ST FRANCIS DE SALES CATHOLIC ACADEMY

Active-Catholic or faith-affiliated families looking for a parish-based Pre-K through fifth-grade education in the western Rockaways who value character formation alongside academics.

• The four-pillar framework (Gospel, Academic Excellence, Leadership, Courage) gives the school an explicit character-development spine that goes beyond standard religious instruction.
• At 547 students, it is a larger-than-typical parish elementary — families who want Catholic education but also a peer group with breadth will find more classmates here than at many small academies.
• Accreditation through the National Catholic Educational Association signals adherence to recognized Catholic-school standards rather than operating as an independent religious school.
• The school explicitly names academic programs for diverse learners, suggesting structured support for students who need additional challenge or scaffolding.
• A tuition range from roughly $6,600 to $20,000 indicates tiered pricing — likely differentiated by grade level or parish affiliation — making the school more accessible to active parishioners.

• The student body is strikingly homogeneous, so families seeking broad cultural exposure may want to weigh that against the strong parish community this school offers.
• With only one nearby subway stop about a 16-minute walk away, commuting by transit is a real commitment — most non-driving families will need a bus connection or a drop-off plan.
• The school ends at fifth grade, so families will face a middle-school transition and should plan ahead for the next step.
• The wide tuition spread suggests pricing varies meaningfully by circumstances; the actual cost for any given family depends on grade and parish status.
• As a parish school, fit is strongest for families who share the Catholic faith and want their child formed within that tradition.