Admissions

Admissions FAQ

Learn More About St. Francis

Frequently Asked Questions

Below is a list of questions commonly asked by families throughout the admissions process at St. Francis School. Please contact our Admissions team if you have further questions. We welcome the opportunity to share more about our school and answer any specific questions you may have.
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General

General Questions

List of 13 frequently asked questions.

  • Who are St. Francis students?

    St. Francis has approximately 415 students. There are approximately 30 students per grade in Elementary School (PreK-4th) and 60 students per grade in Middle School (5th-8th). St. Francis has a student body that is integrated racially, ethnically, economically, and religiously, and in terms of sexual orientation and gender identity.

  • Who are St. Francis teachers?

    The diverse 72 faculty and staff of St. Francis come from a variety of professional and educational backgrounds. All of our teachers are certified. They are passionate about investing in the learning, enrichment, social and emotional development, and overall success of all St. Francis students. Faculty and Staff have a variety of in-house and outside opportunities for professional development, including but not limited to instructional coaching, classroom observations and feedback, training from outside organizations, conferences, and more. 

    33% of the staff have worked at SFS for 10+ years, and 21% for 15+ years!

  • Is St. Francis accredited?

    St. Francis is accredited by the Texas Alliance of Accredited Private Schools (TAAPS).

  • Is St. Francis religiously affiliated?

    St. Francis School is an independent, interdenominational school providing high-quality education for pre-kindergarten through 8th grade children. The school is not affiliated with any church, religious denomination, or other supporting organization. St. Francis provides an atmosphere that supports religious and humanistic values and welcomes children of all faiths.

    Students and Faculty attend weekly Chapel. This is a time for learning and growing together as we support the mission and vision of our school community. Chapel is a time for community building with a focus on celebrating the different cultures, religions, and identities that make up the school community and beyond.  

  • What are the school hours?

    Pre-K and Elementary Arrival: 8:00-8:15 am & Dismissal: 3:15-3:30 pm

    Middle School Arrival: 8:15-8:30 am & Dismissal: 3:30-3:45 pm

    Families can register for Before Care, starting at 7:30 am, and Aftercare, which runs until 6:00 pm (additional fees apply). 

  • Does St. Francis offer a lunch program?

    St. Francis partners with Barnison Catering which offers hot lunch to students for an additional charge. For more information about our catering services and to view sample menus, please visit Barnison Catering.

  • What does communication look like?

    Communication between the school, teachers, and parents/caregivers is valued and essential. School-wide communication includes weekly newsletters regarding school events, volunteer announcements, school activities, etc. Teachers post lesson plans weekly, utilize our student information system, the Wolfpack Portal to communicate academic progress, and use a variety of communication tools such as student planners, the Remind app, or class webpages. We have scheduled conferences throughout the year, and also welcome team meetings on an as-needed basis.  

  • What is your cell phone policy?

    Students are not permitted to have cell phones, smart watches, or earbuds during school hours. 

  • What is your behavior management policy?

    St. Francis utilizes the Nurtured Heart Approach and Restorative Practices when working with students of all ages. Our community expectations, 5 Guidelines for Success – Kind, Safe, Responsible, True, and Empathetic – are interwoven throughout our classrooms and community to foster an inclusive and caring school culture. 

  • What does campus saftey look like?

    St. Francis has developed responses and protocols for addressing school emergencies. We follow the Standard Response Protocol (SRP). All faculty and before/aftercare staff have been trained in the SRP and have current CPR, EpiPen, Asthma, and StopTheBleed training. Please reach out to our Admissions team with any specific safety questions.

  • Do students wear uniforms?

    St. Francis does not require students to wear uniforms. Our school collaborates with our students to create a dress code that is mission-aligned, inclusive of all types of bodies and supports a productive learning environment. 

  • What is your vaccination policy?

    As of June 2025, every student admitted to St. Francis School shall be immunized against vaccine preventable diseases in accordance with the immunization schedule adopted by the Texas Department of State Health (commonly known as the "Minimum State Vaccine Requirements for Texas School Entrance/Attendance"). A prospective student must present evidence of the required immunizations from a physician or health care provider authorized to administer immunizations to the school during the application process.  Medical exemptions will be considered on a case by case basis. Conscientious objections or waivers, which may be permissible for enrollment in public schools, do not qualify as an exception to our policy.

    For questions or more information, please contact Nurse Vivian Potterf.

  • Where do students go to High School? How does St. Francis support students in this transition?

    Students attend many high schools across the Austin area, including local public schools, specialized high school programs (IB, fine arts, etc.), and local private schools.
     
    We recommend setting up school tours, visits/shadow days, and conferencing with your child’s current teaching team throughout Middle School. Our weekly newsletter and High School Resource Board will share information about upcoming High School Fairs and Open Houses. Teachers will gladly write letters of recommendation upon student request, and our staff will help with any records requests needed. Families are responsible for standardized test preparations, applications, and deadlines.

    44% of our 25/26 graduates are attending specialized HS programs or private high schools.

General

Support Services Questions

List of 2 frequently asked questions.

  • Does St. Francis allow outside providers (OT, Speech, etc.)?

    We can accommodate outside providers for OT, PT, Speech, and/or ABA (student schedule/space permitting). For more information about outside service coordination, please contact Jenny Jones.

  • Does St. Francis offer support services for students?

    The Learning Center (LC) provides specialized instruction and support, tailored to each student's unique learning needs. Our mission is to empower students to become independent, confident learners, equipped with the skills and strategies needed for academic success at SFS and beyond. For more information, please contact Jenny Jones.


    The Enrichment Center (EC) works with students who would benefit from additional enrichment and provides extensions to the differentiation they receive in the classroom. Gifted & Talented students, Twice Exceptional students, and students who have a passion and need for a particular topic are the primary candidates. The lessons are tailored to the individual student’s needs and abilities. For more information, please contact Karla Dunda.

    St. Francis School strives to meet the needs of each individual learner. If you have questions about the school’s ability to provide services to your child, please reach out to our Admissions team.

General

Academic/Schedule Questions

List of 5 frequently asked questions.

  • What testing is done at St. Francis?

    Students are administered standardized tests in the fall and in the spring. MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) is an adaptive assessment of students’ academic progress. The MAP test is aligned to the Common Core State Standards and is designed to measure a student’s growth over time. The test results are provided to parents/caregivers. 

    DIBELS (Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills) is administered as a benchmark at the beginning and end of the year by classroom teachers in grades K-3. This also provides periodic indicators on students’ progress in reading.

  • What are the homework expectations?

    Grade-level teams coordinate big projects, tests, and quizzes. Maximum homework times are 10 minutes per grade beginning in 1st grade:
    • First through fourth grades: 10 to 40 minutes
    • Fifth and sixth grades: 40 minutes to 1 hour
    • Seventh and eighth grades: 1 to 2 hours

  • Do students have recess?

    Yes! Students in PreK-8th grade have a snack break/recess mid-morning and a lunch recess daily. Elementary students in PreK-4 have Physical Education twice a week. Middle School Students choose a Sports Elective two times a week and have the option to participate in after-school athletics programming.  

  • What does a typical day look like?

    Please view our sample schedules here.

  • Do students use technology?

    We have a set of Chromebooks for each grade level. Grades 1-4 have computer class 1x per week with our technology director. Grades 7 and 8 purchase personal Chromebooks which are managed by the school for safety & security purposes.

General

Extracurricular & Additional Programming Questions

List of 5 frequently asked questions.

  • What leadership opportunities are available to students?

    St. Francis values student involvement within our community. Students have opportunities to engage in leadership within the school setting such as: UMS Leadership Team, Reading Buddies Program, Dove Club, Admissions Open House panel, and more! 

  • Are extracurricular opportunities available for students?

    In addition to Athletics (Grades 5-8), St. Francis offers several afterschool enrichment programs at an additional cost. Offerings include:
    • Writer's Workshop 
    • Debate Club 
    • Guitar 
    • Art 
    • Drone Together
    • Board Games Club
    • Math Wizards & Page Masters
    • Reader's Workshop
    • Mad Science
    • Sticky Fingers Cooking
    • Sportball
    • Soccer Stars
    • Coding w/Kids
    • And More! 

  • Do students go on field trips?

    All students have field trips to extend learning within the classroom. Eighth grade students raise money throughout the year for a class trip to Italy during March of their 8th grade year!

  • What special events are available?

    • The Howl (Halloween Carnival)
    • Blessing of the Pets
    • VIP/Grandparents/Special Friends Day
    • Earth Day
    • Party with a Purpose (Spring Fundraiser for Grown-Ups)
    • Maker’s Fair 
    • Beloved Community Circle events for parents/caregivers, families, and students
    • Winter and Spring Music & Art Show

  • What volunteer opportunities are available to parents?

    At St. Francis, we believe that active parent/caregiver involvement enriches the educational experience for our students. We offer a variety of opportunities for parents to engage with our school community. Some examples include: being a lunch server, book fair, event planning, and school beautification.

General

Admissions Questions

List of 6 frequently asked questions.

  • What does the admissions process look like?

    The admissions process is highly personalized — with an emphasis on determining the best fit between the St. Francis educational environment and the individual needs of your child. For a more detailed overview of the admissions process, please visit our Admissions Process tab.

  • Does St. Francis offer mid-year admissions?

    St. Francis welcomes students throughout the school year, provided there is space available in the desired grade level. 

  • Does St. Francis have an application deadline?

    We have a rolling admissions process meaning we accept applications year-round. Enrollment for the subsequent school year will be available for accepted students beginning in early March, so we recommend starting the admissions process in the fall or early spring. 

  • Does St. Francis have a waitlist?

    Currently, St. Francis is operating on a wait pool for several grade levels. If a space becomes available, applicants are offered admission based on the composition of a cohort/grade level. To learn more about current wait pools, please contact our Admissions Team.

  • How does St. Francis handle out of town applicants?

    Please let us know when you will be in the area, and we will work to accommodate your travels. If travel to Austin is not possible, families relocating to Austin are given the opportunity to visit with us virtually. 

  • Does St. Francis offer Financial Aid or Scholarships?

    St. Francis offers financial aid to families with demonstrated financial need for annual tuition. Families are asked to reapply for financial aid each school year. Inclusion Aid is also available for before and aftercare, Learning Center, Enrichment Center, Athletics, and Field Trips. For more information, please contact Emily Vitris, Head of School (evitris@stfrancis-school.org).
Address: 300 E. Huntland Dr. Austin, TX 78752 | Phone: (512) 454-0848
Excellence without exclusivity since 1985. St. Francis School is an independent, interdenominational school providing high-quality education to children from pre-kindergarten through 8th grade.