How do I apply?
Navigating the application process for the diocese’s parish-based schools and for the Mecklenburg Area Catholic Schools system (MACS) is a straightforward online process.
The admissions process begins with early admissions in January and general admissions begin in March, continuing as space is available. All schools work on a rolling admissions basis until all spots are full.
All students entering pre-kindergarten must be 4 years old on or before Aug. 31. All kindergarten students must be 5 years old on or before Aug. 31.
Details for MACS – including required documents and placement testing information – can be found online at www.www.discovermacs.org/apply. Details for each parish-based school can be found on their respective website.
Questions? Call the individual school or the MACS Office any time in the application process at 704-370-3273.
All MACS work on rolling admissions until all spots are full. Additionally, each school offers a multiple child discount for participating Catholic families. Families are encouraged to apply as soon as the application opens for the next school year.
Following their motto “Start with Us, Stay with Us,” once a child is accepted into MACS he or she receives automatic acceptance into the next grade level (i.e., fifth graders do not need to re-apply to a MACS middle school, eighth-graders do not need to reapply to a MACS high school).
Questions? Call the MACS office any time in the application process at 704-370-3273.
Financial aid makes Catholic education more accessible
Most families who attend Catholic schools receive some form of financial aid through tuition discounts or assistance. All of the diocese’s schools offer some sort of tuition discount or subsidy for registered participating Catholic families, up to 30 percent in some cases. Generally speaking, tuition amounts range from approximately $5,000 to $13,000 for registered Catholics, with non-participating Catholics and non-Catholics paying higher amounts. Multiple child discounts are also available.
Needs-based tuition assistance is also available to qualified families – making Catholic education more affordable than ever for more families.
The application period is January through March 31, for the upcoming school year.
A family does not have to be registered as a participating Catholic to receive aid. Aid is need-based and can only assist with the cost of tuition. As soon the application process is complete, families are eligible to receive an award.
For details about the MACS tuition assistance program, call 704-370-3273 or go online to www.discovermacs.org/financialaid.
The diocese’s nine parish-based schools and Bishop McGuinness High School offer similar need-based tuition assistance to qualified students. Details can be found on each school’s website.
All financial aid requests are processed through a third-party processor, FACTS. Most diocesan parish-based schools provide financial aid through the FACTS processor as well. Receiving financial aid requires an ample amount of documentation, which is verified through the FACTS processor using the information provided by the family.
Families are required to apply every year if they wish to continue receiving financial aid. However, applying for financial aid does not guarantee a family will receive aid.
State financial aid available
Other financial aid options include the North Carolina Opportunity Scholarship Program, Disabilities Grant Program, and Education Savings Accounts. These programs (listed below) cover tuition and required fees at a participating non-public school. In addition, the Disabilities Grant and Education Savings Account can cover certain other expenses related to educating a child with a disability.
Opportunity Scholarship Program
The Opportunity Scholarship Program expands school choice in North Carolina through scholarship grants for eligible children in kindergarten through 12th grade. This program provides funding of up to $6,492 per year for eligible children who choose to attend a participating non-public school.
Disabilities Grant Program
The Disabilities Grant Program is a program for eligible students with disabilities in kindergarten through 12th grade to provide an option for parents to pay tuition, fees and some other expenses at a participating school. This program provides funding of up to $8,000 per year for eligible children who choose to attend a participating non-public school.
Education Savings Account
An Education Savings Account expands school choice for eligible students with disabilities in kindergarten through 12th grade. An Education Savings Account is for students attending a registered non-public school and can be applied to tuition and required fees and certain other expenses related to educating a child with a disability. Additionally, it allows parents quarterly access to funds on a debit card. This program currently provides funding of up to $9,000 per year for eligible children who choose to attend a participating non-public school. Each program has specific additional requirements for eligibility.
For details, go to the N.C. State Education Assistance Authority’s website at www.ncseaa.edu/k12.