Policy

Enrollment applications are accepted beginning each October 1 for the following academic year. St. Mary Elementary School admits boys and girls of any race, color and national or ethnic origin. This school does not discriminate on the basis of gender, color, race, national or ethnic origin in the administration of its educational and admission policies, scholarship program, and athletic or other school administered programs.

Age of Admission and Placement Testing

A child who will be five years of age by October 1 may be admitted into Kindergarten. A child who will be five years of age by December 1 may be admitted to Transitional Kindergarten. A readiness or placement test may be administered to prospective students (TK to 8). The acceptance or non-acceptance of students is the direct responsibility of the principal and/or pastor. New students are on probation for one year.

School Admission Priority System:

St. Mary Elementary School was founded and built by the people of St. Mary Parish, in order to provide the children of the parish with an education rooted in Catholic faith and practice. Supporting members of the parish, who are active, practicing Catholics have a primary claim to the benefits of the school for their children. These supporting members of the parish demonstrate their commitment to the parish through weekly contributions, and taking an active part in the works of the parish.

Catholics who are supporting, active and practicing members of another Catholic parish. as well as non-Catholics, will be considered for admission on the basis of weighted criteria and available openings. Because they are not supporting members of St. Mary’s Parish, these families will pay a tuition surcharge to balance the support given by members of the parish.

Admission is not based on a first-come first-served basis. Working in conjunction with readiness testing, is the following family priority system.

  • Active St. Mary Parishioner, with sibling enrolled
  • Active St. Mary Parishioner
  • Catholic, active at another parish with sibling enrolled
  • Catholic, active at another parish
  • Catholic, transferring from another Catholic school due to relocation with sibling enrolled
  • Catholic, transferring from another Catholic school due to relocation
  • Catholic, transferring from another Catholic school due to relocation
  • Catholic, not active in any parish with sibling enrolled
  • Catholic, not active in any parish
  • Non-Catholic with sibling enrolled

Non-Catholic

Admission will be granted first to those families/students who have the highest priority. Only if two or more families/students have the same priority, and the same readiness testing, and are applying for the same opening, will admittance be granted to the family/student with the earliest application date.

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