At a Glance
A neighborhood Catholic academy grounding young students in faith, academics, and old-school Brooklyn-Queens parish tradition.
Best suited for
Catholic families in southern Queens or eastern Brooklyn who want a parish-based, faith-centered elementary education for their young children without a long commute or sticker shock.
What stands out
- Tuition under $9K makes it one of the more affordable Catholic elementary options in the boroughs, especially compared to Manhattan independents.
- Spanish instruction begins in the elementary years, giving students an early language start.
- Rolling admissions with no application deadline removes the high-pressure admissions race common at private schools.
- NCEA accreditation signals the school meets recognized Catholic education standards beyond just a parish affiliation.
Things to consider
- The student-teacher ratio of about 19:1 is typical for Catholic schools, not the small-pod intimacy of a progressive or independent elementary.
- The commute from most parts of NYC is car-dependent — the nearest subway is a long walk and bus service in the area can be infrequent.
- Public parent review data is thin, so prospective families should visit during a school day and talk to current parents directly.
- The Catholic identity is central to daily life; families who aren't aligned with that mission may want to look elsewhere.
- Tuition varies by grade level, so the actual cost depends on which year your child enters.
Identity
Founded as a parish Catholic academy, St Helen's mission centers on forming children in the knowledge and love of Jesus Christ while delivering a complete academic education rooted in Gospel values. It serves coed students from pre-K through fifth grade and holds accreditation from the National Catholic Educational Association. The school combines religious instruction with standard elementary academics in a traditional Catholic framework.
Community
About two-thirds of students identify as white, with Hispanic students making up the next largest group at roughly a quarter, and smaller Asian and Black populations rounding out the rest. The student body skews local and parish-affiliated rather than drawn from across the city. Overall the community is moderately diverse and tends to reflect the surrounding Howard Beach neighborhood.
Neighborhood
Howard Beach–Lindenwood is a middle-class, family-oriented corner of southern Queens with a median household income around $106,000 and a comparatively low poverty rate. About 31% of adults here hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The area has the feel of a tight-knit residential community where many families have lived for generations.
The nearest subway is Aqueduct–N Conduit Av on the A line, and even that's about a 19-minute walk, so most families drive or arrange carpool rather than relying on transit.
Notable Programs
What Parents Are Saying
Limited parent reviews are available; rated 2.9 from 13 parent reviews, but there is insufficient data for definitive sentiment.
Synthesized from public parent reviews · Apr 2026
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Frequently Asked Questions
- Is ST HELEN CATHOLIC ACADEMY a good school?
- Published quality ratings aren't available for ST HELEN CATHOLIC ACADEMY yet on Motley. It's a private school serving grades Pre-K to 5 in Howard Beach-Lindenwood.
- What grades does ST HELEN CATHOLIC ACADEMY serve?
- ST HELEN CATHOLIC ACADEMY serves grades Pre-K to 5.
- How do students get into ST HELEN CATHOLIC ACADEMY?
- ST HELEN CATHOLIC ACADEMY runs its own private admissions process — typically an application, a visit, and sometimes testing.
- Is ST HELEN CATHOLIC ACADEMY public, charter, or private?
- ST HELEN CATHOLIC ACADEMY is a private school.
- What neighborhood is ST HELEN CATHOLIC ACADEMY in?
- ST HELEN CATHOLIC ACADEMY is in Howard Beach-Lindenwood, Queens.