Enrolling Your Child at St. Mary’s School

Choosing a school for your child is one of the most important decisions you will make as a parent.  At St. Mary’s School, we appreciate the importance of this decision, and we encourage each family to find the school that best fits their child and their values.  In the same manner, we as a school work to ensure that any new student will quickly acclimate to our environment and be successful.

Our enrollment process is divided into four stages to ensure a smooth process:

1. Inquiry
2. Application
3. Assessment
4. Acceptance

Inquiry

Request an Informational Packet - You can easily request one of our informational packets by completing this form or calling the school at (716)689-8424.  Much of the information you have found on this site will be included in the packet, as well as several additional promotional pieces and an application for admission.

Tour the School - We offer tours throughout the school year, inviting families to come experience St. Mary’s by visiting on a typical day.  During the tour, families will visit our classrooms, speak with several teachers, interact with current students, and spend some time meeting privately with the school's administration.  To schedule a tour, please contact the school at (716) 689-8424.  Please plan to spend at least an hour touring the school. 

Additional Opportunities to Learn More - Following a tour, prospective families will also have the chance to speak with several current families who can provide an "insider's view" to life at St. Mary’s.  Additional visits can also be arranged, which could include a student visiting a classroom for the day or meeting directly with a teacher.

Application

Once a family determines they are interested in sending their child(ren) to St. Mary’s, they should complete an application for each prospective student. 

Assessment

Every prospective student will be assessed for grade readiness and to assist the school in providing appropriate services.  In conjunction with family interviews and review of records, these academic assessments will be used in determining acceptance.

During the school year, applicants are invited to spend a full day visiting St. Mary’s, interacting with their potential classmates and teachers, participating in the classroom activities, and learning more about what it means to be a student at St. Mary’s. 

All incoming kindergarten students are assessed during an assigned screening day held in June prior to the start of school. 

Acceptance

Following the assessments, the school administration, teachers, and applicant family will meet to review the results, go over the school records received, and discuss any concerns.  After this conference, acceptance decisions will be made, with admitted students receiving an acceptance letter within two weeks. 

FAQs

What fees are charged in addition to tuition?

There is a $100 application fee, which includes fees paid to lunch monitors.  There are no mandatory fundraising requirements. 

How many students are in each class?                                          Our average class size is 22 students.  We do not accept more than 29 students in any one class.

What if I am not Catholic?

St. Mary’s welcomes families from all faith traditions.  While we proudly teach the Catholic faith and attend Mass weekly, we also encourage all students to share their experiences from thei own faith traditions.

How old must my child be to enter kindergarten?

A child must be five years of age on or before December 1 to be admitted to Kindergarten.

When does school begin and end for the day?                          Our school day begins at 7:50 a.m. and concludes at 2:15 p.m.  Students should not plan to arrive before 7:40 a.m.  From 2:15 p.m. to 6 p.m., the YMCA provides after-school care. 

Do you have a lunch program?                                                 Yes, we provide hot lunch each day.  All our meals are cooked in-house by our own full-time cafeteria manager and assistants.  All meals meet state and federal-approved nutritional standards. 

Lunch is served during three lunch periods (K-2, 3-5 and 6-8) and includes a variety of meals (tacos, cheeseburgers, pizza, spaghetti, etc.).  Lunch costs are as follows $1.75 for grades K-2 and $2.00 for grades 3-8.  You may pay daily, weekly or monthly. We are also a part of the state's Free and Reduced Lunch Program that provides free or reduced meals to families that qualify based on income guidelines. 

What high schools do your students attend after graduating from St. Mary’s School?                                                          

We are proud to send our students off to many of the area's high schools!  Each year we work with our 7th and 8th grade students and their families to help them find the high school that best fits their values, learning style, budget and interests.  In the past few years, St. Mary’s graduates have gone on to attend Sacred Heart Academy, St. Joseph’s Collegiate Institute, Nardin Academy, Canisius High School, Williamsville North High School, Williamsville East High School, Clarence Central High School, Holy Angels Academy, Starpoint Central High School, Lockport High School and Akron Central High School.

TUITION RATES 2010-2011 SCHOOL YEAR:

An active parishioner is a person or family who is registered in our church, regularly attends Mass and gives financially to the weekly collection by using their envelopes.  If you are not active, you will be billed the non-parishioner rate. This status also applies to families who are deemed “active” parishioners of a parish without a school and who wish to enroll their children in another affiliated Catholic school within the Diocese of Buffalo (CTGP – Tuition Grant Program). A Parishioner Verification Form must be completed and signed by both the family and their parish pastor. Contact the school office to obtain a form.

Tuition Payment Options:

- Paid in Full by July 25 to receive a $50 discount. 

- Half Installments: ½ tuition by July 25 and the final ½ by January 25.

- Quarter Installments are due July 25, October 25, January 25, and April 25.

Application Fee

$100 for Each New Family

Re-Enrollment Fee for Current Families: $100 per family

Please note that kindergarten registration is separate from the registration fee for children in grades 1-8. $50 for each incoming kindergarten student

Tuition Assistance

We strive to keep the cost of education affordable for all our families. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Buffalo is committed to helping schools provide a Catholic Education in Western New York and to assisting families who choose Catholic Education for their children.

·         Catholic Elementary School Tuition Aid Program (CTAP) is a program that provides needs-based tuition aid for Catholic and non-Catholic families. The school does not determine eligibility, and financial information is kept confidential as it is organized through the Foundation of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Buffalo. Any parent or guardian with a kindergarten to eighth grade student who is registered at a regional or parish affiliated Catholic elementary school within the Diocese of Buffalo is eligible to apply for CTAP. Families must demonstrate need for aid according to an Income Eligibility Scale to qualify for consideration. Families must also commit to paying a minimum of $500 in tuition for their children. The deadline for CTAP applications is during the spring, prior to the beginning of the new school year. Applications may be obtained from the school or you may contact the Foundation directly.

For more information regarding this program, you may call 1.800.440.0549

·         In addition to the above, St. Mary’s School has limited opportunities for financial assistance. Please call our principal, Sister Sheila Anne Burke, directly at 689-8424 if you feel that your family would benefit from such assistance.

Please contact the school office to learn more about our tuition and financial policies (716)689-8424.