Admissions Policy & Priorities

At St. Patrick Catholic School, we want every child to begin their school journey when they are developmentally ready to thrive—academically, socially, and emotionally.

• A child is eligible for kindergarten if they turn five years old by July 31st.
• A child is eligible for first grade if they turn six years old by July 31st.

As part of our commitment to setting students up for success, readiness screenings are conducted for kindergarten and primary grades. In some cases, if a child meets the age requirement but is not yet developmentally ready, we may recommend delaying enrollment to ensure the best possible start (Archdiocese Policy #4102).

A child is eligible for kindergarten at St. Patrick Catholic School when the child is five years of age by July 31st. A child who is six years of age before August 1st may be admitted to grade one. Children who fulfill the age requirement for kindergarten or grade one, but after sufficient examination are found lacking in maturity or readiness, determined through readiness screening for kindergarten and primary grades, will not be admitted (Archdiocese #4102). All student transfers are subject to review by the principal in consultation with the pastor. Students will not be considered for transfer until all records have been reviewed. 

St. Patrick Catholic School admits students of any race, gender, color, national and ethnic origin, to all rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students of this school. St. Patrick Catholic School does not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, color, national or ethnic origin, in admission policies, financial programs, athletic activities, or any other school-administered programs not mentioned.

The principal, in proper consultation with the pastor, will admit students to the school according to the norms set by the Archdiocesan Board of Education. Also, the principal and pastor, in collaboration with the school board, will periodically review school policies, including admission. 

Families applying to St. Patrick Catholic School should have a desire to educate their children in a school where Catholic teaching and moral formation are an integral part of the school philosophy and environment. Consideration for admission is partially based on:

• Participation in the spiritual and community life of St. Patrick or another parish, including regular Mass attendance.
• Continuous support of the concepts detailed in the Parent Witness Statement. Failure to uphold the concepts may result in additional discussions with the administration and pastor which could result in the need for re-admittance to the school.
• Agreement and willingness to follow the policies and procedures of St. Patrick Catholic School and the Archdiocese of St. Louis.
• Demonstrate willingness or future commitment to provide regular and ongoing financial support to the parish and school.
• Willingness to cooperate with the teachers and administration in the psychological, emotional, spiritual, intellectual, and academic development of their child. 

It is our expectation and hope that students entering St. Patrick’s preschool program, or any grade thereafter, will remain at St. Patrick Parish School through 8th grade. Priority for admission will be given to families who express the intention to continue the education of their children at St. Patrick School from the first day of enrollment through 8th-grade graduation. In addition to this expectation, admission will be based upon the following guidelines:

1. The school will admit students from Catholic families who are registered in our parish or any neighboring parish which does not have a Catholic school.
2. The school may admit students from non-Catholic families, but only if space is available after students from Catholic families have been admitted. After a designated amount of time, non-Catholic families will be accepted. These families are charged the full cost of educating a child for the year at St. Patrick School. These children will participate in the school’s religion program and Mass.
3. All student transfers are subject to review. Admission and grade placement will be determined by the results of standardized achievement scores, report cards, records from previous schools attended, and by the school’s ability to meet students’ needs.
4. Students transferring from other schools are automatically put on a six-month probationary period. If they do not comply with school rules and policies, they could be asked to leave and/or be subject to withdrawal for cause.
5. Students entering St. Patrick School for the first time are placed in the grade-level appropriate to age or previous school’s grade level in accordance with Archdiocese guidelines.
6. A child entering Preschool must be 3 years old by July 31st. A child entering Pre-kindergarten must be 4 years old by July 31.. A child entering Kindergarten must be 5 years old  by July 31st. A child entering grade 1 must be 6 years old by July 31st. Enrollment is limited to 30 students in grades 1-8. The class size in each kindergarten class will be a maximum of 25 students.
7. Parents of all children enrolling in Kindergarten must present proof of a physical examination and up to date immunizations. State law requires these to be on file before the first day of class. Immunizations must be kept current. Archdiocese of St. Louis waiver must be signed if parents choose not to immunize.
8. Students will be expected to comply with all school regulations and to conduct himself/herself in a manner conducive to a quality learning environment for the entire school community.
9. Parents will be expected to demonstrate a desire for Catholic education for their children, procure appropriate sacraments for their children, and to fulfill the role as primary educators of their children.
10. Families are expected to be involved in parish and school activities and functions.
11. Dual enrollment is a method of providing courses and programs to a student that the school itself cannot provide due to staffing and/or finances. Missouri state law also allows Catholic school students who require special services to be dually enrolled in public schools in order to participate in specialized programs or remedial reading and mathematics services.
12. Students with special needs will be accepted if the school has the capability to make minor adjustments to meet the student’s needs and can provide the resources to do so successfully. Acceptance of students with special needs will be determined by the administration and will be in accordance with Archdiocesan guidelines.