CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
ABOUT CATHOLIC SCHOOLS
What is the difference
between a school and an
academy in Brooklyn and
Queens?
A Catholic school is governed
by the parish, so the pastor is directly
in charge.
An academy is governed by
a two-tiered board that is comprised
of a Board of Directors
and a Board of Members. The
Board of Directors is composed
of lay people who work with
the principal, and the Board of
Members is composed of clergy
and safeguards the Catholic
identity of the academy. In some
cases the “Board of Members”
oversee multiple academies.
Every school within the Diocese
of Brooklyn and Queens
will become an academy by the
year 2017. A more detailed description
of the school and academy
structure is here; you will
also find parent information
should your school be transitioning
to an academy.
What is Preserving the
Vision?
Preserving the Vision is
the name of the strategic planning
process that will insure
the future of Catholic education
in the Diocese of Brooklyn.
The process involves essential
goals such as fostering Catholic
identity and expanding development.
To learn more about these
goals, please visit our Preserving
the Vision page.
What is the Offi ce of the
Superintendent ~ Catholic
School Support Services?
The Office of the Superintendent
is the diocesan office dedicated
to providing support services
and guidance to Catholic
elementary schools/academies
within the diocese. The Office
of the Superintendent also provides
limited services to Catholic
high schools in Brooklyn and
Queens.
Where do I obtain my
transcript record if the
school I once attended
has closed?
Simply click here and contact
the diocesan archives office.
How can I fi nd out what
the schools/academies
near me have to offer?
This website provides general
information regarding
schools/academies within
the diocese. The best way to
find out specific offerings of
the schools/academies near
you is to ask them. Although
many provide descriptions on
their websites that can give
you a great starting point,
a phone call or a visit is the
best way to get the most updated
and accurate information.
What should I ask
when I visit a school/
academy?
Visiting a school/academy
is the best way to get a sense
of it. It gives you the opportunity
to speak with the staff
and to move through the environment
to see if it feels right
for your children and your
family. In addition to experiencing
the school/academy,
you can learn about it. Some
things you might ask about
are:
TIMESLEDGER | QNS.22 COM | JAN. 24-JAN. 30, 2020
• Class size and school size
• Composition of the faculty
and staff
• Religious formation programs
• Academic programs
• Enrichment programs
• Remediation programs
• Special services
• School nutrition program
• Transportation services
• Tuition
• Registration requirements
• Uniforms
• Early drop-off program
• After-school program
• Extra-curricular activities
and school hours
• Sports
• Clubs
• Facilities (gym, outdoor playground,
computer lab, etc.)
• Technology
• High school and college partnerships
• Scholarships and Tuition Assistance
Can my child attend
a Catholic school/
academy even though
we are not Catholic?
Yes, our Catholic schools/
academies welcome children
of all faiths, and you will
find that some are very diverse.
All can benefit from
the education provided in our
schools/academies.
What types of scholarship
opportunities are
available for Catholic
school?
For families experiencing
economic hardship, Futures
in Education and the Diocese
of Brooklyn offer tuition assistance
for elementary students
(Pre-K to 8th grade) through two
partial-scholarship programs,
and the Be an Angel Program.
Visit our scholarships and tuition
assistance page for more
information.
Can you provide the New
York State test results
of a particular school/
academy?
Although The Office of
the Superintendent~Catholic
School Support Services does
publish the aggregated test
results for Catholic schools/
academies within Brooklyn
and Queens, the decision to
publish test scores of individual
schools is a local decision.
If you would like to know the
overall test scores for a particular
school/academy, you
must call to ask if they can
provide you with the information.
My child attends Catholic
school, but I do not have
his/her New York State
test results. How do I
obtain this information?
Because only the individual
school/academy is provided
with its student test results,
only the principal at that school/
academy has access to State test
results. The schools/academies
send student results home once
they are released by the state. If
you have not received this information,
please call the school/
academy to obtain the results.
My child attends Catholic
school, but I do not have
his/her Terra Nova test
results. How do I obtain
this information?
Parents of each student in
grades 3-8 will receive a Home
Report from their school/academy.
If you have not received
the information, call the school/
academy to obtain the results.
My child attends Catholic
school, but I do not have
his/her TACHS test
results. How do I obtain
this information?
If your child took the TACHS
test in November, you will receive
a Home Report either from
your Catholic school/academy
or in the mail from Riverside
at the end of January. If you do
not receive your TACHS results,
you should contact Riverside
Publishing before March at
1-866-618-2247.
What test scores do
my children need to be
admitted into Catholic
High School?
Each high school has its own
admissions requirements. To
find out more, you should contact
the high schools and attend
open houses for schools that
your child may want to apply
to. Please view our High School
Guide (PDF) for information on
admissions and open houses.
— Courtesy of the Diocese of
Brooklyn