What kind of financial aid is available?
St. Joseph School is fully committed to making Catholic education affordable to all who desire the opportunity.
St. Joseph School offers financial assistance to all qualifying families with priority given to active, registered parishioners of the Church of St. Joseph. The financial aid award process is managed through TADS, an outside vendor. Because the Church of St. Joseph is fully committed to making Catholic education affordable to all who apply to the school, all families are strongly encouraged to examine their finances and complete the TADS application form (www.mytads.com). All applications are kept confidential.
As part of this process, families can also apply for Aim Higher and Catholic Services Appeal Foundation Scholarships (February 20, 2021 deadline!). Please complete and submit your financial aid application by April 1, 2021. Award recipients will be notified in May 2021.
Click here for more information.
What is the Admissions Policy?
St. Joseph School is a ministry of the Church of St. Joseph. It is a complement to the primary responsibility that parents have of educating and training their children in the practice of their faith. St. Joseph School enrolls families who are actively practicing their Catholic faith. Participation in the Sunday Mass and Holy Days are a part of the religious development of the child and our curriculum as a school. Families are expected to attend weekly Mass with their children and be committed to teaching stewardship to their children in the areas of time, talent and treasure. The Order of Acceptance into St. Joseph School:
- Children currently registered in our Faithful Beginnings Preschool Program
- Siblings of current students, whose families are registered, active members of the parish
- Children of parish staff and employees
- Registered, active members of the parish based on length of membership
- Siblings of current students, whose families are registered, non-active members of the parish
- Other families from beyond the parish, first Catholic and then beyond the Catholic tradition
- If further clarification is needed, the administrator will consider the following:
- Families who have previously attended and participated in the school community
- Families on waiting lists
- Special circumstances
Do students wear uniforms?
Yes! The Catholic school uniform symbolizes a sense of belonging, inclusion, respect for authority and order, as well as the idea of basic equality in the eyes of God. St. Joseph students wear their uniforms in a manner that reflects pride in themselves and in their school.
Donald’s Uniforms in St. Paul is our preferred vendor for school uniforms. You can visit the store (two Twin Cities locations) or order online. St. Joseph School hosts a used uniform sale during the summer, dates will vary each year.
Is transportation available?
Yes! Children residing in District 196 (Rosemount, Apple Valley, & Eagan) are eligible to use District 196 transportation to and from school at no charge. For more information click the link here.
St. Joseph School follows the District 196 middle school year calendar and students ride high school buses in the morning and middle school buses in the afternoon. For example, a middle school bus will pick up your child at your neighborhood bus stop. The first bus then transports children to the nearest District 196 high school to your home. At that high school, St. Joe’s students transfer to a St. Joseph School shuttle bus. The shuttle bus then transports students to St. Joe’s. In the afternoon, students will shuttle through the middle school nearest to your home, then home.
Bus Buddies–St. Joseph School will match new students, typically in kindergarten or 1st grade, with an older student “bus buddy.” The bus buddy can assist the younger student with transferring busses. We also have adult volunteers on-site at all District 196 middle schools for the first two days of each school year.
Is before and after school care available?
Yes! St. Joseph School offers an extended day program. We are excited to offer a before and an after school on-site care program for our students in grades K-6. Morning hours are from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. and includes breakfast. After school care hours are from 2:45 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. and include a healthy snack. In addition, all ESC families will receive a key fob that allows families access to the school building before or after regular school day hours to drop off or pick up students ($10 charge). Drop ins are welcome with a 24 hour notice. Childcare fees are billed through the family TADS account.
The fees for ESC are listed below and are per student:
Morning rate: $6
Pick-up by 4:00 p.m.: $6 per day
Pick-up by 4:30p.m.: $9 per day
Pick-up by 5:00 p.m.: $12 per day
Pick-up by 5:30p.m.: $15 per day
Pick-up after 5:30 p.m.: $18 per day
Childcare Days $30/day
(Non-School Days) Families must reserve a space for non-school days 1 week (7 days) prior to the non-school date of care. This allows us to adequately plan for staffing and supplies. We must have at least 5 students registered for each non-school day childcare day in order to offer care.
How do I add money to my child’s lunch account?
Click here for more information.
What are the additional fees, aside from tuition?
- $180 volunteer fee is charged at the beginning of the school year. As families complete 15 hours, they can earn back the $180!
- $25 per student Home & School Association fee
- classroom supplies (see school supply list)
- field trip fees
- cost of school uniform
- lunch account
Where is the school calendar?
The school calendar can be viewed HERE.
What are the preschool entrance policies?
Children must be 3 years old by September 1st and toilet-trained for entrance to our Faithful Beginnings preschool program.
Is St. Joseph School accredited?
Yes! St. Joseph School is fully accredited through the Minnesota Nonpublic School Accrediting Association.
Click here for more information.
Are extra-curricular or enrichment activities available?
Yes! St. Joseph School offers a variety of athletic and enrichment (extra-curricular) programs.
Click here for more information.