ST ELIZABETH CATHOLIC ACADEMY

Catholic families (or those open to Catholic education) in central Queens who want a small, faith-based elementary with genuine academic acceleration and built-in supports for ELL or working-class students.

• Offers Regents-level coursework (Algebra I, Earth Science) at the elementary level — a rarity among parish schools and a sign of real academic ambition.
• Runs a dedicated STEM program through Teaching Garage, giving students hands-on exposure beyond typical elementary curriculum.
• Maintains Title I literacy and math services alongside ELL programming, unusual for a Catholic academy and helpful for working-class and immigrant families.
• iPad integration in grades 3-4 brings meaningful tech access into the upper elementary classroom.
• Rolling admissions make the application process more flexible than the typical January deadline cycle.

• The wide tuition range ($5,500–$13,150) signals substantial financial aid — worth asking directly about, since the published spread is large.
• Faith formation is central; families uncomfortable with Catholic instruction or sacramental preparation should look elsewhere.
• At 196 students total, the school is intimate — a plus for personalization, but it means fewer classmates and a narrower social pool than larger academies.
• Subway access is functional but not quick; the nearest stations are all around a 10-minute walk, so a commute from Manhattan or farther Brooklyn adds up.
• Academically rigorous offerings like Regents courses mean strong students will be stretched, but families should verify how the school supports students who struggle with that pace.