ST BARTHOLOMEW CATHOLIC ACADEMY

Queens families — particularly working- and middle-class households in or near Elmhurst — who want an affordable, faith-rooted elementary education in a small, culturally diverse setting where their child will be known by name.

• Enrollment of roughly 170 students across Pre-K through 5th grade creates the kind of small, know-each-other-by-name environment that's increasingly rare in Queens.
• The C-STEAM program integrates Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math through a Catholic lens — pairing rigorous enrichment with the school's faith identity.
• A FIRST Lego League robotics team gives elementary-age students exposure to competitive STEM earlier than most schools offer.
• An on-site band program and ESL support round out a curriculum that serves both native English speakers and children building English skills.
• Accreditation through both Cognia and the Middle States Association gives families an extra layer of accountability beyond the diocesan basics.

• Tuition is not listed here, so families should confirm costs directly with the school — Catholic academy pricing varies widely based on parish registration status.
• Rolling admissions mean flexibility, but also that some grades may fill up unevenly depending on when families apply.
• Parent reviews land in mixed territory; families praise the close community and individual attention but note fewer extracurricular options than larger schools.
• At a 17:1 student-teacher ratio, classes are reasonable but not unusually small — this isn't a boutique progressive school with assistant teachers in every room.
• Families uncomfortable with explicit Catholic identity, prayer, and sacramental preparation should look elsewhere; the religious mission is central rather than cosmetic.