Enrollment Information

St. Mary Catholic School (SMCS) welcomes students of all ethnic backgrounds, races, and religious affiliations. While our school is rooted in the Catholic faith, all students are expected to participate in Religion instruction and worship as part of our daily life and mission.

Admission is based on available space and our ability to meet each student’s individual educational needs.

Priority for New Student Enrollment

1. Returning students

2. Returning families

3. St. Mary Parishioners

4. Catholic non-parishioners

5. Non-Catholics

Class sizes are limited to 12 students per grade level. Grades 1–8 are taught in combined-grade classrooms, while Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten are self-contained classes. The Pastor and Principal will determine if additional students can be accommodated or placed on a waiting list.

Enrollment Lottery

If applications exceed available openings, an enrollment lottery will be held. Names of qualified applicants will be drawn in a public meeting.

• Application Deadline: June 1 (extended to the following Monday if June 1 falls on a weekend)

• Lottery Date: On or around June 15

• Impacted families will be notified in advance.

Students with Disabilities

We work to reasonably accommodate students with disabilities. SMCS partners with Alexandria Community School Corporation to provide the best possible placement and support services.

Age Requirements

• Pre-Kindergarten: Must be 3 or 4 years old on or before August 1. All preschool students must be fully toilet-trained.

• Kindergarten: Must be 5 years old on or before August 1.

  • Students with birthdays between August 2 and October 1 may appeal for early entrance.

  • Appeals include an assessment and review of multiple factors — decisions are not based on a single test or score.

Health & Registration Requirements

Per Indiana law, all incoming kindergarten students must have a physical examination.
Students should be fully registered prior to the first day of school with the following:

• Certificate of Health

• Birth Certificate

• Record of Immunizations

• Payment of all registration and technology fees

• Signed Tuition Agreement with payment plan

• Official records from previous school

• Baptismal Certificate (Catholic students only)

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