General Requirements
Monsignor Clarke School is a co-educational, diocesan Catholic school serving students from 18 months of age through grade 8. Admission is open to students who wish to pursue their school studies in a safe and caring learning environment and who meet admissions requirements.
Admissions information is evaluated to determine if the student is prepared to meet the school’s academic and disciplinary standards. Monsignor Clarke School admits qualified students to its programs. The school does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, or disability in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, athletic programs, or other programs.
No student shall be admitted to Monsignor Clarke School unless they are deemed to have reasonable hope of successfully completing the school’s program. In doubtful cases, students may be admitted on a probationary basis with dates and criteria of evaluation clearly established in writing.
Students shall not be denied admission to the school because of a disability unless this disability seriously impairs the student’s ability to complete successfully the school’s academic program, or unless the school cannot provide sufficient care or make reasonable accommodation for the disabled child.
Evaluation
In order to meet the individual needs of each student, we must first assess a student’s level of academic development. It is our expectation that parents and guardians share if the student has any learning challenges or health concerns so that we can ensure the success of every Monsignor Clarke Student.
To enable Monsignor Clarke School to perform an adequate record check, parents should provide a signed records release form. Upon receiving an application for registration, Monsignor Clarke School will send for the records of the student from the prior school. The principal will also call the students former school for additional background information.
A student may be scheduled for a shadow day, interview with the Principal or a classroom visit or observation which enables the prospective student and their family to experience Monsignor Clarke and ensure fit. The shadow day also gives the school an opportunity to observe the visiting student in the classroom. Observations and feedback are shared between the prospective student family and school.
Admission to School
- A formal acceptance letter signed by the principal and received by the student
- A copy of the students birth certificate
- All medical records must be up to date as required by the State of Rhode Island Health Department. We must have a copy of the most recent physical and all immunizations must be up to date.
- Each student MUST have a current emergency contact information on file in the school. Parents’ home telephone numbers as well as information on any health problems a child may have MUST be on file. This information must be updated throughout the year as changes occur.
- All financial obligations must be paid to date.
- Students entering grades 6-8 will be required to take a math placement exam
- Students entering our Pre-K programs MUST be fully toilet trained in order to attend.
- Whether Catholic or non-Catholic, the student must agree to attend religious classes, participate to the best of their ability, and be respectful at all times to the religious activities conducted in the school.
- Students and families agree to uphold the school’s mission and core values as well as the policies and procedures outlined in the school’s handbook.
All paperwork MUST be received by the school before a student can be admitted and attend classes.
Admission Priorities
Candidates for admission to Little Angels through 8th grade will be granted admission based on the following priorities:
- The school will give preference to current students by allowing re-registration each year prior to registration for new students. Accordingly, first priority will be given to students currently enrolled in Monsignor Clarke School, who successfully completed the Kindergarten Program or their previous year of school study, and who re-register.
- In the event there are more qualified candidates than available admission openings, the admission priority will be given to the children of families who have been registered.
- A wait list will be created and a determination will be made by the school to open an additional classroom. The school will then admit students in the order they were placed on the waitlist.