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FAQs

Q: Who can attend St. Francis?

A: St. Francis of Assisi Catholic School welcomes students of all backgrounds and faiths to experience the comprehensive Catholic education of mind, heart, and spirit.

Q: How many students attend St. Francis?
A: Our current enrollment consists of 580 students from 370 families.

Q: What grade levels constitute the St. Francis curriculum?
A: St. Francis of Assisi Catholic School is proud to offer programs and curriculum for students from Pre-school through 8th grade.

Q: Is there an admission assessment?
A: Yes.  To ensure a smooth transition for all students, the school conducts a  grade-level placement assessment for students entering Kindergarten and first grade.  STAR assessments are used for second through eighth grade.  No assessments are necessary for Preschool and Pre-kindergarten applicants.

Q: What is the class size?
A: With a maximum class size of 30 students, St. Francis of Assisi School fosters differentiated instruction.  Part-time instructional aides assist students in Pre-school through fourth grade Monday through Friday. 

Preschool:  1:10

Elementary School:  Average Class Size of 29 students

Middle School:  Average Class Size of 29 students

Q: Is St. Francis a fully accredited school?
A: St. Francis of Assisi Catholic School is an accredited member of the Western Catholic Education Association (WCEA) and Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).

Q: Do St. Francis students participate in standardized testing?
A:  Yes. In the Fall of 2015, Catholic schools in the Diocese of Orange began utilizing the Renaissance STAR assessment both in reading and math. Renaissance Learning™ pioneered computer-adaptive testing in the classroom. According to Diocesan policy, these tests are used as a diagnostic tool at the start of the year, a formative instrument for the purpose of implementing curriculum during the year, and a summative device at the end of the year. Our students in 1st through 8th grade exceed the national and Diocesan averages in all academic areas.

Q: Is St. Francis a closed campus?
A: For the safety of our children, St. Francis strictly maintains a closed campus. Once students arrive on campus, they may not leave without permission.

Volunteers are required to complete Safe Environment training and a thorough background check which includes fingerprinting. All visitors are asked to sign in on our visitor’s log in the main office and obtain a visitor’s ID badge that must be worn at all times.

Once cleared, volunteers are welcome on the campus and they are highly involved in the school, especially when assisting teachers and staff with planned school projects and classroom activities.

Q: What are St. Francis’ facilities like?
A: St. Francis has a beautiful campus that is warm and welcoming. From outdoor play and recreation space to well-appointed academic space, our facilities enhance the education and the joyful environment for which we are known.

  • 25 warm and inviting classrooms for Preschool-grade 8
  • 1 Preschool and 2 Pre-K classrooms with a developmentally safe playground
  • Innovation Center with a recording studio, robotics, and flexible collaborative space
  • 1 library for K-8 students
  • 2 new science labs
  • An advanced math classroom
  • Student Support Center for specialized instruction
  • Multi-purpose center
  • Outdoor amphitheater with breathtaking views
  • Multi-purpose sports fields
  • Outdoor basketball courts, hopscotch, four-square, tetherball, funnel ball, and covered lunch area
  • On-campus extended care program
  • On-site administration/business offices
  • Launch of Capital Campaign for New Athletic & Activity Center 2023/2024
 

Q: What is the best way to get to St. Francis?
A: Link to map and directions

Q: What is the student uniform dress code?
A: We believe that a student’s appearance is important and has a significant impact on their attitude and behavior. As a sign of mutual respect for one another and self-discipline, and to help create an environment of excellence, we abide by a dress and personal appearance code. Specifics of the dress code are laid out in our Parent / Student Handbook. In general, a student’s appearance should be conservative and it should not bring undue attention to oneself.

Q: What types of food and nutrition services does St. Francis provide for students?
A: St. Francis of Assisi is proud to partner with Choice Lunch as the healthy food service provider of choice.

Q: Is before and after school care available?
A: Yes, our Extended Care program is available in the morning to all students from 7:00-7:35 am with regular supervision from 7:35-8:00 am. In the afternoon, Extended Care supervision is available from 2:50-6:00 pm. More information about our Extended Care can be found here.

Q: What is the acceptance rate of St. Francis graduates at Catholic high schools?
A: 100% of our 8th-grade students that apply are accepted to one of the Catholic high schools in our area:

Servite High School (all boys) in Anaheim

Mater Dei High School (co-ed) in Santa Ana

Rosary High School (all girls) in Fullerton

Santa Margarita High School (co-ed) in Rancho Santa Margarita

JSerra High School (co-ed) in San Juan Capistrano

Q: What is the annual tuition?
A: Currently, the tuition rate information can be found here.

Q: Is tuition assistance available?
A: Yes, tuition assistance is available for families and awarded based on financial need. Applications for tuition assistance are handled through our FACTS Management Service.

Q: What are the volunteer requirements?
A: St. Francis of Assisi Catholic School welcomes and expects parent involvement. Our St. Francis volunteers are an important part of our school family and keep our school running smoothly.  Each school family is required to complete 20 volunteer hours per year.  This requirement can be met through a wide variety of tasks including classroom activities, fundraising events, lunch/recess supervision, sports coaching, working on the yearbook, attending important parent meetings as well as many others. Extended family may assist in completing the required volunteer hours.  

Q: Is there a required fundraising commitment for each family?
A: St. Francis offers many fun and exciting fundraising opportunities including our Spring Auction, Casino Night, Book Fairs, and many others.  St. Francis’ Scrip Program is the only mandatory fundraiser required for each family.