Admissions
Thank you for your interest in Saint Matthew School. Those interested in attending Saint Matthew School are encouraged to submit an application. Students of all faiths and backgrounds are encouraged to apply. SMS does not discriminate against students or applicants on the basis of race, color, or national origin.
Application Priority Deadline:
December 11, 2026
Application Fees:
- $125 for Pre-K/K application
- $75 for Grades 1-8 application
Please contact Holly Ledieu in our Admissions Office at 615-550-5112 or via email at hledieu@stmatthewtn.org with any questions or for more information.
Apply
Admissions requirements:
Students must meet the age requirements by August 15 of the year they wish to enroll:
- Kindergarten: 5 years old
- Pre-K 4: 4 years old
- Pre-K 3: 3 years old
*All students must be completely and independently toilet trained by the first day of school. Applications are processed once all required documents are submitted and the application fee has been paid.
Screenings (Pre-K 4 & K):
Applicants for rising Pre-K 4 and Kindergarten who apply by the priority deadline of December 11, 2026 will be scheduled for a screening appointment in mid-January. There is no screening process for Pre-K 3 applicants. Applications received after the priority deadline will have screenings scheduled based on availability.
Shadow Days (Grades 1-8):
Once an application has been submitted, applicants for grades 1-8 will be invited to schedule a Shadow Day. Students will spend the day at SMS in their current grade level, meeting teacher and classmates as well as completing additional admissions assessments. Shadow Days begin at 7:30am and conclude at 2:00pm.
Admissions Decisions:
Admissions decisions will be sent via email at the end of January 2027. Click here to view our priority admissions criteria.
Rolling Admissions:
Applications received after the December 11th priority deadline will be processed as they are received and placed in our wait pool. Offers of enrollment will be extended as space becomes available.
APPLICATIONS FOR THE 2027-2028 SCHOOL YEAR ARE OPEN! (Applications for 2026-2027 are contingent upon availability.)
Visit Us
Saint Matthew Church and School are located on a beautiful 16 acre campus on the northwestern corner of Williamson County, bordering on Davidson County. A visit to our Apple Distinguished School and 2017 National Blue Ribbon award winning campus is the best way to experience all that Saint Matthew has to offer, to hear more about us and provide an opportunity to observe our students and teachers in action.
Coffee with the Principal
SMS hosts several hybrid ‘Coffee with the Principal’ events for prospective parents with children in all grades. The 60-minute session includes an overview of our school and a Q&A with our Principal, followed by a tour. These events are offered both in-person and via zoom. Zoom codes will be emailed out the day before to all who are registered for the event. Zoom participants may visit in the future for their tour. Coffee with the Principal dates for 2026-27 will be Tuesday September 8 @ 9:00am, Wednesday October 21 @ 8:15am, (No coffee event in November due to Open House), Wednesday, January 20, 2027 @ 8:15am, and Wednesday, March 10 @ 8:15am. Please sign up using the button on this page.
Open House – November 8, 2026
SMS will host a school wide Open House from 12-2:00p.m. for families with prospective students in all grades. All faculty and administration are on hand for answering questions and providing information. In addition to visits in our classrooms, we will have information on our mission, clubs, athletics, extended care, our lunch program, volunteer opportunities, and more. Please sign up using the button on this page.
Private Tours
If you are not able to attend a Coffee or Open House event, you may also schedule a tour. Please schedule a private tour via the button below, or by calling our Admissions Office at 615-550-5112. Tour dates are added on a monthly basis. We will begin scheduling tours in September 2026, after the first few weeks of school.
Shadow Days
Once your child has applied to Saint Matthew, applicants for rising 1st-8th grades are asked to schedule a Shadow Day, where they can spend the day at SMS, meeting teachers and students in the classroom setting. All students should apply before signing up for a shadow date. Shadow days begin at drop off (7:30am) and typically last until 2:00.
For the 2026-27 school year, shadow dates will be October 7, October 21, November 18, December 9, January 20, February 17, March 10, and April 6. Additional dates will be added as needed throughout the year. Please contact the Admissions Office 615-550-5112 if you are traveling in from out of town and need a different date.
Key Dates
Pre-Kindergarten
Eligibility
To be eligible for the 2027-28 Pre-Kindergarten class, a child must be three or four years of age by August 15, 2027, depending on the class for which he/she is applying.
A Pre-K screening is required for the admissions process for children applying to the part time or full time 4 year old program. For applications received by December 11, 2026, the Pre-K screening will be held January 2027. A time slot assignment for screening will be emailed before Christmas break. For applications received after this date, screenings are scheduled based on availability.
All students must be completely and independently toilet trained by the first day of school.
Kindergarten
Eligibility
To be eligible for for 2027-28 Kindergarten class, a child must be five years of age by August 15, 2027. A completed application with all requested documents is required for Admissions consideration.
A Kindergarten screening and Pre-K assessment form from applicant’s current Pre-K are needed for the admissions process. For applications received by December 11, 2026, the Kindergarten screening day/time will be held in early January 2027 and the day/time of screening will be emailed before Christmas break. For applications received after this date, screenings are scheduled based on availability.
Grades 1-8
Applications for current enrollment will be accepted at any time during the year if a spot is available.
Applications for the upcoming fall will be accepted any time during the year, with acceptance and enrollment based upon availability. A completed application with all requested documents, including current and previous progress reports and results of any standardized tests taken, are required for admission consideration. Upon receipt of a submitted application, a shadow day will be scheduled. During the shadow day visit, a STAR math and reading assessment will be administered as part of our admissions process.
Children entering first grade must have completed an accredited Kindergarten program.
For grades that are full, a waiting pool is maintained, based on priority for acceptance.
Inclusive Education
“There can be no separate Church for people with disabilities. We are one flock that serves a single shepherd.” — Letter from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Pastoral Statement (1978)
Eligibility
Applications for our Inclusive Education Program for the 2027-28 school year are requested by January 31, 2027.
The following components are required for the Saint Matthew inclusive education program:
- Initial family tour and meeting with special education teacher and administration. Call or schedule online.
- Submit completed application. Include all required attachments and inserts.
- A copy of current educational planning documentation (e.g., IEP, Learning Support Plan, 504 Plan)
- Copies of current and past behavior intervention/support plans, as well as any social, developmental, or behavioral assessments
- A current psychoeducational evaluation (completed within the last 3 years)
- References from current and/or previous teachers, therapists, or tutors (family members may not serve as references)
- Student visit SMS for on-site evaluation (shadow day) by a Special Education instructor (1 – 2 days as needed)
- Final admission decision mailed
- Upon acceptance, enrollment paperwork and $325 non-refundable Book and Activity fee due
Please contact our Admissions Manager, Holly Ledieu, at hledieu@stmatthewtn.org, or our Inclusive Education Director, Sam Preston, at spreston@stmatthewtn.org for more information.
Affording a Blue Ribbon Education
Tuition rates for the 2026-2027 school year.
|
Tuition Rate
|
Catholic Grant
|
Catholic Rate
|
Parish Tuition Grant
|
Participating Catholic Rate
|
|
| GRADES K-8 | |||||
| One Student | $12,630 | -$800 | $11,830 | -$1,560 | $10,270 |
| Two Students | $25,260 | -$1,600 | $23,660 | -$3,860 | $19,800 |
| Three Students | $37,890 | -$2,400 | $35,490 | -$6,530 | $28,960 |
| Four Students | $50,520 | -$3,200 | $47,320 | -$9,570 | $37,750 |
| Five Students | $63,150 | -$4,000 | $59,150 | -$14,820 | $44,330 |
| Students who receive Student Support Services may also incur a fee in addition to tuition, to cover a portion of the cost of the support provided. You will be notified of this at the time an offer is received, if this fee is required. Re-enrolling students who currently pay the fee will also have it added to tuition, until such a time that services are no longer needed, as indicated by our Student Support Team. Please reference a description of this tiered tuition structure HERE, if this applies to your child. | |||||
| PRE-KINDERGARTEN | |||||
| Two Day | $4,190 | ||||
| Three Day | $6,280 | ||||
| Five Day | $9,660 | ||||
PAYMENT OPTIONS
Sending your child to Catholic school represents an investment in your child’s future and a financial commitment. To make this financial commitment manageable, Saint Matthew School offers several tuition payment options including a one payment, two payments, 10 or 12 monthly payment options.
Saint Matthew School uses the FACTS Tuition Management System. See The Hub under ‘Enroll’ for more information.
Book and Activity Fee
An annual, non-refundable $375 book & activity fee is due at the time of enrollment or re-enrollment. The book & activity fee covers all classroom consumable books, school supplies, yearbook, Lion Challenge t-shirt, on-site and outside field trips (excluding 8th grade trip), and more. Parents need only provide a backpack, lunchbox and uniforms.
Technology Fee
An annual, non-refundable technology fee is assessed to students in grades Kindergarten-8th, as part of tuition. This fee covers usage, support and insurance for the student issued iPad. Students may not provide their own iPad as the security tools, software products and other content must be consistent with the school curriculum and security protocol. The technology fee may be included in the tuition payment plan that is selected.
Catered Lunch
Catered lunch is an optional purchase and is not included in tuition or fees.
Parish Investment
The cost of educating one student at Saint Matthew School is $12,630. Students are who baptized in the Catholic faith are eligible for a Catholic Grant of $800 per student, or tuition of $11,830.
The participating Catholic tuition rate is $10,270 and the difference of $1,560 is paid by your parish. Formerly known as the “subsidy”, Catholic parishes pay a portion of your student’s tuition directly to the school. To be eligible, a family must be an active, participating member of a Catholic parish in the Diocese of Nashville.
The Saint Matthew School enrollment package includes an electronic subsidy form. To qualify for the Parish Tuition Grant, a family must submit a subsidy form to Saint Matthew school. SMS will forward these requests to the parishes for Pastor approval. Once approved, the home parish will send the completed subsidy form and payment directly to Saint Matthew School.
In order to receive the subsidy from Saint Matthew Church, parishioners should:
- attend Mass faithfully
- support the parish to the best of their ability by using the parish envelope system or electronic giving on a regular basis
- complete a current year financial pledge form.
If you are moving to a local parish from another city, request a letter (email) of good standing from your current parish.
Tuition Assistance
The tuition assistance fund is provided through the generosity of Saint Matthew Church parishioners and friends. Financial assistance is available to those enrolled students in K-8 who are active, participating members of Saint Matthew Church, and is need-based. Applications are submitted online through the FACTS Family portal. Follow these steps:
- Log into your FACTS Family Portal account
- Click on ‘Financials’ on the left side menu
- Go to the far left box and choose the option for ‘Grant & Aid’
Applications for the 2026-2027 school year is available now and are due by March 31. Applicants will be notified in April of any awards.
Application can be made at anytime during the current year if there has been a change in financial circumstance, or if you are applying to SMS after the March 31, 2026 due date.
Please note that applicants for Saint Matthew tuition assistance are also required to apply for the State of TN’s Education Freedom Scholarship Program. Applicants are not required to be recipients, but must apply.