Our Admissions Process

A Thoughtful Beginning to an Important Partnership

Our Admissions Process

A Thoughtful Beginning to an Important Partnership

Applying to Mount St. Michael Catholic School is not simply a matter of submitting forms. It is the beginning of a relationship among the student, family, and school.

Our admissions process gives your family the opportunity to experience MSMCS, understand our Catholic identity and educational approach, ask meaningful questions, and consider whether our community is right for your child.

It also allows us to learn about your child’s strengths, needs, educational history, and the hopes your family holds for these formative years.

Below, you will find each step in the process and the action needed to move forward.

Admissions at a Glance

Step	What Happens	Your Next Action
1	Explore MSMCS	Learn about our mission and educational approach
2	Visit the School	Schedule a personalized campus tour
3	Submit an Application	Complete the online application
4	Complete the Student Assessment	Attend the scheduled placement assessment
5	Participate in a Family Interview	Meet with the school’s administrative leadership
6	Receive an Admissions Decision	Review the decision and any next steps
7	Complete Enrollment	Submit enrollment documents and required fees
8	Attend New-Parent Orientation	Prepare to enter the MSMCS community

Step 1

Explore Mount St. Michael

Before beginning an application, take time to understand what makes MSMCS distinctive.

We are a Catholic school serving children from 18 months through eighth grade. Our educational path begins with Montessori formation and continues through a classical curriculum designed to develop knowledge, reason, expression, wonder, and virtue.

Faith is not an extracurricular component of the MSMCS experience. It is central to our understanding of the child, the purpose of education, and the life of the school.

We encourage families to explore the following before scheduling a visit:

Our Catholic identity and faith formation.
Montessori education for toddlers through kindergarten.
Classical education in grades one through eight.
Student support and available learning accommodations.
Tuition, fees, and financial assistance.
What families should expect from the MSMCS partnership.

Associated Links

Step 2

Schedule a Personalized Visit

The best way to understand MSMCS is to experience it firsthand.

During your visit, you will explore the campus, learn about our Montessori and classical programs, see the school’s Catholic identity in practice, and talk with a member of the admissions team.

You will also have an opportunity to tell us about your child and ask candid questions about academics, faith formation, student life, learning support, tuition, and admissions.

Whenever possible, we encourage both parents or guardians involved in the school decision to attend the visit.

What you need to do:

Complete the online visit form.
Select your preferred date and time.
Watch for confirmation and arrival instructions from the admissions team.
Bring your questions—and an honest picture of what your child needs to flourish.

Associated Links

Step 3

Submit the Online Application

After visiting MSMCS and deciding that you would like to move forward, complete an application for each prospective student.

The application gives the school a fuller understanding of your child and family. You will be asked to provide student and parent information, educational history, previous-school information, and other materials needed for admissions review.

A nonrefundable application fee is due when the application is submitted. Because fees may change from one admissions year to the next, review the current tuition and fees page before beginning.

Before starting, gather:

Parent or guardian contact information.
Student identification and biographical information.
Current and previous school information.
Recent report cards or academic records, when applicable.
Standardized testing results, when applicable.
Relevant educational evaluations or accommodation plans.
Sacramental or parish information requested by the school.
Any required custody or guardianship documents.

Providing complete and accurate information helps MSMCS determine whether the school can serve your child responsibly. Information about learning differences, behavioral history, accommodations, or previous support should not be withheld. It gives the school and family the opportunity to make an informed decision together.

Associated Links

Step 4

Complete the Student Placement Assessment

After the application and required materials have been received, the admissions team will arrange a placement assessment.

The purpose of this assessment is to understand your child’s current development and academic readiness. It is not designed to define the child’s worth, reward extensive preparation, or identify only the highest-performing applicants.

The results help the school:

Understand your child’s current strengths.
Identify areas that may need reinforcement or support.
Determine appropriate classroom or grade placement.
Consider whether the school’s program can meet the child’s needs.
Prepare for a more meaningful family interview.

Assessment format and length may vary according to the student’s age and the program for which the family is applying. The admissions team will provide specific instructions when scheduling the appointment.

How to prepare your child:

Make sure your child is rested, has eaten, and understands that the visit is simply an opportunity for the school to get to know how he or she learns. Extensive studying or test preparation should not be necessary.

Associated Links

Step 5

Participate in a Family Interview

After the application requirements and student assessment are complete, the admissions team will schedule a family interview with the school’s administrative leadership.

This conversation helps the school and family discuss:

What you are seeking in your child’s education.
Your understanding of MSMCS’s Catholic identity.
Your child’s strengths, interests, needs, and educational history.
Academic and developmental placement.
Expectations for conduct, responsibility, and family participation.
Any questions raised by the application or assessment.
Whether the family and school appear well aligned.

The interview is not intended to reward polished answers. Honest conversation is far more valuable. Families should be ready to discuss both the areas in which their child thrives and those in which the child may need support.

When possible, both parents or guardians involved in the educational decision should attend.

Associated Links

Step 6

Receive an Admissions Decision

Once all required steps are complete, MSMCS will review the application, records, assessment, family interview, grade-level capacity, and the school’s ability to serve the student.

Families will receive one of the following decisions:

Offered Admission

The student is offered a place, subject to completion of the enrollment requirements by the stated deadline.

Offered Admission with Additional Conditions

The school may request a defined transition plan, additional documentation, specific support, or another agreed-upon condition before or after enrollment.

Any condition should be explained clearly and provided to the family in writing.

Wait Pool or Waitlist

The student may be qualified for admission, but a place is not currently available in the appropriate program or grade.

The school will explain how the waitlist operates, whether additional action is required, and when the family can expect an update.

Admission Not Offered

After careful consideration, the school may determine that MSMCS is not able to provide the educational environment or level of support the student currently needs.

This decision is not a judgment of the child’s worth or potential. Responsible admissions requires the school to consider whether it can genuinely help each student flourish.

Associated Links

Step 7

Complete Enrollment

An offer of admission does not complete enrollment or permanently reserve a place.

To secure your child’s place, parents must complete the online enrollment process and submit all required documents and fees by the deadline stated in the admission offer.

Enrollment requirements may include:

The online enrollment packet.
Enrollment agreement and financial contract.
Nonrefundable enrollment fee.
Birth certificate or other identity documentation.
Immunization or permitted exemption records.
Emergency and medical information.
Authorized pickup information.
Custody or guardianship documents, when applicable.
Parish, baptismal, or sacramental records requested by the school.
Final academic records from the previous school.
Tuition-payment-plan selection.
Signed acknowledgments of school policies.

Families seeking financial assistance should pay careful attention to financial-aid deadlines. An application for admission and an application for financial assistance are separate processes.

Associated Links

Tuition, Fees and Payment Options

Apply for Financial Assistance

Step 8

Attend New-Parent Orientation

Once enrollment is complete, new parents will be invited to an orientation before the school year begins.

Orientation helps families enter the community with a clear understanding of school life, responsibilities, communication, and practical expectations.

Topics may include:

The mission and Catholic identity of MSMCS.
Parent-school partnership.
Daily schedules and arrival procedures.
Attendance and communication.
Uniforms and school supplies.
Lunches and medication procedures.
Academic and behavioral expectations.
Faith practices and sacramental life.
Volunteer and service opportunities.
Family Portal access.
Important school-year dates.
Where to go when questions or concerns arise.

Orientation is not simply administrative. It establishes the foundation for a healthy partnership from the beginning.

Associated Links

Important Admissions Dates

Admissions Activity	Date or Deadline
Applications open	[INSERT CURRENT DATE]
Priority application deadline	[INSERT CURRENT DATE]
Financial-assistance deadline	[INSERT CURRENT DATE]
Admissions decisions begin	[INSERT CURRENT DATE OR ROLLING POLICY]
Enrollment deadline	[INSERT POLICY OR “STATED IN OFFER”]
New-parent orientation	[INSERT CURRENT DATE]
First day of school	[INSERT CURRENT DATE]

Applications may continue to be considered after the priority deadline when space remains available. Families applying after that date should contact Admissions to confirm availability in the appropriate program or grade.

Plan Your Visit

Ready to Take the First Step?

If you are still discovering MSMCS, begin with a personalized visit.

If you have already toured, understand our mission, and believe Mount St. Michael may be the right place for your child, you are invited to begin the application.

Questions before moving forward?

Call 214-337-0244 or contact Judy Saldana at j.saldana@msmcatholic.org.

We look forward to learning more about your family!