ADMISSIONS

DIOCESAN INITIAL ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Students who desire an educational experience founded on the Catholic philosophy of education and who fulfill the age, health, academic and behavioral requirements are eligible for admission to the school. The school sets registration procedures and admission policies. The availability of space and the order of preference for admission is determined by the school according to the following general criteria:

Children from the parish
Children from parishes without schools
Children from parishes with schools (for sufficient reason)
Children from non-Catholic families
If approved by the pastor, and where practicable, the siblings may receive special consideration.

Admissions Process
Parents and students are encouraged to visit the campus for a tour of the school. The completed application along with the application fee should be submitted to the school for review. Packets are available in the office. For your convenience, you may print the forms and submit your application via mail or in person.

Class Placement
The principal/administration and faculty reserve the right to place students in a class which is consistent with the results of the student’s prior academic records and any admission testing.

Age for Admission to Kindergarten
Children who will have reached the age of five years by September 30th may be admitted to a Kindergarten Program. Readiness testing, at the discretion of school officials, may be used to determine, among other things, the developmentally appropriate placement in the kindergarten program. Readiness testing (fine/gross motor, speech, and language screen) is required for kindergarten entry and within 60 days of school admission for new students in grades 1 – 3. Additional school readiness testing may be conducted at the discretion of school officials. In those cases where the school has sufficient reservations regarding the potential for success, those students may be admitted on a conditional basis with dates and criteria of evaluation established in writing; however, the decision of whether to extend or remove conditional admission status should be made by school officials at their discretion.

Requirements for Admission Pre-school – Grade 5

Presentation of an original Birth certificate (schools are expected to keep a copy of the certificate on file).
Baptismal certificate for Catholic students
Proof of exact dates of required immunization as required by the Code of Virginia
Current report card and previous academic years’ report card as applicable
Standardized test scores and previous years, if applicable
Completed Diocesan Application Form (Appendix J)
A non-refundable application fee
A fully executed MCH-213 Commonwealth of Virginia School Entrance Form or equivalent, which stipulates the following must be submitted prior to the student beginning school:
- Proof of exact dates of immunization as required by the Code of Virginia
- Current Certification of Immunization
- Physical examination covering all required aspects as mandated on the MCH-213, within 12 months prior to entering school for the first time. Equivalent school entrance physical forms from another state may be acceptable. (Note: A preschool physical does not take the place of the required kindergarten entry physical unless it is completed within 12 months prior to kindergarten entry.)
Proof of satisfying tuition requirements at any former Diocesan school if previously enrolled in a Diocesan school.

Requirements for Admission to Grades 6 - 12

Presentation of an original Birth certificate (schools are expected to keep a copy of the certificate on file)
Baptismal certificate for Catholic students
Proof of exact dates of immunization
Records from previous school, including standardized test scores
Proof of custody where applicable
Completed Diocesan Elementary or High School Application Form (Appendix J)
Current Certification of Immunization
A non-refundable application fee
If previously enrolled in a Diocesan school, proof of satisfying tuition requirements at that former Diocesan school.

General Conditions of Admission
A student is admitted to the school on the premise the student intends to learn the Catholic religion and be educated in a Catholic environment. In certain cases, students may be admitted on a probationary basis subject to the student successfully completing one or more subsequent interim evaluations. Students with academic or other needs (i.e., behavioral), which cannot be reasonably addressed by the school may be denied admission. School application forms may request disability-related information. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) does not prohibit a school from asking questions about a student’s disabilities provided that information does not discriminate (automatically prohibit a student from applying).

Foreign Students
The Diocese of Arlington endeavors to remain certified by the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service to admit F-1 Non-Immigrant students. The school, therefore, adheres to the following policies for enrolling non-U.S. persons:

Foreign students who apply for admission to a Diocese of Arlington School will be considered for admission, if all the following requirements are satisfactorily demonstrated:

Students with F-1 Visas:

if a foreign student is a baptized Catholic, valid proof of baptism is required
student guardian has guardianship of no more than two students at same local address
documentation of legal guardianship
tuition payment is made in full upon admission
if the student is represented by an educational consulting firm, an I-20 Sponsorship Survey is completed and returned to the Office of Catholic Schools.

The F-1 (non-immigrant student) status applies to those aliens who are in the United States for the purpose of attending school. Once a student is determined to meet the school's requirements for admission, the family must contact the Office of Catholic Schools or other "designated official" to process the Immigration and Naturalization Service I-20 form for eventual admission and stay in the United States as an F-1 student. Foreign students who enroll in a school in the Diocese for the first time must provide documentation they are free from communicable tuberculosis.

In order to maintain a better accounting of F-1 (non-immigrant) status students, the Immigration and Naturalization Service requires ongoing accounting. In that regard, schools are responsible for reporting the status of these students via the Report on Status of F-1 (non-immigrant) Students form. Specifically, the school shall:

Report each semester to the Office of Catholic Schools regarding the status of any F-1 (non-immigrant) student as long as that child is enrolled in the school
Notify the Office of Catholic Schools if an F-1 (non-immigrant) student who has been issued an I-20 and has been accepted by that school, fails to report to the school within 30 days of the designated start date
Notify the Office of Catholic Schools within 15 days when an F-1 (non-immigrant) student transfers to another school or departs the United States
Report any legal change in the name or address of an F-1 (nonimmigrant) studentwithin 10 days.

Foreign students enrolling in a school in the Diocese must show a B-1 or a B-2 Visa. In addition to a B-1 or B-2 Visa, any foreign student seeking temporary enrollment, mustprovide the following documentation:

Diocesan Emergency Care Form
State Immunization Form
Local Admissions Forms
Signed statement indicating no grades will be given (i.e. the student is maintaining audit status)
Tuition Agreement

Foreign students who enroll in a school in the Diocese for the first time must provide documentation theyare free from communicable tuberculosis. Any student applicant whose passport, United Nations travel document, or other Immigration and Naturalization documents indicate that he or she is a refugee, asylee, parolee, lawful non-immigrant, or permanent resident, may be admitted to the schools of the Diocese of Arlington under normal requirements for admission. This policy would also include undocumented children.