Admissions Policy

Admission Policy as of 3/2/24

Thank you for your interest in St. Francis de Sales Catholic Academy. 

The New Student Application for the 2024-2025 school year is now closed. All applications were due no later than Friday, March 1st 2024. If you missed the application period please email the school at [email protected] and let us know the child’s name/current school/and grade applying for. If there is possible room in that grade level you will be sent an application to be placed on a waiting list. 

Applications for the 2025-2026 school year will open in the winter of 2025. 

During March, all prospective families and students in Grades 2-8 will have an interview with the administration. Once the interview is finished the applications will be reviewed and families will be notified of their status by March 28th. 


REGISTRATION TIME FRAME FOR THE 2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR

Families will have to upload the following

1) a recent writing sample (Grades 2-8)

2) at least two years of academic records if applicable 

3) standardized test scores if applicable (Terranovas, NYS Exam, etc.)

4) a copy of an IESP/IEP/504 if applicable. Any student who has an IESP, IEP, or 504 will need to be approved by the administration with consultation from the Content Learning Center

During the month of March, all prospective families and students in Grades 2-8 will have an interview with the administration. 

For a Virtual Tour of our Academy please contact us at [email protected]

Once the interview is finished the applications will be reviewed and families will be notified of their status by March 28th. Please note that the administration will use the Priority for Admission (found below).  

If your child is accepted you will be asked to pay a $200 Registration Fee, and one-month tuition. Please note that all fees and tuition are non-refundable. If your child is placed on a waiting list due to space capacity you will be notified by Thursday, March 28th. 

For an application to be considered for the priority of admission, the application must be submitted by  Friday, March 1st, 2024. Please note after March 1st applications are only accepted if space is available in that grade.


PRIORITY FOR ADMISSION

Students will be enrolled or added to a waiting list in the order of applications received based on the following criteria:

  1. Current student presently enrolled.

  2. A sibling (brother/sister) of an enrolled St. Francis de Sales Catholic Academy N-8 student

  3. Transferring Diocesan Catholic School students from Blessed Trinity Parish or St. Francis de Sales Parish
  4. Students of families who are registered, supporting, and active in Blessed Trinity or St. Francis de Sales Parishes. The family must be in good standing with regard to the participation, finances, and support of the parish. When the applicants are equal, the following will be taken into account: a) Longevity in Blessed Trinity or St. Francis de Sales parishes, b) Grandchildren of longtime parishioners, c) Results of any interviews deemed necessary by the administration.

  5. Transferring Diocesan Catholic School students not from Blessed Trinity or St. Francis de Sales Parish
  6. Students of families who are registered in and supporting other Catholic parishes

  7. Non-Catholic students.


CONDITIONS FOR ADMISSION

All new students are accepted on a three-month probationary basis. Students must meet St. Francis de Sales Catholic Academy’s academic standards and expectations.

  1. A state-issued birth certificate, copy of a baptismal certificate if Roman Catholic, proof of medical exam, and record of immunizations must be submitted by all new students before school begins. Additional medical/dental/vision exam requirements may apply for certain grade levels.

  2. In order to be accepted into Kindergarten, a student must be 5 (five) years of age by December 31st, 2024.

  3. Students applying for our 3-year-old preschool must be 3 (three) years of age by December 31st, 2024. Students applying for pre-kindergarten must be 4 (four) years of age by December 31st, 2024. All preschoolers must be potty trained.

Students registering for Grades 1 to 7 will be accepted only if their previous academic and conduct records are satisfactory. 

New Student Registration Steps
Our new student registration process allows us to identify the educational needs of your child/ children. We look forward to creating an educational partnership with you for the years to come.

Step 1 – Completion of the application
SFDS Application Form

2) at least two years of academic records
3) standardized test scores if applicable (I-Ready, NYS Exam, etc.)
4) a copy of an IESP/IEP/504 if applicable

Step 2 – Meet with the administration.
The administration will answer any questions that you have about the curriculum and programs, while having the opportunity to ask questions as well.

We use all relevant and available data to make a thoughtful and thorough placement decision that will be in the best interest of your child and his/her needs. All new students if accepted are done so on a probational basis.

ADMISSION OF SPECIAL NEEDS STUDENTS

Students with special needs shall be given the same consideration as all applicants. However, prior to admitting a student with diagnosed special needs, St. Francis de Sales Catholic Academy shall make a determination as to whether or not it feels it can provide an appropriate education for that child. Each child will be considered on an individual basis. St. Francis de Sales will consider:

  • The severity and degree of the learning disability;
  • The level of support needed from special services and any special equipment the student may require;
  • The number of students with disabilities currently enrolled in an assigned class;
  • The school’s resources, such as available support personnel, class size, and accessibility of school facilities;
  • The accommodations, if any are necessary, and the school’s ability to meet those accommodations;
  • The child’s individualized education plan (IEP/IESP) if one exists, and the school’s ability to meet the IEP.

Parents and/or the public school district in which the student resides shall be responsible for any additional special education services that a student may require.

St. Francis de Sales Catholic Academy will engage the services of the Office of Catholic Schools to assist in making a determination of whether a student’s educational needs can best be met in the least restrictive environment.

If you have a child who may need testing accommodations or special education services please make sure that you review our guidelines and what we are able to accommodate.

Special Education Guidelines

Choosing a school is a great challenge with so many offerings. It is our hope that whatever your final choice is, that you are happy and your children are successful.

For more information, please call 718-634-2775 or visit the office during school hours between 8AM and 3PM. During the summer please call the school for modified office hours.

The Catholic academies and parish schools within the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn welcome students of all backgrounds to share in the Catholic education experience. As parents of children who attend the Catholic academies and parish schools, you are encouraged to share in our Faith community. In accordance with the teachings of the Roman Catholic Faith, the Catholic academies and parish schools within the Diocese of Brooklyn admit students of any race, color, national origin, and ethnic origin. The  Catholic academies and parish schools do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, and ethnic origin in admission, policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.