At a Glance
A neighborhood Catholic elementary where faith, affordability, and a tight-knit feel come first.
Best suited for
Catholic or faith-affiliated families in northwest Queens who want a warm, affordable elementary with real community ties and aren't looking for a progressive or highly diverse environment.
What stands out
- Tuition of $7,300–$7,800 makes this one of the more affordable private elementary options in the city, especially within a Catholic framework.
- The CARE values framework (Cooperation, Acceptance, Respect, Empathy) is treated as a real character-education curriculum rather than marketing language.
- Sacramental preparation is fully integrated into the school day, which simplifies the religious education piece for Catholic families.
- Spanish instruction runs through the upper grades and music and art get consistent parent praise — particularly the performing arts program.
- Title I academic support is available, a less common offering at private schools that signals genuine attention to a range of learners.
Things to consider
- The 20.7:1 student-teacher ratio is on the larger side for a private elementary — classes here are fuller than at many independent schools charging three or four times the tuition.
- The school only goes through fifth grade, so families will face another transition for middle school.
- Long walks from either N/W subway stop (13 and 18 minutes) mean this is a tougher commute for families relying on public transit from Manhattan or other boroughs.
- The student body is fairly homogeneous compared with NYC averages, which matters for families hoping for more cross-cultural exposure.
- This is a religious school by design — non-Catholic families should expect faith to be woven through the school day, not confined to one class.
Identity
St. Francis of Assisi is a coed Roman Catholic elementary serving PK through 5th grade under the Diocese of Brooklyn. Its mission centers on forming students through Christ — academically, spiritually, and morally — and the CARE values (Cooperation, Acceptance, Respect, Empathy) function as a daily touchstone rather than a wall poster. Religion with sacramental preparation is built into the curriculum rather than tacked on.
Community
The student body is predominantly White (about 75%), with smaller shares of Hispanic (10%), Black (5%), Asian (5%), and multiracial students. At a diversity index of 0.55, it's less mixed than many NYC private schools, reflecting the surrounding neighborhood's demographics more than any selective filtering. In practice, this looks like a school where most families share a similar cultural and faith background.
Neighborhood
The school sits in the Astoria (North)-Ditmars-Steinway area of Queens, a solidly middle-class neighborhood with a median household income around $93,800 and a high share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher. The Ditmars strip — with its restaurants, bakeries, and small-town feel — sits a short walk away, giving the area a distinctly residential, community-oriented character rather than a high-rise one.
Getting here by subway means a real walk: Astoria-Ditmars Blvd (N, W) is about 13 minutes on foot, and Astoria Blvd (N, W) is roughly 18 minutes — so most commuting families are driving or walking locally rather than relying on the train.
Notable Programs
What Parents Are Saying
Positive reviews highlight a welcoming environment, dedicated teachers, high academic standards, and a strong performance arts program
Synthesized from public parent reviews · Apr 2026
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Frequently Asked Questions
- Is ST FRANCIS OF ASSISI CATHOLIC ACADEM a good school?
- Published quality ratings aren't available for ST FRANCIS OF ASSISI CATHOLIC ACADEM yet on Motley. It's a private school serving grades Pre-K to 5 in Astoria (North)-Ditmars-Steinway.
- What grades does ST FRANCIS OF ASSISI CATHOLIC ACADEM serve?
- ST FRANCIS OF ASSISI CATHOLIC ACADEM serves grades Pre-K to 5.
- How do students get into ST FRANCIS OF ASSISI CATHOLIC ACADEM?
- ST FRANCIS OF ASSISI CATHOLIC ACADEM runs its own private admissions process — typically an application, a visit, and sometimes testing.
- Is ST FRANCIS OF ASSISI CATHOLIC ACADEM public, charter, or private?
- ST FRANCIS OF ASSISI CATHOLIC ACADEM is a private school.
- What neighborhood is ST FRANCIS OF ASSISI CATHOLIC ACADEM in?
- ST FRANCIS OF ASSISI CATHOLIC ACADEM is in Astoria (North)-Ditmars-Steinway, Queens.