Frequently Asked Questions

All new students must submit an online application which includes uploading the student's birth certificate and physician-signed immunization record. An application fee will also be required at the time of application. Once the online application and fee payment are submitted, our staff will provide you with information regarding the next step, which will be an admission screening (for Pre-K through Grade 1) or ISEE entrance exam (Grades 2 - 7). For more detailed application information as well as the link to our online application platform, please visit our Admission Process page.

Once your student has been offered admission, you will then utilize our Admissions Online platform to complete your student’s enrollment process and submit the enrollment fee. After this is done, you will have officially reserved your student’s spot and become a part of the Crusader family!

Students who have applications submitted during the priority application period will be able to attend our in-house Admissions Testing date. This streamlined process allows families with students taking the ISEE to enjoy a local testing site and our younger applicants to complete their screening in a group setting. Completing your student’s screening/testing on this date ensures that you will be one of the first to receive your admissions decision, thus allowing you to complete your online enrollment and secure your student’s spot in their particular grade level.

To attend SMCS, students must be U.S. citizens or hold a valid passport with an appropriate U.S. Student Visa.

Yes! We welcome and embrace all qualified students regardless of religious affiliation.

Children entering school must have reached the following ages on or before September 1:

Age 3, if entering Pre-Kindergarten 3

Age 4, if entering Pre-Kindergarten 4

Age 5, if entering Kindergarten 

Age 6, if entering First Grade

Once your child’s application is complete (including any records records or recommendations from previous schools) and we have received all entrance test/screening results, it typically takes approximately three weeks for an admission decision to be shared with you via email. 

To protect the personalized educational experience our small class sizes provide for our students, we do limit the number of students in each class. As grade levels reach maximum enrollment, we do offer a wait list. Our Pre-K program is historically the first to require a wait list, so if you are considering enrolling your child in Pre-K3 or Pre-K4, it is best to apply early as we are unable to guarantee any spaces becoming available for students on the wait list.

Classes are held from 7:50 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. with our school buildings opening for arrival at 7:30 a.m. each day. Our Pre-K3 half day program option is held from 7:50 -11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.

Most classes average around 15 students: some classes are as small as 10 while the largest classes are limited to 25. Pre-K classes are limited to 18 students per class and have a full-time aide in addition to the teacher.

Students in Kindergarten through Grade 8 are eligible to apply for tuition assistance. All families interested in receiving financial assistance are strongly encouraged to apply before the Round 1 deadline, as ninety percent of funds are disbursed at that time. For more information, including the dates for application deadlines, please visit our Financial Aid page.

Families with multiple children enrolled do receive the benefit of sibling discounts on tuition. For more information on sibling discounts and tuition, please visit our Tuition & Fees page.

Yes! We would love to schedule a time to show you our beautiful campus and allow you to see our school in action. As a prospective family, we want you to have as much information as possible as you discern if our school community is the right fit for your student(s). To schedule a personal tour, please send an email to [email protected].

Our SMCS alumni choose to attend a variety of high schools, including local public schools and Houston-area Catholic schools, and transition well academically and socially into the next level of their education regardless of high school choice. Tours of the Houston-area Catholic or private high schools are built into our eigth grade schedule, giving families considering private education a head-start into the discernment process of which high school will be the right fit for their student. Our school Counselor works with families to share all pertinent information regarding the transition to public or private high school.

St. Martha Catholic School carries dual accreditation by the Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops Education Department (TCCB ED) and Cognia (SACS CASI).

We are blessed to have resources available for students with exceptionalities as we strive to provide an inclusive environment with supports in place to ensure the success of all of our students. We offer Catholic Accommodation Plans (CAP) to support our students with accommodations and remediation services. Instructional Support at SMCS assists students, parents, and teachers to help develop skills to maximize individual achievement. If your student is currently following an accommodation plan, please feel free to share that plan with us in advance of submitting your application so that we can discuss with you how SMCS can support your student. 

We know that many of our families are in need of extended school care hours due to work schedules, and are happy to offer both within our Before and After School Program. Our Before School Program hours are 7:00 - 7:30 a.m. and After School hours are 3:15 - 6:00 p.m. Our After School Program consists of play, study time, snacks, and activities, including time on our wonderful playground if weather permits. For more information, please visit our Before and After School Program page.

We are excited to help our new families feel connected and prepared as they begin a new educational experience as part of our Crusader family! In addition to our information-packed New Family Meeting, we will share a series of educational emails throughout the summer explaining school traditions, policies, and what to expect throughout the school year. We also have a group of amazing current families who volunteer to serve as our Family Ambassadors. These current Crusader families reach out to our new families to serve as a welcoming face and a point of connection, as well as a resource for information. Leading up to the beginning of the school year, we host a social for our new families and our Family Ambassadors, allowing new students to start the first day of school with new friendships already formed. Our Admissions Coordinator is also always available to answer questions or help along the way! 

We offer the following options for our Pre-K classes:

• Pre-K3 3-Half Days
• Pre-K3 3-Full Days
• Pre-K3 5-Full Days
• Pre-K4 3-Full Days
• Pre-K4 5-Full Days