Enrollment Process

How to Apply

2026-2027 Application Dates

  • January 12, 2026 - Registration Portal Opens
  • January 12-February 12, 2026 - Priority Enrollment (families are given priority to interview early)
  • February 12 - March 12, 2026 - Regular Enrollment Window
  • Late Applications: Rolling basis if space allows

Application Process

To begin registration, families must:

  1. Complete the online registration application and submit a $30 non-refundable application fee plus 2.2% processing fee. This fee supports the administrative review of your application. A confirmation email will be sent confirming a completed application for enrollment.
  2. Once the application is complete, a member of our enrollment team will reach out to families to schedule a required family interview at an agreed upon date/time convenient for the AMA Enrollment Team and family. Families will be provided with the conversation topics prior to the interview. Acceptance notifications will be emailed within 48 hours of the family interview.
  3. Upon the family’s acceptance of the offer to enroll, a $120 non-refundable acceptance fee per student is due within five days to secure your child’s placement for the upcoming school year. The acceptance fee is not refundable and will be applied toward your student’s tuition commitment once enrolled. Completion of all enrollment requirements, including documentation and fee submission by published deadlines, is necessary to hold your child’s place at Ave Maria Academy. Failure to meet deadlines may result in forfeiture of placement in the upcoming year, and availability may not be guaranteed.
  4. Once accepted, parents will be asked to submit the following information for their child: Birth certificate (copy only), Baptismal certificate (if Catholic-copy only), Last 4 digits of social security number, $120.00 per child non-refundable acceptance fee, custody papers if parents are separated or divorced, IEP, 504, or any other student support documentation or evaluations, immunization and relevant health records.
  5. Once accepted, parents will agree to use the FACTS systems to manage/pay tuition and request financial aid.
  6. By submitting your application and fees, you acknowledge that you have read and agree to comply with the policies outlined in the Academy’s family handbook and diocesan regulations.

Age Requirements

To enter preschool, a child must be 3 years old on or before September 30, 2026.
To enter kindergarten, a child must be 5 years old on or before September 30, 2026.
Children must be potty trained.

Acceptance Ranking

Applications for admission will be ranked according to the following priorities: 

  1. Siblings of families with children already enrolled in the school or preschool
  2. Length of membership in the parish.
  3. Regular contributions to the parish.
  4. Contributions to parish fund raising drives.
  5. Involvement in the parish, school and preschool programs
  6. Other priorities, such as transfers, addressed in Diocesan Regulation 5119-1

Continuous Enrollment

Kindergarten through grade 7 children currently enrolled are guaranteed admission for the following school year. Preschool students will be considered with the above mentioned rankings. According to state regulations, all children applying for kindergarten must complete the new student application process. Children enrolled at Ave Maria Academy at the time of applying will be exempt from the non-refundable application fee.

Notification of Admission

As part of our process, families will participate in a family interview with members of our Parent Advisory Committee, which will be scheduled within three weeks of receiving your enrollment registration; to help you prepare, we will provide the interview questions in advance.

Ave Maria Academy conducts family interviews as part of its admissions process to ensure alignment in faith, values, and educational expectations, while giving families the opportunity to ask questions, understand the school's mission, and discern if the school is the right spiritual and academic fit for their child.

Parents will be notified of admissions status (admission or position on the waiting list) via email for the 2026-2027 school year.

Waiting List

If the number of applicants exceeds the number of class openings, a waiting list will be established. Families that are offered an admission have 24 hours to respond. If a student is offered an admission PRIOR to the beginning of the school year and does not accept, the parents will be given a choice to either go to the bottom of the current list or be removed from the list. If a student is offered an admission DURING the school year and does not accept, the parents will be given a choice to either apply for the beginning of the next school year or be removed altogether. Special circumstances for not accepting admission (such as illness) will be given separate consideration by the school administration. A new waiting list will be established for each school year. Participation in the annual application process will be necessary to be considered for the next school year even if you are on the current waiting list. 

Acceptance and Enrollment

Upon notification of acceptance, please pay the online acceptance fee of $120 per student. This one-time acceptance fee is nonrefundable, but the amount will be credited toward your student’s tuition. This fee must be submitted within 7 business days of notification of acceptance to hold your child’s spot. 

Tuition Payment Plan

Ave Maria Academy tuition is paid through the FACTS program. FACTS handles all payment processing for Ave Maria Academy.

Payment Options:

  •  Families may elect to pay tuition in one lump sum, semi-annual payments, quarterly payments, or 10-12 monthly payments.
  • Families may elect to have payments made on the 5th or 20th of the month. All tuition payments begin in July and are paid in full by June.
  • Families must send in a confirmation of the established FACTS tuition account along with the non-refundable acceptance fee ($150) within 7 business days of receipt of acceptance to Ave Maria Academy. This fee is applied towards tuition.

Withdrawals

A withdrawal includes new families who have signed an acceptance form or families who have re-enrolled for the upcoming school year.

The following policies apply to students who withdraw prior to the beginning of the school year:

  • If the school is notified of the withdrawal between June 30th and July 31st, a withdrawal penalty equal to 10% of your total tuition bill will be charged to your FACTS account.
  • If the school is notified of the withdrawal between August 1st and the first day of the new academic year, a withdrawal penalty equal to 20% of your total tuition bill will be charged to your FACTS account.
  • If the withdrawal is due to special family circumstances (such as moving out of the geographic area, loss of job, change of financial status, etc.), once the principal or pastor approaches, a withdrawal penalty will not be assessed. 

The following policies apply to students who withdraw during the school year:

  • A withdrawal conference must take place with the school principal or the pastor.
  • Once the school principal or the pastor approves the withdrawal from the school, the tuition account will be reconciled based on the number of months partially and/or fully attended. (Example: A student in attendance in August through October 15 will pay for 3 months of tuition).

Questions and Additional Information

Please call Ave Maria Academy at 614-761-0905 with questions or if you would like additional information. For full tuition and application policies, see the parent handbook at avemariaspsjoa.org.

Questions? Contact Us Today!