FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM JANUARY 20, 2022 • CATHOLIC SCHOOLS • THE QUEENS COURIER 21
Catholic Schools
FAQs about Catholic academies and schools
What is the diff erence 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. Th e board of directors
is composed of laypeople 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” oversees
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. Th e 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?
Th e 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. Th e 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 off er?
Th e diocese website provides general
information regarding schools/academies
within the diocese. Th e best way to fi nd out
specifi c off erings 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
• 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
• Aft er-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 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 off er 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.
Th e 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.
Photo via Facebook/Archbishop Molloy High School
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 at 866-618-2247.
What test scores do my children
need to be admitted
into a 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
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