Catholic Schools
FAQs about Catholic
academies and schools
Caribbean Life, JAN. 29-FEB. 4, 2021 21
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
consists 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 also
available on the diocese website;
additionally, you will fi nd
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 the Preserving the Vision
page on the diocese website.
What is the Offi ce of the
Superintendent ~ Catholic
School Support Services?
The Offi ce of the Superintendent
is the diocesan offi ce
dedicated to providing support
services and guidance to
Catholic elementary schools/
academies within the diocese.
The Offi ce 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?
Contact the diocesan archives
offi ce for more information.
How can I fi nd out what
the schools/academies near
me have to offer?
The diocese website provides
general information regarding
schools/academies
within the diocese. The best
way to fi nd out specifi c 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 as follows:
• Class size and school size
• 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-curriculars
• Sports
• Clubs
• Facilities (gym, outdoor
playground, computer lab, etc.)
• Technology
• 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 fi nd
that some are very diverse. All
can benefi t 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 eighth grade)
through two partial-scholarship
programs, and the Be
an Angel Program. Visit the
scholarships and tuition assistance
page on the diocese website
for more information.
Can you provide the New
York State test results of
a particular school/academy?
Although the Offi ce 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, please 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.
What test scores do my
children need to be admitted
into Catholic High
School?
Each high school has its
own admissions requirements.
To fi nd out more, you should
contact the high schools and
attend open houses for schools
that your child may want to
apply to. Please view the High
School Guide (PDF) on the
diocese website for information
on admissions and open
houses.
— Courtesy of the Diocese of
Brooklyn
Diocese of Brooklyn