ENROLLMENT POLICIES

Application Information (see Diocese of Tucson Policy 2110)

St. Ambrose Catholic School adheres to Federal Policies 306.1 and 601.1 in admission, educational programs and activities. St. Ambrose Catholic School does not discriminate against an applicant or student because of sex, race, color or ethnic origin.

Admission

Admission to St. Ambrose Catholic School is based on space available and the results of a placement test.   Applications must be made in the spring for the fall term. 

• A child entering pre-school must be at least 3 years old by August 31^st
• A child entering Kindergarten in the fall must be 5 years old by August 31^st

      (Kindergarten applicants will have a readiness evaluation)

• A child entering 1^st Grade must be 6 years old by August 31^st

Order of Acceptance

1.    Existing school families

2.    Parishioners of St. Ambrose Parish

a.    Registered for at least one year

b.    Contributions via church donation envelopes

c.    Verification required from Pastor

3.    Students of Alumni St. Ambrose Catholic School

4.    Parishioners from other Catholic parishes

a.    Registered for at least one year

b.    Contributions via church donation envelopes

c.    Verification required from Pastor

5.    Non-active Catholics   

6.    Non-Catholics

Special Needs Students (see Diocese of Tucson Policy 4610)

Diversity is part of the St. Ambrose Catholic School philosophy and every effort will be made to provide an educational, safe and fun environment for all students. If your child has special needs please see the Principal to evaluate if our school is the appropriate place for your child. 

ENROLLMENT POLICIES (continued)

Registration Process

Registration for the upcoming school year takes place in the spring. Spaces are filled on a first-come, first-served basis with continuing school families being allowed to register earliest.

• Registration Fee

A non-refundable registration fee must be paid at the time of registration. No child will be registered without payment of the registration fee. The cost to register will be detailed in the registration materials.

• Continuing Student Registration

v All fees due the school must be paid in full prior to registration

v The registration packet must be completed and returned to school

v Student must have a Diocesan required physical any year the child plays sports

(see Diocese of Tucson Policy 5300)

• New Student Admissions

v The admission packet must be completed and returned to school

v Academic assessment (placement testing) will be given to all students entering Kindergarten through 8^th grade to insure proper placement

v Transcripts (if applicable) must be forwarded to St. Ambrose Catholic School

v Student must have a Diocesan required physical the first year of registration

(see Diocese of Tucson Policy 5300)

• Wait List Policy

If enrollment is closed, a student may be placed on the wait list. Wait listed students will be contacted if and when space becomes available. Students on the wait list will be considered with the following conditions met:

1.    Wait list form and parish verification are completed and returned to school

2.    Wait list fee is paid

3.    Space becomes available in the student grade

4.    The date of the wait list combined with the admittance order (see Admission Information) controls when and if a student is fully admitted to St. Ambrose Catholic School

5.    Academic assessment will be given to students entering Kindergarten through 8^th Grade

6.    Upon final admission acceptance, registration paperwork must be submitted and the non-refundable registration fee must be paid in full

ENROLLMENT POLICIES (continued)

Testing

• Achievement/placement testing is done for three reasons:  

1.    To insure proper placement for incoming students

2.    To measure the academic progress of an individual student;

3.    As a tool to analyze areas of curricula that need to be studied, revised or intensified for the entire school

• Kindergarten children are given a readiness evaluation by the Kindergarten teacher. Its purpose is to measure each child’s readiness for kindergarten activities. It also assists the teacher in knowing the child’s developmental skill level from the first day of school.

• Grades K – 8 use academic writing and mathematics portfolios as part of the School Improvement Process (SIP) required by the school’s accrediting bodies (the Western Catholic Education Association and the North Central Association). Portfolios will include a minimum of four writing samples and four math exercises per school year. In addition, students and teachers will work together to place a variety of other projects and assignments in portfolios yearly.  

• Each year, grades K – 6 will have three benchmarking assessments of the Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Standards (DIBELS).

• Primary grade test results in language arts and math are part of permanent records. 

• The Arizona Instrument to Measure Standards (AIMS) is administered to students in 3^rd – 8^th Grades. The test results for each child will be sent home before the end of the school year. All school parents will receive the results of grade level achievement.

• Students in the 5^th and 8^th grades will be given the Assessment of Catholic Religious Education (ACRE) to assess their knowledge of the Catholic faith.

ENROLLMENT POLICIES (continued)

Probationary Acceptance (see Diocese of Tucson Policy 2220)

All students entering St. Ambrose Catholic School mid-career will be accepted on a probationary basis. 

The length of probation will be determined by the Principal and accepting teacher (no more than three (3) trimesters). 

Continued enrollment at St. Ambrose is contingent upon:

• satisfactory academic progress

• student conduct

• parental cooperation with school authorities and policies

ENROLLMENT POLICIES (continued)

Mid-Year Transfers

• Mid-Year Transfer Out (see Withdrawal Policy):

• Any family who terminates enrollment during an academic year must submit paperwork to the school office indicating when and why a student is being withdrawn from St. Ambrose Catholic School

• The family is responsible for all payments through the time of withdrawal

• Transcripts will not be released to the school to which a student is transferring until this paperwork is complete and the student account balance is $0.

·         Mid-Year Transfer In:

o   St. Ambrose Catholic School accepts transfers on a space available basis and within the first two weeks of a new term

§ Special circumstances may be considered by the Principal

ENROLLMENT POLICIES (continued)

Withdrawal Policy (see Diocese of Tucson Policy 2190)

If a student must withdraw from St. Ambrose Catholic School before the end of the school year, it is mandatory that the parent provide basic information to the School Office in order to process the withdrawal properly. 

·         Student account balance of $0 (all outstanding fees must be paid in full)

·         Written documentation that the withdrawal is taking place signed and dated by the parent

• All tuition and fees are payable in full until the withdrawal paperwork has been submitted to the School Office

• Families must work with St. Ambrose Catholic School in order to cancel payments through FACTS (automatic tuition collection company)

• Exit interview with the Principal, student and parent

• Transcripts will be forwarded to the accepting school only after all of the above are completed

Refund Policy

• Registration fees (payable in March) are non-refundable
• July tuition is non-refundable
• Extended Day payments are non-refundable
• All other refund requests must be made in writing to the Principal
• Approved refunds are subject to a 10-day waiting period before payment
• Disputes regarding billing must be made within 30 days of the charge occurring on a student account

ENROLLMENT POLICIES (continued)

Readmission Policy

Any student who withdraws from St. Ambrose Catholic School will only be readmitted with the approval of the Pastor and the Principal. 

Readmission for the following academic year may be considered, with the implementation of a probation period. 

Each readmitted student and family will receive a written set of expectations that must be followed. 

Academic standing, conduct, and effort will be seriously considered before readmission. 

Full payment on any outstanding fees is required prior to readmission.