St. Marys Elementary School is located in the southeastern corner of the state of Georgia, on the Georgia/Florida border. We are about one block from Cumberland Sound off the Atlantic Ocean.SMES, as we are known, is situated between two brackish rivers running off Cumberland Sound - the St. Marys River and Crooked River. The area is known for sand, salt, and an abundance of marsh land. SMES is also known for being a wonderful, outstanding elementary school.

St. Marys Elementary School started as St. Marys School in 1801 in the basement of the Presbyterian Church. The first school building was constructed near the waterfront but was destroyed by fire in 1943. The present school building opened in February 2011.

SMES now has an enrollment of just over 600 students in grades PK-5. We have teachers, and a support staff consisting of a Principal, Assistant Principal (Teaching and Learning Specialist), Instructional Lead Teacher, and Guidance Counselor. We also have Paraprofessionals who work with the teachers directly in the classrooms and additional support consisting of office, lunchroom, and custodial staff.

Our school district, Camden County, is one of the fastest growing school systems in the United States because we are the home of Kings Bay Naval Submarine Base, the east coast base for the Trident Nuclear Submarine Fleet. Camden County also attracts more and more newcomers because of our Atlantic beaches and access to Cumberland Island, one of Georgia's favorite natural resources. We have several beautiful golf courses, marshland and riverfront properties and we are in close proximity to Jacksonville, FL, Brunswick, GA, and Savannah, GA.

The U.S. Department of Education's Blue Ribbon Schools Program honors public and private elementary, middle and high schools that are either academically superior or that demonstrate dramatic gains in student achievement to high levels.

In addition to being honored at a ceremony in Washington, DC, where each school receives a plaque and flag signifying their status, these schools serve as models for other schools throughout the nation.

*Excerpted from the U.S. Department of Education website.