Q: How many students do you have?
A: We have approximately 180 students in our school, with one class per grade and about 20 to 25 students per class.
Q: What are your school hours?
A: Students can be dropped off between 7:45 and 8:00 AM for breakfast, or between 8:00 and 8:15 AM to head to their classroom. School begins at 8:20 AM and ends at 2:40 PM.
Q: Do students attend Mass?
A: Yes, students in Kindergarten and up attend Mass each week, and Pre-Kindergarten students come to Mass on Holy Days of Obligation and monthly starting in January. Mass is open to all, so families can join us as well. Our classes take turns providing the choir, the readers, and the gift bearers for Mass. We love joining with the church to celebrate the Holy Eucharist!
Q: Do you have to be a member of the parish to attend the school? Do you have to be Catholic?
A: No, you don’t have to be from our parish, or even Catholic, to attend our school. Active parish members from Saint Andrew are given first priority when filling our final school rosters, however. The education we provide is centered on our Catholic faith, including daily prayer and weekly Mass. All students participate in all activities including learning the Hail Mary and praying the rosary. Students and families of other faith traditions do enrich our school community, but we are a Catholic school.
Q: What is the cost of tuition?
A: The 2023-2024 cost of tuition for registered, active members of the Church of Saint Andrew or churches in our Area Catholic Community (Mary Queen of Peace and Christ our Light) is $3,550. For non-parishioners, the cost is $6,640. We also charge minimal technology and activity fees each year to avoid asking families to pay for individual activities throughout the year.
Q: How do we become members of Saint Andrew parish?
It is necessary that your Sacramental status be in union with our Catholic Faith or that you are willing to work toward it to become a member of the parish. Father Mark would be happy to help you in this process. It is necessary for all wishing to join the parish to meet with Fr Mark before they receive the “member rate” for school tuition. Call the parish office to arrange a meeting with Father Mark to start this process. That number is 763-441-1483.
Q: Is financial assistance available?
A: Financial assistance is available to help make Catholic education more affordable for your family if you are a member of Saint Andrew parish or the other ACCs (Christ our Light, or Mary Queen of Peace). At Saint Andrew Parish, Fr. Mark and Melissa Anderson in the parish office will work with parishioners unable to afford the annual cost of tuition. The ACCs provide their own financial assistance. Assistance is based on each family’s annual income. Please email Melissa Anderson to learn more: melissaa@saint-andrew.net.
Q: Are families expected to fundraise?
A: Yes, we ask all families to participate in annual fundraisers. Every dollar raised helps meet the overall cost of providing education to students. We have three fundraisers each year – the marathon, the Catholic United Financial raffle, and our Gala.
Q: Is bussing available?
A: Yes, in many cases. Students in Kindergarten and up may receive busing services from District 728 (Elk River Schools). For K through 5, you must live in District 728 within the boundaries that bus to our school -- basically North of the river on the Vision bussing map.
Students in grades 6 through 8 can live anywhere within the District 728 bussing boundaries to be bussed to school.
Bussing is not available for Pre-Kindergarten students. Your family can contact Tri-CAP to arrange transportation through them at your expense. For more information go to www.tricap.org.
Families outside of the District 728 boundaries may be eligible for transportation reimbursement. Please contact our school office to learn more.
Q: Is before and after school childcare available? What about summer care?
A: Yes, our Tackle Box program provides before-school and after-school child care for students age 5 and up. There is a fee for this. The program opens at 6:30 AM and closes at 6:00 PM. Tackle Box is also available in the summer with fun outings.
Updated November 2023