About Our School
Saint Thomas More Catholic School is affectionately known as "STM".
At STM, you will find a welcoming home. From the moment you step on campus, you can feel the difference. Joy is abundant! We live our school mission as “a joyful learning community reaching out to the world as the hands of Christ.”
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Where we are
Nestled on the border of downtown Decatur, Georgia, we have been joyfully learning for over 70 years!
Who we serve
Our twice recognized National Blue Ribbon School delights in nurturing Pre-K4 through 8th grade students into confident, life-long learners who can serve God and make moral decisions based on Gospel values.
Our desire is for every student to be individually known and academically challenged while developing a strong Catholic foundation within a supportive, loving, and diverse community. We strive to inspire a global sense of understanding and compassion for others and the courage to put our faith into action. In short, we offer our students an education for their mind, heart, and soul.
Who we are
As part of the Archdiocese of Atlanta, we are the parish school for St. Thomas More Catholic Church, which is sponsored by the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits). We share the Society’s mission to spread God’s love to others, and as a school, we are committed to the Jesuit traditions of academic excellence, the service of faith, and the promotion of justice. Through the lens of our Jesuit-inspired commitment, we seek "to find God in all things".
We are accredited
We are accredited through the Archdiocese of Atlanta, a District wide model sponsored by Cognia, the parent corporation of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. All teachers are required to be certified. We believe in the processes of self-evaluation, collaboration, and determining best practices to meet our commitment to continuous improvement.
In 2024, we earned STEM certification from Cognia. This certification recognizes our steadfast commitment to providing STEM education that fosters innovation, critical thinking, and academic achievement for all students.
We are Transforming
As we approach the 75th anniversary of our founding, we are pursuing our most substantial campus work to date: a new two-story, 12-classroom building for Kindergarten through 5th Grade, renovation of some existing school space, as well as new parish meeting space.
Our Mission
Saint Thomas More Catholic School is a joyful learning community reaching out to the world as the hands of Christ. We use an integrated educational approach, along with the principles of Catholic teaching, to bring together faith and technology, body and mind, creativity and reason, science and religion. As we impart our lessons with kindness and high expectations, we nurture students into confident, life-long learners who can serve God and make moral decisions based on Gospel values.
Our Values
Academic Excellence
Each and every student can realize her or his own level of excellence. Saint Thomas More Catholic School uses a rigorous curriculum and a holistic approach that guides our students to reach their goals.
Catholic
Our Catholic identity is strong and evident in our students, staff, and curriculum.
Encouragement
Children are a gift from God. At Saint Thomas More Catholic School, students feel loved and supported as they learn to their fullest potential about Christ, about the world, and about themselves.
Responsibility
Our students are regularly called to work for and witness God through prayer, service projects, and activities in our parish and throughout the wider community.
Whole Child Approach
God blesses each person with unique abilities. We help students discover their strengths and develop a base of self-assurance on which to build success.
Home and School Union
Faith and learning begin at home. Saint Thomas More Catholic School serves as a collaborative partner with parents to help children foster a life filled with learning and growth.
Inclusive Sanctuary
We are an open, caring community, in partnership with families and parishes, where everyone is welcomed. We celebrate diversity, embracing people of all cultures and faith traditions with kindness and respect. Our learning environment is a place where students feel accepted, safe, and secure.
Our Jesuit Identity
We are the parish school for St. Thomas More Catholic Church which is sponsored by the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits).
Saint Thomas More Catholic School is a mission of St. Thomas More Catholic Church, focused on educating students within the tenets of Jesuit traditions and Ignatian spirituality. We share the church’s mission to spread God’s love to others. As a school, we are committed to the Jesuit traditions of academic excellence, the service of faith, and the promotion of justice. The hallmark of Jesuit education is its focus on educating the whole child: mind, body and spirit.
Our school, as a ministry of St. Thomas More Church, is one of the key ways our parish accompanies and nurtures young people in their growth. We are grateful for the vitality the school brings to our parish. - Fr. Bob Hussey, STM Parish Pastor
2024-25 Theme
This year's school theme is “Kindness Changes Everything.”
Using the Kindness in the Classroom® evidence-based, social emotional learning curriculum, we are reinforcing the importance of kindness and its transformative power. By embracing kindness as a central theme, we hope to foster a more inclusive and respectful school environment, promote empathy, help reduce negative behaviors, and create a sense of community and belonging.
Principal's Welcome
Shaun Bland
Principal
Welcome to Saint Thomas More Catholic School!
Originally opened in 1950 and staffed by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, STM has continued to grow and flourish over the last 73 years. We cherish our school families, and it is not uncommon to meet the children and grandchildren of our alumni who are now students at STM.
When the parish became a work of the Society of Jesus in 2016, we became the only Archdiocesan elementary/middle school in Atlanta to be affiliated with the Jesuits. As a school in the Jesuit tradition, we are committed to educating the whole person: body, mind, and spirit. Our Catholic identity is important to us, and our students lead weekly mass, rosaries, advent services, and many other religious activities. You are always welcome to join us!
Being named a 2016 National Blue Ribbon School for overall academic excellence reflects our commitment to provide an exceptional setting for teaching, learning, and service to others. Our standardized test scores show our students to be well above the national average and we have support in place to help every student become successful.
At STM, you will find well-educated and enthusiastic teachers, students that are engaged in their learning, up-to-date technology, a welcoming staff, and genuinely supportive parents. We encourage you to visit our school to experience this special community where our mission is to be a joyful learning community reaching out to the world as the hands of Christ.
On behalf of all of us at STM, I invite you to consider us for the education of your children. We are just what you’ve been looking for!
God bless,
Mrs. Shaun Bland
Principal
