Admission Policy The policy of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati (302.02) states that no student may be excluded from a Catholic school solely because of race, color, religion, national origin or ancestry. Anyone seeking admission to Saint Louis School to avoid desegregation is not to be admitted. Admission is not based solely on ability or achievement. Although Saint Louis School does not have the educational facilities or qualified personnel to meet the special instructional or psychological needs of all students, Saint Louis School makes an effort to educate students with special needs.

The purpose of this admission policy is to define the specific entrance requirements necessary for a child to be considered for admission to St. Louis School.

Admission may be granted to students who provide evidence of good academic standing and deportment and who submit the required forms and fees in accordance with the criteria explained below. Every new student is on probation for the first quarter of the school year or for ten weeks if the student enrolls after the school year has begun. The decision to admit a student or the decision on whether or not a student should remain at Saint Louis after the end of the probationary period should be made by the pastor and or principal after prayerful consideration, following consultation with the teachers and parents, should be based on the principles of Christian charity and should take into account the welfare of all the students in the school.

Registration is held each year in February. The amount of each child’s Book and Material Fee for the next school year is collected as the Registration Fee. All students who plan to return to our school the following year must register by the assigned date or lose their priority registration status.

Registration

Acceptance to St. Louis School will be determined by the Admissions Commission based on the following criteria.

1. Students who are already enrolled at St. Louis and their siblings. Current students will remain as priority registration as long as their registration is completed by the assigned date, the family’s tuition payments are current and they are in good standing.
2. Children of PARTICIPATING St. Louis Parishioners who will be enrolling for the first time.
3. Children whose families are parishioners at another Catholic Parish which does not have a school and are not currently enrolled.
4. Children of non-Catholic families not currently enrolled.
5. Additional Requirements for Admission of Students who are Transferring to Saint Louis School
1. The child and parents will be interviewed by the principal and, after the school year has begun, the teachers. The primary questions will involve the reasons why the student wants to attend our Catholic school. Some information about sacraments received, Mass participation or participation at Sunday services, knowledge of the Catholic or other Christian faith and Christian attitudes may be discussed. Requirements regarding participation in Religion class, at weekly all-school Mass and daily prayer will be discussed.
2. For students in grades three through eight, students will be tested using the Weschler Individual Achievement Test or curriculum based, teacher provided testing.
3. With parental permission, current or former schools will be contacted by phone to obtain information regarding academic levels, work habits, social skills and behaviors.
4. If parents want to enroll a child after the school year has begun, a meeting must be held with the classroom teachers prior to acceptance of the child.
5. Parents will complete the new student questionnaire form and all other necessary paperwork.
6. Student records will be obtained.
7. If the family registers within three days of the start of school, making it impossible for the school to obtain critical information as listed above, the student’s entrance into the school may be delayed for a few days. The child will be given homework to assist with the transition into school.
8. Every new student admitted to Saint Louis School is on probation for the first quarter of the school year or for ten weeks if the student enrolls at Saint Louis after the school year has begun.

Criteria for Admission of Underage Pupils to Kindergarten

The Ohio Revised Code (3321.01) provides that no child may be admitted to kindergarten unless he/she is five years of age on or before September 30 of the year of admittance. Any child being considered for underage admittance into kindergarten must first be screened by Saint Louis School personnel using the Brigance kindergarten screening tool. Typically, a child who is considered for early admission to kindergarten should be in the gifted range. All areas of development are considered including academic readiness, self-help skills, fine and gross motor skills, social and behavioral skills and language skills. In addition to considering the needs of the underage child, it is the responsibility of the school to consider the needs of all the other students in the class. Other considerations include availability of appropriate personnel. Judgment of the team consisting of the kindergarten teacher(s), speech language pathologist and principal will be required for borderline cases and the decision should be based on the child’s overall readiness for kindergarten. Students must be five by January 1st to be considered for early admission to kindergarten.