Admissions

St. Margaret of Scotland School admits students from Catholic families belonging to the parish, provided they meet the school qualifications. Other qualifying students are admitted if space is available after parishioners have been admitted. The pastor, advised by the principal, is the final authority in all admissions decisions.

(School Board Policy 1/17/01)

Criteria

  • Students are admitted to St. Margaret of Scotland Parish School without discrimination on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin and all students have the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to all students within the school.
  • Parents desiring to enroll their children in St. Margaret’s must understand and be willing to support the Mission and Statement of Beliefs for St. Margaret of Scotland Parish School.
  • The pastor with consultation from the principal will admit students to the school with priority given to parishioners.
  • A desire on the part of parents for a school where Catholic teachings and moral formation are integral to the curriculum, as well as, a commitment by the parents to participate in the spiritual, social and financial life of the parish/school.

Procedure

  1. Parents/guardians of prospective students are invited to attend the annual Open House on the last Sunday in January or to make an appointment to visit the school at another time.
  2. Parents/guardians complete the registration form and return it to the school office with the following information:
    • Copy of the child’s Birth Certificate
    • Copy of the child’s Baptismal Certificate (if applicable)
    • Copy of the child’s Social Security Card
    • An Up-to-date Immunization Record
    • Financial Commitment Contract & Registration Fee
    • Copy of the student’s most recent report card or their preschool records
    • Copy of the student’s most recent standardized test results (if applicable).
  3. In the case of a divorce verification of the custody arrangements must be on file in the school office, i.e. a copy of the portion of the divorce decree which verifies custody arrangements.
  4. Students coming into kindergarten will participate in the student assessment program scheduled during the spring.
  5. Acceptance of new students transferring into 1st through 8th will be based on the child’s most recent report card, standardized test scores, and/or student assessment as determined by the administration of St. Margaret of Scotland school and parish.

Timeline for Registration

  1. Open House –last weekend in January
  2. Re-registration for current students and in-coming siblings – Mid-February
  3. Registration & Assessment of new students –  March and ongoing
  4. Notification of Acceptance either by mail or by phone – April and ongoing

Tuition and Fees  (See SMOS-school.org for current tuition fees.)
The St. Margaret of Scotland Parish School Board acts in an advisory capacity to the parish finance committee who acts in an advisory capacity to the Pastor on financial matters concerning contributions, tuition, fees and delinquent debt procedures.  School administration is consulted by the finance committee when designing the budget and on all matters related directly to spending on educational needs.  The School Board also supports the efforts of advancement for the parish and school.

Tuition and Fees:  The tuition and fees are reviewed and established on an annual basis by the pastor in collaboration with school board and parish finance committee each January.  The tuition applies to all five year old students through grade 8.  There is a special tuition rate set for preschool three and four year olds.  All financial responsibilities are published at the time of re-registration for the coming school year. 

Registration Fee:  The registration fee is paid directly to the school.  Half is required at the time of registration / re-registration and the remaining amount is due within 30 days of registration.    The registration fee is non-refundable unless a refund is granted by the pastor in collaboration with the school board’s finance committee.  Requests for refund must be submitted in writing and will be considered individually.  An administration fee of $10.00 is withheld in cases where a refund is granted.

Dragon Raffle: St. Margaret of Scotland Parish School requires each school family to sell $100.00 of designated school raffle tickets or pay that amount toward the school’s operating budget in addition to regular tuition.  In addition, school families are strongly encouraged to participate in other fundraising activities that directly support St. Margaret of Scotland Parish School.

Tuition Assistance      

Parish / Archdiocesan Assistance - tuition assistance is available to all families in need.  
The FACTS program provides a Grant and Aid application to be filled out by the parent/guardian requesting tuition assistance.
The FACTS report is sent directly to the Pastor who, with the advice of the funding committee, determines how much aid will be given to each family applying.
Funding is provided by the generosity of St. Margaret of Scotland Parish, the Archdiocese of St. Louis, Today and Tomorrow Foundation and generous corporate and private institutions.

Mandeville Multicultural

St. Margaret of Scotland Parish and School are committed to promoting economic and racial diversity.  The Mandeville Multicultural Fund has been established to provide assistance to minority families who are not Catholic, who live in the neighborhood and who desire an education at St. Margaret of Scotland Parish School.  The scholarship fund is maintained by contributions from parish and school families, as well as contributions from philanthropic and religious organizations. 

Policy Regarding Exit of Students

To determine possible problems in the system, the school administration will conduct exit interviews and compile statistics for review by the school board.
 

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