The admissions process for enrollment in St. Bernardine of Siena School begins on February 1st of each year. Applications are formally accepted at that time. There is a non-refundable application fee of $100. An admissions team reviews all applications and selects candidates for student screening which includes an admissions test, parent interview, and student interview for students in grades 5-8. Following the screening, the admissions team selects candidates for admission, waiting list or non-acceptance.

GUIDELINES FOR ADMISSION

Preferences shall be given to registered, active members of St. Bernardine of Siena Parish.

• Kindergarten students must be 5 years old by September 1st
• First Grade students must be 6 years old by September 1st
• All students must comply with current California immunization and health requirements prior to enrollment.
• The parish school will strive to have Catholic education accessible to as many students as possible, both with its educational programs and financial considerations; however, it may have insufficient resources to serve the educational needs of all students.
• The pastor and principal will review a students’ continued eligibility for enrollment in the parish school annually.
• St. Bernardine of Siena School generally accepts 36 students per class. Exceptions are made based on the needs of the class.

WAITING LIST

Candidates selected for the school waiting list are placed on the list for a period of one school year. Waiting list students are invited to replace students who may leave during the school year. There is no number order of priority on the waiting list. Decisions for placement are based on the replacement who will fit most naturally into the make up of the class when joining while the school year is in progress.

SCHOOL STUDENT NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY

The school, mindful of its mission to be a witness to the love of Christ for all, admits students regardless of race, color or national and/or ethnic origin to all rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school.

The school does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, disability, sex or national and/or ethnic origin in the administration of education policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs, although certain athletic leagues and other programs may limit participation and some Archdiocesan schools operate as single sex schools.

While the school does not discriminate against students with special needs, a full range of services may not always be available to them. Decisions concerning the admission and continued enrollment of a student in the school are based upon the student’s emotional, academic and physical abilities and the resources available to the school in meeting the student’s needs.