St. Austin Catholic School is enrolling grades Pre-K through 8th for the 2010-2011 school year. Please contact our Admission Coordinator, Leah Esparza, via email or by phone at 477-9471, ext. 311 to schedule a school tour today or to receive an admission application.
School Tours
Prospective families are welcome to visit and tour our school at any time. Appointments are encouraged so that our principal may take the time to personally give you a tour and share with you the wonderful things taking place at St. Austin Catholic School.
Initial Application
Applications for the 2010-2011 school year are being accepted now. Initial admission decisions will be decided as assessments are completed and space is available.
These items should be turned when a family is interested in admissions:
- Completed Application
- $50 Application fee (non-refundable)
-
Kindergarten Applicants
- Parent Questionnaire
-
Grades 1st – 8th Applicants
- Copies of previous and current year report cards
- Standardized Test Scores
- Confidential Teacher Reference
Interviews and Evaluations
We will call you to schedule these appointments:
- Parent and student admission interview with the principal. Both parents are encouraged to attend.
- "Shadow Day” and assessment evaluation for all 1st – 8th grade applicants
- Pre Kindergarten and Kindergarten curriculum viewing for parents scheduled during Language Arts or Math instruction times
- Kindergarten readiness developmental screening
Criteria for Admissions
Applicants will be considered based on the following criteria:
- Proficient academic performance as evidenced by evaluation, grades, test scores, and teacher evaluations.
- Responsible behavior and self-discipline as attested by parent and teacher documentation.
- School’s ability/limitations to meet the student needs.
- Priority given to current students, siblings, St. Austin parishioners, and parishioners of St. Catherine of Siena.
Admission Decision
The admission decision will be reported to the family via letter or email. You must contact the school office within one week to accept the seat offered. At that time, all new student fees and additional forms are due to secure your admission.
Registration Procedure
The registration procedure for accepted students will occur in March and April 2010 to gather the documents to create the permanent record. If your child is accepted after April, their registration procedure will begin upon admission.
Non-Discrimination
St. Austin Catholic School accepts children of any race, color, sex, religion, national origin, or ethnic origin, provided that the parents agree to submit their children to the rules and regulations adopted by the school. St. Austin Catholic School complies with all applicable State and Federal laws regarding discrimination.
Meeting Individual Needs
St. Austin wants to serve every student we possibly can. The well-trained staff of St. Austin Catholic School deals with students on a highly individualized basis. However, certain needs may require professional attention of a kind other than we are able to provide. The school reserves the right to refuse admission in cases of this nature. In particular:
- The school cannot accept children with behavioral problems.
- The school may accept children with special physical or learning needs if the principal – after consulting with the child, the guardians, and involved staff members – finds that those needs can be adequately met by the staff.
- Should behavioral, learning, or physical problems surface during the school year, a student’s status will be reassessed. The principal – again, after consulting with parents and all involved staff members – will decide whether the school can offer the special programs needed to continue the proper development of the student, or whether other arrangements should be made.
Diocesan Admission and Continuation Policy
The Diocese of Austin Policy on Admissions to Catholic School states:
Attending a Catholic school is a privilege, not a right. However, the schools of the diocese seek to offer a broad range of educational opportunities. But the Catholic schools reserve the right of the principal to withdraw a student when such is in the best interests of the local school and/or the student.
In order to enter first grade, a child must be six years old on or before September 1. Age must be verified by an official birth certificate. In accordance with this policy, on or before September 1:
- Pre-kindergarten students must be 4 years old
- Kindergarten students must be 5 years old
- First grade students must be 6 years old
An out-of-state child who is underage may enter the next appropriate grade if the child has completed the preceding grade and meets all other admission requirements.
Each local school shall require each applicant for enrollment to have a completed application form which includes a disclosure form, a release of confidential information/records form, and a locally developed set of written requirements for proceeding through the application process.
Any student seeking admission from a non-accredited institution or from home schooling shall have achievement testing (at the family’s expense) prior to entrance. Individual local schools may require additional testing and information prior to acceptance or denial of acceptance of any student. Test results and assembled information may be used for placement purposes.
A principal is encouraged to include in the local application procedures any or all the following: interview of parent and/or student; consultation with appropriate personnel of present and/or former school(s); review of social, medical, psychological, educational evaluation; and locally administered admissions testing. Schools may elect to include additional requirements in the written procedures.
Catholic educators recognize and attempt to address the needs of all those who seek a Catholic education. Although not legally bound to provide services for all students, schools will examine their ability to meet the needs of students who request entrance. In considering individual applications for admission, the following areas may be considered: impact on finances, impact on school personnel, duration of need for special services, and goals of the school.
The principal shall decide whether to accept the child, to deny acceptance, or conditionally to accept the child. If the child is conditionally accepted, the parent/guardian must sign the Conditional Acceptance Form. The school shall monitor and periodically review the progress of the student and shall provide a progress report to the parent/guardian. At the end of the time period specified in the Conditional Acceptance Form, the principal shall then determine whether enrollment shall be continued or termination shall be required.
SOURCE: Diocesan Office of Education Handbook policy – 301, May 2001. Complies with Texas Education code 21.101.
