Admission Policies and registration

Diocesan Admission Policy

The bishop of the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois and the Diocesan Board of Catholic Education are deeply interested in promoting equal catechetical opportunities for all students in diocesan programs. To achieve this goal the following admission policies are to be adhered to throughout the diocese:

• No student shall be denied admission to any Catholic school/parish program solely on the basis of race, color, or national and ethnic origin. Certain programs and sports are designed and intended for participation by a single gender. Schools/parish programs are committed to providing opportunities for all of the students regardless of gender, within constraints of the institution’s resources.
   
• Religious formation is the primary purpose of Catholic education. Students should be admitted only if their parents subscribe to this concept.
   
• Catholic catechetical ministries, established and maintained by the personal sacrifices of the Catholic community which continues to be their main source of support, may justly give preference in admissions to students of families which support their local Catholic parish.
   
• Local boards, in conjunction with the appropriate administrator, may establish written requirements of parents or legal guardians as conditions for the continued enrollment of their children. Such requirements are to be in conformity with the regulations of the Internal Revenue Service.
   
• Inability to fulfill financial requirements should not be the sole reason for denying admittance to the school or parish programs.

- Office for Catechesis

St. Agnes School is a parish school and a part of the Springfield, Illinois Diocesan School System. Therefore, St. Agnes School follows policies set by the Catholic Board of Education for the Springfield, Illinois Diocese.

St. Agnes Admissions

A child entering preschool must be three or four years of age by September 1 of that year. A child entering kindergarten must be five years of age on or before September 1st of that year. Parents wanting underage admissions must contact the school for further directions. Names of children of active St. Agnes parish families will be put on an inquiry card, with the date of the call, after the child’s third birthday. 

Admissions Priorities

Admissions for children of active St. Agnes parish families will be given on a first come basis according to the date of the initial call to the school office for registration. An “active parish family” is one that is registered in the parish and shares time, talent and treasure with the parish community.

Students will be admitted to St. Agnes School according to the following priorities:

• Siblings of children of active St. Agnes parish families already enrolled in St. Agnes School
• Children of active St. Agnes parish families who have a child who has graduated from St. Agnes School
• Children of active St. Agnes parish families
• Children of Catholic non-St. Agnes parish families
• Non-Catholic students

Grade Size

When a grade’s enrollment is full, a waiting list for students in the above categories will be established. Students on the waiting list will be admitted as openings occur.

Admissions Requirements

At the time of registration, all new students seeking admission to St. Agnes School are evaluated on the basis of current standardized test scores and report cards. Requirements include:

• Verification of active parish affiliation/stewardship (use of weekly envelopes or automatic deposit for Catholic families)
• Health records
• Immunization Records
• Birth Certificate (copy)
• Baptismal Certificate (Catholic applicants only; those not baptized at St. Agnes)
• Report Cards
• Standardized Test Results
• Record IEP (if applicable)

Right to Continued Enrollment

Once admitted, a student who is otherwise qualified to continue enrollment has the right to continued enrollment at St. Agnes School.

Transfer Students

The principal will review the suitability of all transfer students and submit a recommendation to the pastor as to whether the student should be admitted. 

Transfer of students from one Springfield Catholic School to another must be approved by the principals and pastors at both schools.

Please contact the school principal for registration information.