Photo by Michael Alexander,
The Georgia Bulletin

Admission

Schools in the Archdiocese of Atlanta admit students of any race, sex, color, national and ethnic origin to all rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to all students at the schools.

They do not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of educational policies, admissions policies, loan programs and athletic or other school administered programs.

Archdiocesan schools include: Blessed Trinity High School, Christ the King, Holy Redeemer, Immaculate Heart of Mary, Our Lady of Mercy High School, Our Lady of the Assumption, Our Lady of Victory, Queen of Angels, St. Catherine of Siena, St. John Neumann Regional, St. John the Evangelist, St. Joseph - Athens, St. Joseph - Marietta, St. Jude the Apostle, St. Mary, St. Peter Claver Regional, St. Pius X High School and St. Thomas More.

The Catholic Elementary Schools offer programs of education and formation for students who are willing and able to live within the religious, academic, behavioral, and attitudinal requirements of the school and whose parents/guardians demonstrated a desire for the school to assist them in their parental role as primary educators. During the 2007-2008 school year, approximately 11,000 students are being served in our Pre-K through high school programs.

Admission to Elementary School

The Archdiocesan age requirements for entrance into Pre-K programs are as follows:

Pre-Kindergarten:

Archdiocesan requirements stipulate that no child may be admitted to Pre-Kindergarten unless he or she is four (4) years old on or before September 1 in the year he or she proposes to enter school.

The Georgia state law is followed for beginning age requirements for school entrance to grades Kindergarten and First:

Kindergarten and First Grade:

No child may be admitted to kindergarten unless he or she is five (5) years old on or before September 1 in the year he or she proposes to enter school.
No child may be admitted to the 1st grade unless he or she is six (6) years old on or before September 1st in the year he or she proposes to enter school.
Admission of a child from another state is based upon the age requirement of that jurisdiction.

In the admission of students to elementary schools, and subject to the overriding discretion of the Principal, priority consideration shall be given to these criteria in the following order:

All students who are currently enrolled and who are eligible for re-enrollment.
Re-Enrollment Policy for currently matriculated students:
Continued enrollment in any given school year, and re-enrollment in any subsequent years, is subject to the parent/guardians continued support of the mission of the school as documented in the school handbook and the maintenance of a demonstrably effective and supportive relationship between the school and the parents/guardians. Re-enrollment in any subsequent year is subject to mutual agreement. That agreement may be withheld by the student, the parents, or the school administration with or without cause.
Students of families currently matriculated/alumni siblings in the school.
Students on the current year's waiting list in good standing.
Students who are children of employees within a building.
Students from host-parishes (parish-affiliated schools).
Students from other parishes in the Archdiocese.
Students of another religious affiliation.

** Verification by the pastor of active family participation in the Catholic parish will be an important factor in the admission process and will be verified each year of matriculation.

** Local transfer of students from any public, private or Archdiocesan school into grade eight (8) is generally not considered. Students whose families have relocated to the Atlanta area may apply to admission for grade eight (8) in an Archdiocesan school.

** Currently enrolled Catholic families and newly applying Catholic families shall be made aware of and have access to the Tuition Assistance Program.

Admission to High School

The Catholic high schools offer programs of education and formation for students who are able to live within the religious, academic, behavioral, and attitudinal requirements of the school and whose parents/guardians have demonstrated a desire for the school to assist them in their parental role as primary educators.

The student body of an archdiocesan high school will be heterogeneous in its intellectual composition.

In all cases, the Principal may exercise discretion in the admission process.

In the admission of students to the high school, priority consideration shall be given to these criteria in the following order, subject to the overriding discretion of the Principal:

Those students applying to grade nine (9) from Catholic elementary schools.
Catholic students enrolling into grade nine (9) from a public school.
Students enrolling into grade nine (9) with currently matriculated/alumni siblings.
Students currently matriculated into grades 10, 11, 12

Re-enrollment policy for currently matriculated students:

Continued enrollment in any given school year, and re-enrollment in any subsequent years, is subject to the parent/guardian's continued support of the mission of the school as documented in the school handbook and the maintenance of a demonstrably effective and supportive relationship between the school and the parents/guardians. Re-enrollment in any subsequent year is subject to mutual agreement. That agreement may be withheld by the student, the parents, or the school administration with or without cause.

** Verification by the pastor of active family participation in the Catholic parish will be an important factor in the admissions process and will be verified each year of matriculation.

** Local transfer of students from any public, private or Archdiocesan school into grade twelve (12) is not considered. Students whose families have relocated to the Atlanta area may apply for admission into grade twelve (12) in an Archdiocesan high school.

** Currently enrolled Catholic families and newly applying Catholic families shall be made aware of and have access to the Tuition Assistance Program.