Admissions & Registration

All children must be registered prior to attending school. Application for admission to any grade at St. Mary School may be made at ANY TIME for future school years. The administration reserves the right to make admission decisions that are in the best interest of the school, the current students, and the student making application.

Generally, St. Mary School admits children on a first-come basis, in the following priority order:

1. Children from families who are registered and actively participating for at least six months in St Mary Parish.
2. Children from families, who have changed residence and were active, registered participants in another Catholic parish.
3. Children from families who have been registered in St. Mary Parish but not actively participating for at least six months and children from Catholic families outside the parish.
4. Children from non-Catholic families.

• Students applying for admission will be given priority in each category if they have siblings already attending St. Mary School and according to the date they apply for admission. (Approved by St. Mary Education Commission May 3, 1999.)
• If a family's tuition payments are not current for students presently enrolled in St. Mary School, or any other school, and parents have not made satisfactory arrangements, students will forfeit their priority in registration.

The above categories apply to families at the time of school registration.

DEADLINE: We encourage families to register as soon as you decide to send your children to St. Mary School. St. Mary parishioners and families with children attending St. Mary School will receive priority consideration for available class openings until December 1. After December 1 children in all categories will be considered on a first-come basis from their date of registration until classes reach capacity.

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Kindergarten

For additional information on the St. Mary Kindergarten program, including registration and application, please visit the Kindergarten Spotlight.

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Grades 1-8 Application Process

• Registration Form: New Student Registration Form Download.
• A Birth Certificate and Baptismal Record must be presented at the time of registration, if the child was not baptized in St. Mary Parish.
• Medical Records: Before a child may attend any school in the State of Ohio he/she must meet the following vaccination requirements:
  • four or more doses of DPT
  • one rubella vaccine
  • four or more doses of Polio vaccine
  • one measles vaccine
  • the second MMR
  Record of these vaccines must be submitted to St. Mary School before the child will be admitted to class.
• Placement Testing: Before acceptance into Grades 1 through 8, entering students must take a placement test indicating ability and academic achievement. The St. Mary School psychologist administers this test. New Student Questionaire / Permission to Administer Placement Test Form.

First Grade

As in all grades, children attending St. Mary School's Kindergarten have first choice to the available spaces in the next grade (first grade in this case) the following year. Eligibility for first grade is determined by the following criteria:

• Children who become six by September 30 of the year of admittance are at age for first grade.
• Children who become six between October 1 and on or before December 31 of the year of admittance are considered as underage candidates for first grade.
• No child who turns six later than December 31 of the year of admittance will be accepted into first grade. (All underage admissions are made on a trial basis. If an underage child is unable to adjust appropriately, he/she may be recommended for removal from the first grade program.)
• Children who attended and successfully completed St. Mary Kindergarten shall be admitted to first grade without reevaluation.
• Children entering from other Kindergartens must show evidence that they are qualified.
• Children who were evaluated and did not qualify for underage Kindergarten may not be considered for reevaluation as underage for first grade. These children should be enrolled in Kindergarten.
• St. Mary School does not accept children in the first grade who have not satisfactorily completed Kindergarten.

Second Grade - Eighth Grade

Children who enter St. Mary School in grades 2-8 must show evidence t hat they are qualified under the guidelines established by the Ohio State Department of Education and the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. St. Mary reserves the right to refuse admission to any child who has been expelled from any other school. All admissions are on a trial basis.

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Tuition

St. Mary Parish Policy: No child of an active parishioner will be denied a Catholic education because of financial need.

2008-2009

St. Mary active parishioners, who have four or more children attending St. Mary School, are charged for three children.

The actual cost of educating each child at St. Mary School is more than the tuition charged. The parish gives tuition assistance to each student whose family is active in St. Mary Parish. If an active parishioner needs more assistance, financial help is available through the Private School Aid Service.

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Registration Fees

New Student

• $75 PER NEW STUDENT Grades 1 - 8
• $275 PER CHILD in Kindergarten

(All but $25 of this amount is applied to tuition.)

This fee is for registering your child at St. Mary School. It does NOT mean that your child has been accepted into the school. Please be advised this "registration fee" is non-refundable. All checks will be cashed as received. If on the first day of school, for the year you have registered, no spot has been offered, you may request a refund. You will forfeit the "registration fee" if you withdraw your application for any reason prior to the first day of school. If your child is accepted into St. Mary School all but $25 will be used towards tuition.

Kindergarten Registration Fee Refund Policy: Once a student has been accepted by St. Mary School, the registration fee for Kindergarten is NON-REFUNDABLE for any reason, including withdrawal from classes due to moving, changing schools, lack of developmental readiness, etc. If a Kindergarten student changes from full-day class to half-day, the tuition charge will remain full-day until that space is filled by another student.

Returning Student

• $100 PER RETURNING STUDENT

(Non-refundable and due in mid-January with Intent-to-Return form.)

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Payment Plans

St. Mary families may choose one of two tuition payment plans. They may pay in full on or before July 1 for the ensuing school year or pay in 10 equal, monthly installments beginning July 1. A $40 administrative charge will be added to the tuition amount in this monthly payment plan.

St. Mary School uses E.B.O. Administrative Services for its tuition billing and accounting. E.B.O. Services may be reached at 871-6250.

Families who are registered and active parishioners in St. Mary Parish are offered financial aid if needed. An application for this aid is part of the registration packet and must be returned at the time of registration if the family wants to be considered for aid. The parish pastoral staff uses the Private School Aide Service through the Education Office of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati to assist in determining whether a family qualifies. The process is completely confidential.

If tuition payments are delinquent at the end of any quarter, report cards will be held up for that quarter. If tuition is not paid in full by April 1 of each school year, students may be denied admittance to class at St. Mary School until obligations of the tuition contract are met. If tuition payments are not current at the start of the second semester students may be denied admittance to class. A $100 per student late fee will be assessed for any tuition that is not paid-in-full by April 15.

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Active Parishioner Status

An actively participating parishioner is, at the very least, registered, normally attends Sunday Mass at St. Mary Church, and supports the work of the parish through the regular use of parish envelopes.

• Each family registered in St. Mary Parish is expected to sign a Covenant showing that they understand the mutual nature of the responsibilities and privileges as a parishioner and parent of a child in the parish school.
• Families must be registered in the parish before registering in the school. Written notification of a family 's parish status in St. Mary or another parish will be requested.
• Students not in good standing or who have financial obligations to a previous school may be denied acceptance at St. Mary School even if the family has active parishioner status.

The Parish Office may be reached at 321-1207.

The actual cost of educating each child at St. Mary School is more than the tuition charged. The parish gives tuition assistance to each student whose family is active in St. Mary Parish. If an active parishioner needs more assistance, financial help is available through the Private School Aid Service.

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Scholarships for Students in Need

Partial scholarships are available for out-of-parish students in need based upon the following criteria:

• Available class space in mid August prior to the start of school
• The need of the family
• The value of a St. Mary Education to the family
• The student's commitment to working hard and being the best student possible

The process to apply for a scholarship is:

• Complete a Private School Aid Service Form including a copy of last year's tax form.
• Submit a check for a $17.00 processing fee payable to Private School Aid Service
• Submit a letter from parent(s) on the value of St. Mary Education to your student
• Provide a copy of the student's prior school records which demonstrate satisfactory effort and disciplinary record
• Interview parent(s)
• Interview student
• Re-application is required each year.

Families will be notified of awards by August 15.

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