FAQ
Q: What is the most important criterion for acceptance into kindergarten?
A: The development and social readiness of the child is the key criterion for acceptance into kindergarten.
Q: How is the developmental and social readiness of my kindergarten child evaluated?
A: The kindergarten teacher and principal evaluate each child through observation, preschool evaluation and a readiness "assessment" to determine their preparedness to begin school. This assessment is a scheduled appointment on a Saturday in January (prior to the start of the year in which they will be entering kindergarten) and after submitting an application. Assessments are done in small groups and usually last an hour and half. They include drawing, writing letters and numbers, an interview with the kindergarten teacher, and a time to free play.
Q: What is the age requirement for entrance into kindergarten?
A: The child must reach the age of 5 by September 1st of the year in which they enter kindergarten. Some children are better served by waiting a year to enter even if they will have reached 5 by the deadline. The principal and kindergarten teacher may recommend waiting another year as a result of their evaluation of the preparedness of the child. Parents will be consulted as to the best year for their child to start Kindergarten, although the final decision is the principal’s regarding admission to the school.
Q: What are the other considerations in determining who is admitted to the school?
A: Children are admitted in accordance with the following priorities:
- First, children of active parishioners with a sibling currently enrolled;
- Second, children of active parishioners;
- Third, Catholic children who have a sibling enrolled in school but are not active parishioners;
- Fourth, Catholic children who are not active parishioners;
- Fifth, non-Catholic children who have a sibling enrolled; and,
- Sixth, non-Catholic children.
Q: Do you attempt to gain diversity?
A: Yes, we strive to reflect the diversity of the parish as well as to maintain gender balance within each class. These considerations are weighed within each of the admissions priorities described above.
Q.: Do you have to be Catholic to attend Corpus Christi?
A: No, non-catholic students are also welcome but the admissions priorities are based on the criteria described above.
Q: Who is considered to be an active parishioner?
A: An active parishioner is someone who meets all three of the following criteria:
- Is registered at the parish office at least two full calendar years before school entrance and one registered parent must be Catholic; and,
- Attends Mass regularly and makes financial contributions to the parish through parish envelopes for two full calendar years prior to school entrance; and,
- Is involved in the parish two calendar years prior to school entrance.
Q: What constitutes “regular” attendance at mass?
A: Regular attendance usually refers to weekly attendance at Mass.
Q: What constitutes being “involved” in the parish?
A: Involvement in the parish means involved in one of the parish ministries or services, including service as a Lector, Usher, or Faith Formation Teacher, or participation in the Eucharistic Ministry, Pastoral Council, Music Ministry, Care Connection, Men’s Club, Women’s Club or other parish ministry.
Q: When does the two years begin to run to be considered an active parishioner?
A: It begins to run on January 1 of the calendar year that is two years prior to the child’s entrance into the school. For example, if you expect your child to enter kindergarten in August of 2009, you would need to have registered and been active since January 1, 2007, so that you are active for the full calendar years 2007 and 2008.
Q: What happens when families with similar involvement levels are applying to the school but there is not room for all of them?
A: The pastor ultimately determines who qualifies as an active parishioner.
Q: Are any exceptions ever made to these admission policies?
A: The pastor and/or the principal retain the discretion to make exceptions to the admissions priorities if, in their judgment, the school and parish would be better served.
Q: What happens if my child is ready but not admitted based on the priorities? Is there a waiting list?
A: Yes, if that happens your child will be placed on a waiting list and will be offered admission if a space opens up prior to the start of the school year. The office reaches out every December with a letter to the parents currently on the waitlist asking of their continued interest. If they do not respond they are taken off the waitlist.
Q: Will you ever take children from the waiting list after the school year starts if a space opens up?
A: Generally we do not take children after the school year has begun.
Q: When does the school begin to accept applications for enrollment?
A: Applications for all grades are made available before the fall your child is to be assessed.
Q: What is the assessment process for children who are applying for grades above kindergarten?
A: Assessments for students applying for 6th grade occur one afternoon in February. Students will take a STAR reading and math assessment, participate in an interview with one of our middle school teachers, and a writing sample. Students applying for 1st-5th Grade will be invited to do a "Comet for a Day". More information on "Comet for a Day" can be found here. We try to make all decisions by March.
Q: What other documents other than the application form are required to apply?
A: A birth certificate, baptism certificate (if applicable), and preschool evaluation (for Kindergarten) or current report card (for applications 1st-6th Grade) are required as part of the application process. In addition, any resource services report documents are helpful (such as copies of IEPs or 504 plans).
Q: How many children are admitted to the school each year?
A: We admit up to 24 kindergarten students. For grades beyond kindergarten, we will not accept new students unless that grade has dropped to below 32 students.
Q: Public schools are attempting to limit class sizes. Isn’t 32 students per class too many?
A: No, we don’t feel that our class size is an impediment to effective learning by our students. Each primary grade has a full-time aide in addition to the teacher. Also, class time is structured so that the classes are split in half during core curriculum subjects, so that the class size is usually no greater than 16 students during reading and math in the primary grades.
Q: Is Corpus Christi an accredited school?
A: Yes, Corpus Christi is accredited by the Western Catholic Educational Association (WCEA), a private educational agency established under the auspices of the Bishops of the California dioceses, as well as the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), which is a regional association that provides the accreditation of public and private elementary, secondary and post-secondary schools. WASC is one of six regional non-governmental groups that the United States Office of Education recognizes as an accrediting agency for schools.
Q: What is the standard curriculum?
A: The curriculum follows and meets all requirements for accredited schools in the State of California as well as Catholic elementary schools in the Diocese of Oakland. Learn more about our curriculum here.
Have a question about Corpus Christi not answered here? Please call our office or email us! [email protected] 510-530-4056