St. Margaret’s prepared them well for the challenges of college, said young alumnae who responded to a survey released by the National Coalition of Girls’ Schools in late 2005. Their comments were echoed by a large group of recent SMS graduates who came to campus in mid-December.

“We’re thrilled that the majority of our graduates have found they are better equipped to perform at the college level than their peers who attended coed schools,” said Head of School Margaret R. Broad.

More than 1000 college freshmen who graduated from 61 girls’ high schools in 2004 responded to the survey, which was conducted by the Goodman Research Group for the NCGS.

While results indicated that all respondents believed their girls’ school education was rigorous, the proportion of SMS alumnae expressing satisfaction with their academic readiness was significantly greater than that of girls’ school graduates as a whole.

A larger percentage of the SMS Class of 2004 rated themselves as “more prepared” than their coed peers overall, as well as in every area of academic skill. The positive difference between SMS graduates and total girls’ school graduates was evident in science (93% vs. 50%), math (73% vs. 51%) and public speaking (87% vs. 69%), as well as for computer skills (60% vs. 50%) and writing skills (87% vs. 84%).

“You’re going to leave here with all the tools you need to succeed,” said Jessica Bailey, a freshman at the University of California-Santa Cruz who is a member of the SMS Class of 2005. She and other young alumnae shared college insights and advice with current SMS juniors and seniors in a panel discussion before Christmas break.

In addition to Bailey, graduates returning to campus for the event included Merritt Allaun, a Flagler College junior; Shannon Davis of Tappahannock, a Randolph-Macon College senior; Megan McCuan, an Otterbein College sophomore; Alston Moore, a North Carolina State University junior; Haley Nelson, a Southern Illinois University freshman; Julia Peeler, a Hollins University sophomore; Maggie Ransone of Kilmarnock, a James Madison University sophomore; Allison Smith of Warsaw, a James Madison University sophomore; Sarah Taliaferro of Center Cross, a Virginia Tech senior; Brittany Walker of Callao, a Randolph-Macon College senior; Meredith Walsh, a Rollins College sophomore; and Patti Webb, a University of Florida junior.

Recent SMS graduates are pursuing a diverse group of majors and courses that range from the more traditional English, math and history to electrical engineering, environmental science, pre-veterinary medicine and business.