ST ROSE OF LIMA CATHOLIC ACADEMY

Catholic or faith-affirming Rockaways families with elementary-age children who want a values-driven, affordable, and diverse private school experience close to home.

• Christ-centered philosophy that explicitly names whole-child development — spiritual, intellectual, social, psychological, and physical — as equal priorities.
• A diverse student body drawing families across racial, ethnic, and likely socioeconomic lines, rare even among NYC Catholic academies.
• Tuition begins at $5,000, making this one of the more affordable private elementary options in Queens.
• A blended academic program using i-Ready, enVisions Math, elevate Science, Freckle, and Classroom Inc. for differentiated instruction.
• NCEA accreditation, which signals alignment with national Catholic education standards.

• Parent reviews are mixed, with a rating around 2.67 out of 5 — common concerns include the school environment, perceived academic rigor, and limited facilities and extracurriculars; positive feedback centers on moral formation and character lessons.
• The student-teacher ratio of about 17.5:1 is on the higher side for a private school and may not deliver the small-class experience some families expect.
• The school ends at fifth grade, so families will need to plan a separate middle school transition.
• Tuition ranges from $5,000 to $12,500 — a wide spread that likely reflects grade level, parish affiliation, or other factors worth asking admissions to clarify.
• As a faith-based school, daily religious instruction and sacramental preparation are part of the curriculum; families of other faiths or no faith should consider fit carefully.