ADMISSION AND RE-REGISTRATION 

GENERAL

A family who enrolls children in the school is classified as a “Parish Tuition Family” or a “Non-Parish Tuition Family”. Families are further classified as being in “good standing” or “not in good standing”. 

• A Parish Tuition Family is a registered and fully participating family in the church community and is in “good standing” (see definition below) with its tithe and other financial commitments. If a Parish Tuition Family is not in good standing, the family will be classified as a Non-Parish Tuition Family. A Parish Tuition Family pays the Catholic child tuition rates. 

• A family that is not a Parish Tuition Family is a Non-Parish Tuition Family. These families pay the non-parish tuition rate for the year.

• “Good standing” for a Parish Tuition Family requires a family to be actively involved in parish life as manifested by traceable stewardship of time, talent and treasure (as defined by the parish) and whose children are receiving, or are preparing to receive, the Catholic Sacraments. Tuition payments are current and late fees are paid. The minimum annual tithe is $1,200 and must be contributed by December 31st of the calendar year before re-registration.

• “Good standing” for a Non-Parish Tuition Family requires that all tuition payments are current and any late fees are paid. 

• All students new to St. Rita School are admitted on probationary status. Their status will be reviewed at the end of the first two academic quarters of enrollment and the administration will make a determination regarding the child’s status at that time. This probationary status does not keep the child from participating in extracurricular activities. 

REQUIREMENTS OF RE-REGISTRATION OF EXISTING STUDENTS 

Re-registration of existing students for the following school year occurs on a designated day in late January or early February of the current school year. Each family must pay a non-refundable registration fee. In addition, families that desire to re-register children must be in good standing with both the parish and the school. 

If a family is not in good standing at the time of re-registration, the family will have two weeks to achieve good standing status and re-register. If such re-registration has not occurred within the two-week period, the student’s space will be offered to another student who meets the registration and admission requirements of the school. 

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE ADMISSION OF NEW STUDENTS 

New students are admitted to the school in the following priority: 

1.    Families that are Parish Tuition Families in good standing on the date of registration with a sibling currently enrolled at the school are given first priority. Students and parents must be a good fit with the school and the grade for which they are applying. 

2.    Families that are Parish Tuition Families in good standing on the date of registration are given next priority. Within this group of families, priority is given to the family with the longest tithing history at St. Rita Catholic Community. The date of good standing for purposes of determining tithing history is determined by the Parish Business Administrator. Students and parents must be a good fit with the school and the grade for which they are applying. 

3.    Non-Parish Tuition Families are given admission only if room permits after admission of Parish Tuition Families. Within this group of families, priority is given first to those families with siblings currently enrolled in the school who are in good standing; next, to those families that have had a parent or sibling graduate from the school; and finally, to new applicants who meet the registration requirements. Students and parents must be a good fit with the school and the grade for which they are applying. 

4.    Non-Catholics will be admitted only if there are openings after the admission of all Parish families and non-parishioners from other parishes. Non-Catholics will receive no sibling priority and will pay tuition at the non-Parish tuition rate. Students and parents must be a good fit with the school and the grade for which they are applying. 

If two or more families qualify for admission in any category, but only one place remains available, a random drawing is held to determine the priority of admission. 

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE REGISTRATION OF NEW STUDENTS 

Registration of new students for a school year occurs on a designated day in March of the preceding school year. New families and families enrolling siblings must provide the following information to register a new student: a birth certificate, a Roman Catholic baptismal certificate or, in the case of children in OCIC, a letter from the Office of Religious Education at St. Rita Catholic Church stating that the child is enrolled in the OCIC program. Where applicable, the following information must also be provided: the report card from the year preceding desired enrollment, transcripts and documentation of First Communion and First Reconciliation.

FINANCIAL AID

A financial aid program is available for families who are in need of financial assistance in completing their tuition obligations. Families who need such assistance are encouraged to apply. Those seeking financial assistance must complete an online application through FACTS. Any family who is granted financial aid must remain current on their tuition payments and applicable fees or risk having their financial aid immediately revoked. Any person interested in learning more about financial assistance, please contact the Parish Business Administrator.

FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY - GENERAL

The school is supported by the generous tithing of the parish community. Parish families with children in the school are asked to consider their yearly tithe as a member of the parish community. It is important for families to continue to give to the community, according to their means, in order to help with the pastoral services they receive. See also “Admission and Re-Registration.” 

The financial responsibility of the school is under the direction and supervision of the pastor, the parish Business Administrator, the parish Finance Committee and the Advisory Council. Only the pastor may grant exemptions to the financial responsibility policies of the school. Any family, whether a Parish Tuition Family or Non-Parish Tuition Family, is expected to pay, when due, all tuition obligations and fees. Students with excessive delinquent tuition may be asked not to attend school until their family’s account is current. Failure to meet this responsibility may result in the refusal by the principal to re-admit a student for the semester following such failure. See also “Admission and Re-Registration.” 

TUITION

The annual cost of education at the school is determined by the parish Business Administrator’s office, the parish Finance Committee and the pastor, after consulting with the Advisory Council. 

The tuition of families that enter the school during the school year is pro-rated as determined by the parish Business Administrator. Tuition is non-refundable. 

All tuition and outstanding fee accounts must be cleared by May 15th of each year. Any student whose family is not in good standing will not be allowed to take final exams and, if they are in 8th grade, to participate in graduation activities. Final records will be withheld until all financial responsibilities are met. 

Families who do not have a zero balance for tuition and fees for the previous school year will not be allowed to start the new school year until the previous balance is paid in full.

FEES

For new students, a non-refundable registration fee is due at the time of acceptance. The registration fee is assessed on a per family basis. Accordingly, if the new student has a sibling re-registering at the school only one registration fee is assessed for that family. For current students, a non-refundable registration fee per school family is due at the time of re-registration each year. A non-refundable student fee is assessed each year. This fee covers consumable workbooks, rental of hard-cover textbooks, art materials, computer software and other computer expenses, physical education equipment, science lab consumable materials, etc. It does not cover field trips, Extended Day or extracurricular activities. A placement test is administered to all new students after acceptance. A fee for this testing is assessed at the time of testing.

INSURANCE

See Section Emergencies and First Aid here for more information. 

SCHOOL COLLECTIONS

The purpose of any collection at school is to promote student understanding of the Christian responsibility for almsgiving and sharing. Any collection must be pre-approved by the Principal. This includes collections for teacher gifts of any kind. 

ENROLLMENT AGREEMENT

Please see the Enrollment Agreement under Appendix: Agreements here.