Applications for the 2007-2008 academic term are
due February 9th, 2007

All prospective families are encouraged to attend an STM Preview Night. The next Preview Night is scheduled for Wednesday, January 24, 2007, with a snow date of Wednesday, January 31, 2007. This is the final admissions event scheduled for prospective families. Prospective students and parents will have the opportunity to meet the STM faculty, coaches, and administrators, and Student Ambassadors will give tours of the high school and be available for questions.

Eligibility

Freshmen Applicants

The High School of Saint Thomas More (STM) was established to serve the educational needs of the Champaign-Urbana Vicariate students, and space permitting, to other Catholic and non-Catholic students, respectively. Admission to The High School of Saint Thomas More is normally granted at the beginning of ninth grade. No student shall be refused admission to STM on the basis of race, color, gender, nationality, or ethnic origin. STM shall also admit students with special needs whenever possible. The High School of Saint Thomas More is dedicated to serving the spiritual and educational needs of students who demonstrate a commitment of its mission, goals, and religious values, and who will benefit from its academic program. Students will be excluded only if the school does not offer an educational program which meets their needs, if the student does not accept the moral and behavioral standards of the school, or if the parents fail to meet their financial obligations to the school.

Freshmen

Admission to The High School of Saint Thomas More is normally granted at the beginning of ninth grade. Applicants entering as freshmen must present evidence of academic ability and achievement, motivation, and good character (see Required Documentation for All Applicants).

If timely Freshmen applications exceed available space, the Priority of Admissions policy shall be applied in the following order:

  1. Students currently enrolled at STM;
  2. Siblings of students 1 already enrolled in STM and/or siblings of the Catholic alumni of STM. A currently enrolled non-Catholic student will not be dismissed in order to admit a Catholic student.
  3. Catholic students who have been continuously enrolled in a Catholic elementary school in the Champaign-Urbana Vicariate area or in a Catholic elementary school in an area where they previously resided. In the event the available capacity of STM is not sufficient to accept all such applicants, priority shall be granted to those who attended the largest percentage of available Catholic elementary education. For example, an applicant who attended a Catholic elementary school from kindergarten through eighth grade shall be admitted prior to an applicant who attended only a portion of the available grade school years.
  4. Non-Catholic students who have been continuously enrolled in a Catholic elementary school, starting with those attending the greater number of elementary education in a Catholic school receiving the highest priority.
  5. Students whose families are active parishioners 2 of Champaign-Urbana Vicariate parishes or other Catholic parishes but who did not attend a Catholic elementary school, where a Catholic elementary school was available.
  6. All other high school age students including graduates of other religiously affiliated or private elementary schools.

1 Families of non-Catholic students who attended STM during the academic periods of 2000/01 to 2002/03 will be treated for all purposes as Catholic students. This honors the agreement and representations that were made to those families during those academic periods. This inclusion of non-Catholic students in Catholic student preferences will not be extended to any other non-Catholic students.

2 Whether a family qualifies as an "active parishioner" shall be determined by the pastor of the originating parish for that family/student. Such determination can include participation in the sacramental programs, religious education course, parish registration, and financial support, or other factors relevant to their discretion of the pastor of that parish.

Transfer Students

A student who previously attended another high school and wishes to transfer to STM must apply for admission. Transfer admission is allowed only with the approval of the principal and the recommendation of the Admissions Committee. The student's prior academic, attendance, and disciplinary records from all other educational institutions will be carefully considered to determine whether the student is likely to succeed if allowed admission into STM. Another significant factor will include the intention of the transferring student's family to transfer all of the siblings to STM, or to apply for admission into STM for all siblings at the appropriate academic period. To the extent admission is allowed, the applicant will only be admitted if space in the appropriate grade level permits. Transfer students will only be admitted at the beginning of a semester, unless the transfer is the result of a family relocation into the Champaign-Urbana Vicariate.

Readmission Applicants

A student who previously left or was dismissed from STM and wishes to return must apply for readmission. Readmission is allowed only with the approval of the principal and the recommendation of the Admissions Committee. The student's prior academic, attendance, and disciplinary records from all other educational institutions will be carefully considered to determine whether the student is likely to succeed if allowed re-entry into STM. To the extent readmission is allowed, the applicant will only be admitted if space in the appropriate grade level permits and such admission will only be allowed at the beginning of a semester.

Foreign Nationals

Anyone who is not a citizen of the United States must have completed an I-20A form before registration and submit all applicable fees. Special arrangements must be made for foreign exchange students, and prospective sponsors should be aware that admission is not automatic. No foreign exchange student will be considered after April 1. Each student must have a host family and that family must meet with the Administrator before acceptance and throughout the school year. In addition, a notarized proof of residency must be submitted at the time of application. Foreign nationals must be fluent in English speaking, reading, writing, and comprehension and confirmation of these skills must be provided in the form of SLEP 3 test results.

3 The SLEP test may be administered at The High School of Saint Thomas More. A $50 test fee is required.

Residency

All students are required to live with a parent or legal guardian while in attendance at The High School of Saint Thomas More. Notarized proof may be requested, and non-compliance will result in dismissal.

Health Records

State law requires that a health certificate, including all immunizations, be presented by all students entering ninth grade, and by all transfer students. Students who do not have health and immunization records on file by October 15 will not be allowed to attend school until they are compliant. All students who participate in interscholastic athletics must obtain a new health certificate each year prior to participation.

Policy approved and adopted by the Pastors' Board of The High School of Saint Thomas More on February 15, 2007.