Business Details
50+ Years
experience
Welcome to St. Martin De Porres School
St. Martin De Porres School has been a cornerstone of academic excellence and spiritual growth in the Historic Waverly Community since 1936. Founded by the Dominican Fathers and Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters, our institution was established to provide a dignified, integrated educational environment during the era of segregation. Over 80 years later, we continue to uphold our mission of delivering a rigorous Catholic-centered curriculum to students of diverse faiths, maintaining a legacy of producing influential professionals across medicine, law, education, and the arts. Our small class sizes ensure personalized attention, fostering both intellectual and spiritual development through weekly Mass participation and a values-driven community. We offer extracurricular programs in music, sports, and leadership development, including our acclaimed choir and vocation club.Our dedicated faculty, led by Principal Don Doggett and Administrator Fr. Michael Okere, brings decades of experience in early childhood and elementary education. We emphasize Montessori and STEM programs while preserving our historic traditions, recently revitalizing our media center and playground. Our vision includes expanding facilities to better serve Pre-K students through our planned renovation of a historic Waverly Community house. As an ESTF-approved vendor, we provide scholarship opportunities to ensure accessibility for all families. Our alumni network spans generations, connecting graduates who continue to shape Columbia's professional landscape. Through faith, academic rigor, and community partnership, we prepare students to become ethical leaders in a rapidly changing world.
Services
Elementary Education
Montessori Programs
STEM Education
Extracurricular Activities
Faith-Based Curriculum
Details
- Year established: 1936
Highlights and features
- We offer 85+ years of proven educational excellence in the Historic Waverly Community
- Our small teacher-to-student ratios ensure personalized academic attention
- We combine Montessori methods with STEM education for modern learning approaches
- Weekly Mass participation builds spiritual growth in a diverse faith community
- Our graduates consistently achieve success in professional fields across Columbia
What people say
Caring teachers
Strong curriculum
Spiritual growth
Community focus
Personalized attention
Services
Elementary Education
Our Pre-K through 6th grade program provides comprehensive instruction in core academic subjects. Small class sizes allow teachers to address individual learning styles while maintaining state and national education standards. Certified educators implement differentiated instruction techniques to accommodate various learning abilities.
Montessori Programs
We integrate Montessori teaching methods that emphasize hands-on learning and self-directed activity. Our classrooms feature specialized materials that promote tactile exploration and conceptual understanding across mathematics, language arts, and science disciplines.
STEM Education
Our STEM curriculum combines science, technology, engineering, and mathematics through project-based learning. Students engage in collaborative problem-solving activities that develop critical thinking skills and prepare them for future academic challenges.
Extracurricular Activities
We offer diverse enrichment programs including choir, soccer, orchestra, and reading club. These activities promote social development, artistic expression, and physical wellness while reinforcing our core values of community and personal growth.
Faith Development
Weekly Mass attendance and religious instruction form the spiritual foundation of our program. All students participate in Catholic traditions while learning respect for diverse beliefs through our community service initiatives and character education programs.
People
Mr. Don Doggett
Principal
Principal Don Doggett holds a degree from Howard University and leads our academic programs with 15+ years of Catholic school administration experience. He oversees curriculum development and staff training to maintain educational excellence.
Fr. Michael Okere
Administrator
Fr. Michael Okere serves as parish administrator and spiritual leader. He guides our faith-based initiatives and ensures alignment with Catholic educational standards while fostering community partnerships for school development.
Antoinette Wright
Vice Principal
Antoinette Wright, a two-time Teacher of the Year recipient, teaches 2nd/3rd grades with 25 years of experience. She holds an Early Childhood Education degree from Benedict College and specializes in differentiated instruction techniques.
Shelley Bilal
Music Instructor
Shelley Bilal teaches music to Pre-K through 5th graders and directs the church gospel choir. A Benedict College graduate, she brings professional performance experience with artists like Aretha Franklin to her music education programs.
Gwendolyn Meadows
Administrative Assistant
Gwendolyn Meadows provides seven years of administrative support with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education. She coordinates school operations while maintaining her commitment to student-centered educational philosophies.
Questions
What grade levels do you offer?
We provide education from Pre-Kindergarten through 6th grade with small-class instruction.
Is your school only for Catholic students?
While we're Catholic-affiliated, we welcome students of all faiths in our diverse learning community.
What special programs do you offer?
We feature Montessori methods, STEM education, music programs, and extracurricular activities like choir and sports.
How do you support student development?
Our approach combines academic rigor with spiritual growth through weekly Mass and character education programs.
Can non-local families enroll?
We serve Columbia families but accept students from surrounding areas through our open enrollment policy.
How can I contribute to the school?
Support our mission through donations to the Education Scholarship Trust Fund or facility improvement projects.
