Admission Policies

Non-Discrimination

St. Mary's School is in compliance with all Federal and State non-discrimination and equal opportunity laws and regulations regarding admissions and employment, as stated in the Commission of Education policies of the Diocese of Peoria.

No student shall be refused admission to Catholic schools on the basis of race, color, gender, or national or ethnic origin. Students of religious denominations other than Catholic may be admitted according to local policy. (Diocesan Policy D-111: http://www.cdop.org/files/cdop_documents/D111.pdf )

The norms for the acceptance of non-Catholic students are developed in line with the basic mission of each school to provide a Catholic school education for the students of the parish. When non-Catholics or non-parishioners are accepted, care is taken that room is left, or provided on a timely basis, for the Catholic students of St. Mary’s and other Catholic parishes.

Once non-parishioners or non-Catholics have been admitted, it is not permissible to exclude them to make room for parish children, unless a written agreement, signed at the time of their admittance, clearly specifies that admittance is guaranteed for only one year.

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Terms of Admission

Acceptance to St. Mary’s School will be determined after successful completion of all administrative procedures and with the approval of the principal.

All students will participate in the Catholic Religion classes, religious activities and services that are incorporated into the religious education curriculum at St. Mary’s.

Parents agree to cooperate with and follow procedures of St. Mary’s School as a condition for their child’s enrollment and continued attendance. Parents will sign for acceptance of Student/Parent handbook and will agree to abide by all policies of St. Mary’s School.

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Admission of Students with Special Needs

Children with special education needs will be admitted to St. Mary’s School as long as adequate adjustments in the educational setting can be provided and meet their educational needs. Decisions for admission will be made on a case by case basis. Parents must disclose special education needs upon enrollment. Failure to disclose special needs may result in termination of admission.

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New and Transferring Students

Entering students will be required to begin with a 30-day probation period in order to demonstrate academic success and/or responsible behavior consistent with St. Mary’s standards.

Under ordinary circumstances, entering students will be screened before admission for proper grade placement. Transfer students may be required to submit appraisal forms from the previous school.

Illinois Law requires all students entering prekindergarten, kindergarten, fifth, or ninth grades and students transferring from out of state or out of country have a physical examination within one calendar year prior to the date of entry. The examination must include a complete immunization record and medical history.

Students transferring from another Illinois school must present copies of their current Illinois school health records.

Students entering kindergarten, second and sixth grade are required to provide proof of an oral health exam completed by a dentist prior to May 15 th of the school year.

If the records of a transfer student are not received within 30 days of the request for such records, parents will be informed and an additional ten (10) school days will be allowed to show proof of meeting physical examination, dental, and immunization requirements. If such proof is not provided within the above time frame, the student will be excluded from school until proof is presented to school authorities.

Any student who has previously been expelled from a school, asked to leave a school, or left a school to avoid expulsion shall not be admitted into St. Mary’s school without written permission from the Superintendent of Schools. Diocesan policy D-110: http://www.cdop.org/files/cdop_documents/D110.pdf

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Legal Age for Admission

St. Mary's follows the guidelines of the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) for admission to school. Admission age requirements as set by the ISBE are as follows:

A child must be:

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Admission Priorities

St. Mary's Church operates the parish school and subsidizes its funding. Thus, the first priority for admission to St. Mary’s will be offered to members of St. Mary’s parish and families with students currently enrolled.

In order to be considered a member of St. Mary’s Parish, an individual or family must:

The second priority for admission will be extended to members of any other Catholic parish which financially supports St. Mary’s in its effort to maintain the school. If other parishes make such commitments, then the families from those parishes will be extended in-parish tuition rates.  

The third priority will be extended to Catholic families that are members of parishes that do not financially support St. Mary’s. Those families must pay non-parish tuition rates.

The fourth priority will be extended to families and individuals that are not Catholic. Non-parish tuition rates apply.  

Decisions regarding parish membership are left to the discretion of the Pastor.

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