections to critical needs, such as housing. They also provide students access to licensed therapy, as well as crisis resources and community resources beyond graduation.
Now in its 25th year, Marian Middle School has educated and continues to walk beside 338 girls. Marian students are testing at double proficiency rates of students in St. Louis public schools. One-hundred percent of Marian students are graduating high school, and 93% are moving onto post-secondary programs. Many attribute the success of this educational program to the ongoing support Marian provides students past eighth grade.
Through their Graduate Support Program, Marian staffers provide students with career and workforce readiness by leveraging partnerships with local universities and employers. In fact, 78 Marian Girls have earned college degrees, and eight have secured advanced degrees, in areas such as business administration and medicine. Eight more currently are working on advanced degrees.
While many were once in poverty, Marian graduates now serve as CEOs, attorneys, chemists, teachers, and even as ICU nurses and birth doulas. They are known as respected leaders serving the community in companies such as Ascension, Barnes Jewish Hospital, Mercy, Bayer, the American Red Cross and Bryan Cave Law Firm.
While Marian Middle School staffers strive to continue to break the cycle of poverty in the City of St. Louis, they say they ask residents and corporations for their help. Marian does not receive funding from taxpayers or denominational affiliations. Therefore, Mary Elizabeth says they rely on the generosity of donors and community partners. In fact, through two annual, community events, Marian funds 25% of their annual operating budget: Marian Magic every spring and Girls Night Out every fall.
This year, Marian’s Girls Night Out for public supporters takes place on Sept. 19 at the Emerson Auditorium at Washington University. This is a powerful networking event for local female leaders that funds the mission fostering future female leaders.
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“All children deserve a reliable and sustainable education.” ~Marian Middle School President Mary Elizabeth Grimes