At a Glance
A neighborhood Catholic elementary where faith formation and academic preparation go hand in hand.
Best suited for
Catholic or values-oriented Woodside-area families with elementary-age children who want a faith-centered, academically serious school at a tuition level that's reachable on a middle-class budget.
What stands out
- Tuition in the $6,100–$6,500 range is well below the private-school median for NYC, making it accessible to a broader range of Queens families.
- A 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio in a school of 305 pupils means teachers can really know each student by name.
- Spanish instruction begins in third grade, paired with iPads, Chromebooks, and Smartboards — a solid modern academic baseline for a parish elementary.
- AdvancED accreditation provides outside validation of the academic program, which matters for families eyeing competitive Catholic high schools.
Things to consider
- Web reviews are mixed: families consistently praise teachers and academic preparation, but some raise concerns about bullying and inclusivity — worth asking the school directly how they handle these issues.
- Tuition is modest by private-school standards, but the range is narrow and you should confirm what is and isn't included (registration, books, uniforms, fundraising expectations).
- As a parish school, expect an active faith component — daily prayer, religious instruction, sacramental preparation — that may not fit every family.
- Elementary only (PK through 5th grade), so high school placement is a separate journey, typically into the diocesan or competitive Catholic high school system.
Identity
A coeducational Catholic elementary school rooted in parish life, with a mission of forming mature young people who practice the virtues and values taught by Jesus Christ. The curriculum is academically challenging within a faith-centered framework, and the school is AdvancED accredited, which signals external review of its academic program.
Community
The student body reflects Woodside's character as a working- and middle-class, immigrant-rooted neighborhood: roughly 41% White, 39% Hispanic, and 19% Asian, with a diversity index of 0.685. Families tend to be Catholic and committed to the parish community, and the school functions as much as a social and faith hub as an academic one. Reviews describe friendly students and active family participation in school events.
Neighborhood
Woodside is a solidly middle-income Queens neighborhood — median household income around $74,765, with a relatively low 8.1% poverty rate and about 30% of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher. The school sits in the heart of a dense, transit-friendly residential area with a strong working-class and immigrant presence, which tends to shape the parent body.
The 61 St-Woodside stop on the 7 train is about a 4-minute walk, with the 52 St (7) about 7 minutes and Northern Blvd (M, R) about 10 minutes on foot — genuinely easy from anywhere in central Woodside.
Notable Programs
What Parents Are Saying
Mixed reviews: parents praise helpful teachers, strong academic preparation for high school, friendly students, and community activities. Some concerns about bullying and inclusivity noted in reviews.
Synthesized from public parent reviews · Apr 2026
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Frequently Asked Questions
- Is ST SEBASTIAN CATHOLIC ACADEMY a good school?
- Published quality ratings aren't available for ST SEBASTIAN CATHOLIC ACADEMY yet on Motley. It's a private school serving grades Pre-K to 5 in Woodside.
- What grades does ST SEBASTIAN CATHOLIC ACADEMY serve?
- ST SEBASTIAN CATHOLIC ACADEMY serves grades Pre-K to 5.
- How do students get into ST SEBASTIAN CATHOLIC ACADEMY?
- ST SEBASTIAN CATHOLIC ACADEMY runs its own private admissions process — typically an application, a visit, and sometimes testing.
- Is ST SEBASTIAN CATHOLIC ACADEMY public, charter, or private?
- ST SEBASTIAN CATHOLIC ACADEMY is a private school.
- What neighborhood is ST SEBASTIAN CATHOLIC ACADEMY in?
- ST SEBASTIAN CATHOLIC ACADEMY is in Woodside, Queens.