Admission Policy
Saint Christopher Catholic School Admissions Policy and Process
POLICY
Primary Goal – Catholic Education
The primary goal of Saint Christopher Catholic School (hereinafter referenced as the "School") is to provide a Catholic education to the students enrolled in the school in accordance with the mission statement of the School, archdiocesan policies, curriculum and guidelines. Therefore, all students once admitted are required to participate in religion classes, liturgies, and otherwise conform to the religious expectations of the School.
In order to ensure an orderly and equitable admission for children to the School, this policy and process is adopted and shall periodically be revised to allow for improvement based on the changing needs of parish membership, demographic trends and/or other pertinent factors. Once endorsed by the Finance Commission and ratified by the Pastor, revisions of this policy shall supersede any prior admission policy of the School.
All instructional programs meet the requirements of the State of Indiana regarding curriculum, instructional hours, and personnel. Beyond the requirements for accreditation, we meet the needs of the individual student within a Catholic environment and value system. Emphasis is placed on the instruction of religion, prayer, and worship as well as academic excellence.
ADMISSIONS
Beginning with the spring registration date each year, without exception, kindergarteners who are age 5 by August 1 of the school year for which they are registering will be eligible for consideration for admission. For grades 1 through 6, students will be eligible for consideration for admission based on proof of successful completion of the previous grade. The criteria below is for first year Kindergarten students. Eligible students will be selected and placed in the school based on the maximum capacity of classrooms as set by the Principal, Faculty and Finance Commission according to the order of preference in the following categories:
Current students of the School.
Catholic children of participating parishioners (as defined under Tuition, Parishioner Status) who are siblings of students attending the School in the current school year.
Catholic children of participating parishioners who are siblings of a graduate of the School.
Catholic children of participating parishioners.
Students of employees of other Catholic Parishes or Schools.
Catholic children of non-participating parishioners who are siblings of students attending the School in the current school year.
Catholic children of non-participating parishioners who are siblings of a graduate of the School.
Catholic children of non-participating parishioners.
Non-parishioner Catholic children.
Non-Catholic children.
Within categories numbered 1 through 4 above, priority will be given according to the parish registration date of any family deemed to be a "participating parishioner.”
Within categories numbered 5 through 10 above, priority will be given according to the date of the School admission application.
Each year's incoming student class will be selected soon after the registration/re-registration process is closed. For any student selected for the incoming class, his or her Catholic siblings will be placed in category #2 or #5 above for the school year for which they are registering depending on parishioner status.
Admissions is based on completion of all required school forms, birth certificate, and up to date shot records.
Wait List
Students not selected for admission to the School will automatically be placed on a wait list. If an opening becomes available, students on the wait list will be given priority for those openings in the same order of preference as detailed in the Admissions Selection Procedures above. The wait list will exist from year-to-year only and the wait list for each school year shall be established after the selection process for the upcoming school year has ended and shall terminate when that school year ends.
Students with Special Needs
The School strives to accommodate students with physical, emotional, social, or learning challenges. However, families must fully disclose the nature and known extent of such challenges at the time of registration. Failure to disclose will result in exclusion. The School has limited resources to meet certain challenges and may recommend educational alternatives that may better serve the needs of some students.
Agree to Abide by the School Rules
Upon admission all parents and students agree to abide by the policies and rules of the School as specified in the School Handbook.
Non-Discrimination
The School, Administration and Pastor establish policies for admission of Catholic and non-Catholic students in alignment with archdiocesan policies. Catholic Schools administered under the authority of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis comply with those constitutional and statutory provisions as may be specifically applicable to the schools which prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, age, disability, or national origin in the administration of their educational, personnel, admissions, financial aid, athletic and other school administered programs. This policy does not conflict with the priority given to Catholics for admission as students. This policy also does not preclude the ability of the School to undertake and/or enforce appropriate actions with respect to students who publicly advocate any practices or doctrines which are inconsistent with the religious tenets of the Catholic faith. Catholic schools have not been, nor shall they become, havens for those wishing to avoid social problems confronting them in the public sector.
School Choice Lottery
If, after offers of admission have been made to students according to the admissions policy, Saint Christopher School has more Choice Scholarship students who seek to actually enroll by the school’s enrollment date than the number of spaces that the school has available, then the school will hold a lottery. The deadline to enter the lottery is March 31st each calendar year. The lottery will be held on the second Monday in April in a public meeting. The following lottery process occurs:
For each grade, the students are divided into three groups:
1. Children of participating parishioners
2. Children with siblings already enrolled in the School
3. Children who are neither active parishioners nor have a sibling already enrolled in the school
Each student in each grade on the wait list is assigned a number, and students and their families are informed of the student’s number the day of the lottery.
Each student’s lottery number is placed in a lottery bin. Numbers are chosen from the parishioners bin first, and then we go to the lottery bin containing lottery numbers for students who have a sibling already enrolled. Numbers will continue to be drawn until all numbers are drawn from all three bins.
As numbers are chosen, a list is established.
Two lists will be produced and published on the School’s website. A list will be published for the School Choice Scholarship students who will be able to enroll at the School. And a second list will be published for the School Choice Scholarship students who will be placed on a waiting list.
After the lottery date, anyone else who comes in for admission for the upcoming school year, goes on a waiting list (separated into three groups as above). Parish families are always given first preference.
Waiting lists are destroyed at the end of every academic year. Therefore, families still interested in enrolling their child (ren) at the School for the following academic year, must begin the process again when enrollment opens in January.
Transfer Students
Students in good standing from another school will be considered for transfer admission after the following has been accomplished:
Enrollment/Admission forms are completed.
A conference with the principal, parents and student has been held to discuss the goals, religious mission and expectations of the School.
If requested, the parents have provided a written statement indicating their reasons for seeking enrollment for their child in the School.
Previous educational records have been supplied to the School including, if available and applicable: current grade transcript or report card, most recent standardized testing results, Individualized Education Plan (IEP), Service Plan, Section 504 Plan or Individual Catholic Education Plan (ICEP).
If appropriate records are not available or if there are other educational concerns, the principal may require entrance testing of the child and direct consultation with the previous school to determine appropriate educational placement before admission is granted.
Updated immunization records have been received along with birth certificate and Baptismal records.
Applicants for admission to grades 5 and 6 are generally scrutinized more closely than applicants for lower grades as educational preparation and disciplinary records at this level are of more concern to the School. Students entering grades 5 and 6 will be admitted on a probationary period.
NOTE: Catholic schools support the disciplinary decisions of other schools. Therefore, a student expelled from another private or public school may not be considered for enrollment until one year after the expulsion date and then only at the discretion of the Principal in consultation with the Pastor.
If the Principal determines through the above procedures that the family and student have philosophies, educational goals and levels of preparation that are compatible with the religious mission and educational programs offered by the School, and that the student is likely to be successful in the Catholic educational setting, and an opening exits; the student may be admitted either on a probationary basis or without restriction. Prioritization of placement of applicants for transfer will occur in the same order and by the same criteria as defined in the Admission Selection Procedures above.
TUITION
Parishioner Status
Regular attendance at Liturgy and faithful and consistent stewardship of Time, Talent, and Treasure (financial support) to the Parish will be expected by Catholic families of students attending or wishing to attend the School. All School families will participate in a registration process that will help establish each family's gifts of Time, Talent, and Treasure at the Parish Office. Families meeting these criteria will be deemed "participating parishioners" for purposes of determining the rate of tuition. All other families will be considered "non-participating" for purposes of tuition.
A parishioner is not simply someone whose name appears on the parish roster. Membership in St. Christopher Parish involves meeting at least two of the following three criteria:
1. Worship with the community on Sundays and Holy Days.
2. Regularly support the parish through reasonable and identifiable monetary contribution.
3. Be involved in one or more of the spiritual, educational service or social activities of the Church. While regular attendance at Mass is expected, since some donate through automatic deduction once a month, a minimum of 12 donations per year is expected.
Parental Involvement
Parents must give evidence of sincere interest in their child’s education by their willingness to participate whenever possible in school activities or other income source groups and commit to volunteering a minimum of 20 hours of time. Activities include, but are not limited to auction, Open House, Parent Teacher Partnership (PTP) events, Parent-Teacher Conferences, and other essential related activities. The Finance Commission has voted on a policy which will require our families to complete a minimum of 20 service hours during the school fiscal year (July 1 – June 30). If a family does not meet the minimum service hours by June 30th for a given year, they may be assessed a fee of $200.00. Parents sponsoring, coaching or hosting events must have a second adult with them at all times. Adults must complete the required background check and have the Safe Parish certificate on file. Any adult not complying with the stated requirement will be terminated of his/her responsibilities.
Tuition Assistance Program
Saint Christopher maintains a Scholarship Granting Organization (SGO) through Institute for Quality Education. This aid is income based on current Federal Free and Reduced Lunch (FR) income levels. Aid is given at 100% of FR, 150% of FR, and 200% of FR. Documentation is required.
Tuition Responsibility
All School families must assume responsibility for paying the agreed-upon tuition charges in full and on time as prescribed by the School. Families of students who are not participating parishioners will be expected to assume their portion of the financial responsibility for the education provided through an increased tuition rate, since they do not participate in the investment (subsidy) received by School from the contributions of parishioners. All families are expected to participate in FACTS tuition payment plan or pay tuition up front. FACTS Solutions is the nation's leading provider of tuition payment plans.
Unpaid Tuition
Families must be current with tuition in order to register for the upcoming school year. Families whose payments are two months behind, without written/signed arrangements agreed upon by the family and Business Manager, may be asked to remove their child (ren) from Saint Christopher. Records will not be forwarded to requesting schools if a family leaves Saint Christopher owing tuition.
Academic Probation
A student whose academic performance indicates serious deficiencies may be placed on academic probation. Students on academic probation will be placed on a two-week improvement plan. At the end of the two-week period, the student’s academic progress will be assessed. Students on academic probation may not be allowed to participate in parish or school extra- curricular activities.
If athletes, extra-curricular, or club-sponsored students are having re-occurring discipline issues the student may be put on behavior probation; which could include missing events or games until behavior improves.
Cheating
Cheating of any type will not be tolerated. Students who choose to cheat face a failing grade, detention, suspension, and/or expulsion. A student athlete who is involved in cheating will also be unable to participate in school sponsored extracurricular activities.
Attendance Standards
It is the policy of the Indiana State Department and the Archdiocese of Indianapolis that each school enforce a procedure that includes steps for those instances where failure to attend interferes with the student’s academic performance and/or are excessive in number. If a student is absent six days within a quarter, action may be initiated. Twenty-five days or more of absence in a given school year may result in possible retention. Alternative solutions will be sought for students with a doctor substantiated medical condition.
Seclusion and Restraint Statement
Saint Christopher believes a safe and healthy environment should be provided in which all children can learn, develop, and participate in instructional programs that promote high levels of academic achievement. The purpose of this policy is to insure that all students and staff are safe in school, and that students who may have behavior crises are free from inappropriate use of seclusion or restraint.
Behavioral interventions for children must ensure all children are treated with dignity and respect. This environment should allow all children to be free from physical or mental abuse, aversive behavioral interventions that compromise health and safety, and any physical seclusion or restraint imposed solely for purposes of discipline or convenience.
Seclusion or restraint shall not be used as routine school safety measures; that is, they shall not be implemented except in situations where a child’s behavior or action poses imminent danger of physical harm to self or others and not as a routine strategy implemented to address instructional problems or inappropriate behavior (e.g., disrespect, noncompliance, insubordination, out or seat), as a means of coercion or retaliation, or as a convenience. Any use of either seclusion or restraint shall be supervised, short in duration and used only for the purposes of de-escalating the behavior.