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.
Applications for immediate and future enrollment are accepted at any time during the school year. For fall enrollment, applications for all grades are strongly encouraged by our November 12, 2024 application deadline. Rising Pre-K 4s and Kindergarten students who apply by this date will be eligible for a screening appointment in mid-January. (We do not screen for 3 year olds) Applications received after this deadline will have a screening scheduled based on availability.
Please contact our Director of Advancement, Lori Bellante, at 615-550-5106 or via email at Lbellante@stmatthewtn.org with any questions or for more information.
Summer 2024 – Rolling Admissions – Applications received in June/July will be considered for admission based on availability. Weekly, the admissions team will review open spaces and applications. This will continue until spots are all filled. Pre-K and Kindergarten screenings and will be scheduled based on availability.
FALL ADMISSIONS INFO
November 12, 2024 – Priority Application Due Date – Applications must have all required documents attached in order to be processed.
January 11, 2025 – Pre-K Admissions Screening – Screening will be scheduled on this day for those that have applied to the part time and full time 4 year old program. Time slot will be emailed prior to Christmas break.
January 14-16, 2025 – Kindergarten Admissions Screenings – Screening will be scheduled on one of these dates for all incoming Kinder applicants and days/times will be emailed prior to Christmas break.
January 22 – 23, 2025 Shadow Days for grades 1-8 (Dates TBD) – Students applying for grades 1-8 should schedule a shadow date during this time to spend the day with students at SMS. While visiting, students will also completing a reading and math assessment to help us with homeroom and math level placement if the student enrolls at SMS. Applicants may signup for a shadow day after completing an application.
January 30-31, 2025 Decision Days – Admissions decisions will be sent out via email.
Apply
PLEASE NOTE – this summer, we are upgrading our Student Information and Admissions software. Our new application will be available to apply for the 2025-26 school year in late September. Please check back at that time to apply for next year.
If you interested in applying for the 2024-25 school year, please contact our Advancement Director, Lori Bellante, at LBellante@stmatthewtn.org or 615-550-5106.
Admissions requirements: Applicants must be age eligible by August 15th of the year they wish to enter. For example, kindergarten students must be 5 years of age, for Pre-K, students must be 4 years of age, and for P3, students must be 3 years of age, all by August 15*.
*All students must be completely and independently toilet trained by the first day of school.
Applications must have all documents attached and application fee paid in order to be processed.
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 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 2024-25 will be Wednesday September 4 @ 8:15, Wednesday October 2@ 8:15, (No coffee event in November due to Open House), January 8, 2025@ 8:15, Tuesday February 11 after mass at 9:00am, and March 26 @8:15 – virtual only). Please sign up using the button on this page.
Open House – November 10, 2024
SMS will host a school wide Open House from 12-2:30p.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 Advancement Office at 615-555-5106. Tour dates are added on a monthly basis.
Shadow Days
Once your child has applied to Saint Matthew, students in grades 4-8 are asked to schedule a Shadow Day, where they can spend the morning at SMS, meeting teachers and students in the classroom setting. Students in grades K-3 are encouraged to visit once they have applied, though it is not mandatory. All students should apply before signing up for a shadow date. Shadow days begin at drop off (7:30) and typically last until 2:00.
For the 2024-25 school year, shadow dates will be October 23, November 13, and January 22-23, 2025. Additional dates will be added as needed through the year. Please contact the Advancement office 615-555-5106 if you are traveling in from out of town and need a different date.
Key Dates
Pre-Kindergarten
Eligibility
To be eligible for the 2025-26 Pre-Kindergarten class, a child must be three or four years of age by August 15, 2025, 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 November 2024, the Pre-K screening will be held January 2025. 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 2025-26 Kindergarten class, a child must be five years of age by August 15, 2025. 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 November 2024, the Kindergarten screening day/time will be held in early January 2025 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. A language, math, and writing assessment, along with a personal interview, may be conducted.
Children entering first grade must have completed an accredited Kindergarten program.
Prospective middle school students (grades 4-8) are asked to schedule a shadow date once the completed application has been received.
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 2025-26 school year are requested by January 31, 2025.
The following components are required for the Saint Matthew inclusive education program:
- Initial family tour and meeting with special education teacher and administration. Call to schedule.
- Submit completed application. Include all required attachments and inserts.
- Upon request from Saint Matthew, submit the Supplemental Application Form. This includes:
- References from previous teacher/therapist/tutor (cannot be a family member)
- Copies of current and past behavior intervention plan/504 plan if applicable
- Psychoeducational evaluation (within 3 years)
- Social/developmental/behavioral assessment
- Permission to observe student in current environment
- Evaluation of student in current program by an SMS Special Education teacher (1 – 2 days as needed)
- Student visit SMS for on-site evaluation 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 Advancement Director, Lori Bellante, at lbellante@stmatthewtn.org or our Inclusive Education Director, Heather Maguire, at hmaguire@stmatthewtn.org for more information.
Affording a Blue Ribbon Education
Tuition rates for the 2024-2025 school year.
|
Tuition Rate
|
Catholic Grant
|
Catholic Rate
|
Parish Tuition Grant
|
Participating Catholic Rate
|
|
| GRADES K-8 | |||||
| One Student | $11,790 | -$800 | $10,990 | -$1,560 | $9,430 |
| Two Students | $23,580 | -$1,600 | $21,980 | -$3,860 | $18,120 |
| Three Students | $35,370 | -$2,400 | $32,970 | -$6,530 | $26,440 |
| Four Students | $47,160 | -$3,200 | $43,960 | -$9,570 | $34,390 |
| Five Students | $58,950 | -$4,000 | $54,950 | -$14,820 | $40,130 |
| Additional fee assessment for participation in our inclusive education program (Hand in Hand Options) will be $5,895 | |||||
| PRE-KINDERGARTEN | |||||
| Two Day | $3,910 | ||||
| Three Day | $5,860 | ||||
| Five Day | $9,010 | ||||
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 $325 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-8, 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 $11,790. Students are who baptized in the Catholic faith are eligible for a Catholic Grant of $800 per student, or tuition of $10,990.
The participating Catholic tuition rate is $9,430 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 using the FACTS Tuition Management System. There is a $40 fee to apply with FACTS – this fee is only paid once per family, per year even if you are applying for tuition assistance at multiple schools that accept FACTS (ie SMS plus a high school).
Applications are due March 25, 2024 for the upcoming school year and 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 25, 2024 due date.
The following resources provide more information on applying for Tuition Assistance:
Use the button below to access the Tuition Assistance online application form for the 2024-25 school year. You must login in to your FACTS account and then choose ‘Start a Financial Aid application’.