FAQ's

You don't have to be Catholic to receive a quality education at St. Agatha. Nearly one quarter of our families are not Catholic. All of them, however, believe in the value of a faith-based curriculum where faith, learning, and service are practiced daily and supported through our challenging curriculum. A strong moral compass, a commitment to serving others, and a desire for academic excellence are beneficial to children on any faith. 

We recognize parents are the primary educators of their chldren and work in partnership with parents to support their child's faith development. 

We believe that every child has the potential and desire to succeed academically but understand that every child is unique when it comes to learning. With that in mind, St. Agatha created the Learning Support Center (LSC). LSC is a program that supports creative and individualized learning within all grades levels so all students can grow academically.

The LSC uses a variety of instructional methods to support each student's unique academic needs and learning styles. An Individualized Learning Plan (ILP) is created and monitored by the Learning Specialist for students with a diagnosed disability. There are no additional fees for the LSC.

Collaboration between the Learning Support Specialist and the classroom teachers allows for classroom coursework, set forth by the Archdiocese of Portland, to be accessible and meaningful to all students. The teachers and the Learning Support Specialist differentiate instruction and provide necessary accomodations for each child to be successful. Through this differentiation, all enrolled students benefit throughout thier academic journey at St. Agatha. 

The LSC gives assitance through:

• Individual/Small Group Content Area Support (both push in and pull out as needed)
• Drop-in Resource Center Support
• Teacher Collaboration and Consultation

We are committed to the safety of our students. Our school doors are locked at all times. Visitors must ring the bell to be let into the school. Students are monitored by teachers and support staff in the school building as well as on the playground and at lunch.

The Child and Youth Protection Office assists parishes and schools in the implementation of the Archdiocesan Child Protection Policy. Office personnel manage the criminal background check process as well as work with locations to provide safe environment (C.A.S.E.) training for clergy, employees, volunteers, parents and minors. All staff, clergy, and volunteers working with children must complete this training. This program is also implemented in our health curriculum for K-8 grade.

All staff, clergy, and volunteers are required to have a background check and take initial C.A.S.E. training before beginning employment or volunteer service. Each year following the inital C.A.S.E. training, employees and volunteers must take an online update. These background checks are updated every three years. Contact the front office at 503.234.5500 for more information.

The doors to the school open at 7:55 a.m. for students to walk to their classroooms. 

The school day begins at 8:10 a.m.

On Monday , Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, school is dismissed at 3:00 p.m. On Wednesdays, children are released at 2:00 p.m. to facilitate time for our teachers to collaborate and strengthen their skills through professional development. 

St. Agatha students receive a wide variety of enrichment opportunities each week including Art, Physical Education, Performing Arts/Drama, Music and STEM enrichment classes. Middle School students participate in a different elective class each term. 

• Youth Minstry: St. Agatha's Student Council. Middle School officers are elected by the student body during the spring and assume their roles when the new school year begins in the fall. Youth Ministry members take on a leadership role in the school community. Members are responsible for leading the opening prayer during all seemblies, delivering the morning announcements each day, coordinating school-wide service projects, acting as tour guides during the annual Open House, and many other activities that promote school spirit. Youth Ministers host the school Mass several times during the year and host the parish Mass to kick off Catholic Schools Week. 

• CYO Sports: St. Agatha is a member of Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) which competes with other member schools within the Portland Metropolitan area. All eligible youth are given the opportunity to participate with no "cuts." Programs offered are: football, volleyball, basketball, swimming, lacrosee, and track and field for Grades 3-8. Hot Shots Basketball is offered for students in Grades 1-2.

• Middle School Electives: Students in grades 6-8 attend elective classes once a week for 60 minutes during the day. There are new course offerings each trimester taught by teachers and parent volunteers. Past topics inlucde Forensics, Cryptology, Chess, Drama, Dance, Fitness, Technology, Photography, and Cooking. 

• Spring Musical: Our Drama and Performing Arts teacher stages a spring musical each year open to students in grades 3-8. Last year's performance was Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. 

• Choir: CHoir is open to students in grades 3-8. Choir members since at the weekly school Masses and at Sunday Masses once a month. 

• Beginning and Advanced Band is available for students in grades 4-8 through M.U.S.E. Band. 

• Judo

Yes. The registration fee for the 2023-2024 school year is $400 for new K-8 families and $200 for new preschool families. This fee is paid at the time of registration and is non-refundable.

Yes. Catholic and non-Catholic families are eligible to apply for tuition assistance. Tuition assistance is available for K-8 students. 

• Archdiocesan Financial Assistance (Catholic families only)
• St. Agatha Catholic School Tuition Assistance (All families eligible)

Each family has the opportunity to pay the academic year tuition in one annual payment, semi-annual payments, monthly payments for 12 months, montly payments for 11 months, or monthly payments for 10 months. 

The School Advisory Council (SAC) advises the principal in matters related to tuition rates which are based on the school's budget requirements. 

Because the parish subsidizes the school, the tuition rate for (K-8) who are members of an area Catholic parish (not limited to St. Agatha Catholic Church) is less than for students who are not members of a Catholic parish. 

Each parish has its own requirements for qualification to receive the tuition subsidy. These requirements may include volunteer time within the parish, regular Mass attendance, and regular monetary contributions. 

Preschool is not subsidized. All families regardless of parish affiliation pay the same tuition rate. 
 

Tuition alone does not cover the cost to educate a student. To help close this gap, we offer a variety of volunteer opportunities and require each of our school families to particiapte in share hours. Parent volunteers can work within the classroom, on projects from home, during school events and fundraisers, join parent committees, and coach youth sports teams. 

We believe that strong parental involvement is an important factor in your child's academic success. Share hours offer an opportunity to meet your children's teachers, get to know your schooo/parish community, and to play an active role in your child's education. Sharing your time, talents, and gifts with the St. Agatha community enriches our school community. For those truly unable to volunteers, we offer an opt-out option through a financial contribution. 
 

Comparing private to public school test scores is a bit like comparing apples to oranges. Public schools use their own set of standardized tests, which they use for a variet of purposes: assessment and diagnostics, to name two. Private schools use a different set of tests - some derived from the same basic tests public schools use adn created by the same companies - but still different enough that they can't be compared side by side with public school tests. 

We repeatedly hear from parents who have left public school to attend St. Agatha that our curriculum is challenging compared to what their child was learning while enrolled in public school. Our Catholic high schools report that St. Agatha students consistently arrive well-prepared for a rigorous high school curriculum, and our students often test into advanced classes. 

According to a report by the National Catholic Education Association, Catholic school students are more likely to graduate and attend college than students attending other schools, public or private. The report touts a Catholic high school graduation rate of 99.2 percent, higher than graduation rates of religious (97.5), non-sectarian (93.9), or public schools (84.1). SOurce: Broughman, S.P., Swain, N.L. (2013); Stillwell, R., and Sable, J. (2015). 

"[Catholic high schools'] effectiveness in educating students, even from disadvantaged backgrounds, has been cited consistenly in research published over the last 25 years," said Marie A. Powell, executive director of the Secretariat of Catholic Education fo the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).  "The Catholic community can be very proud of their support for such schools." 

The report also states that Catholic school graduates are more likely to attend four-year colleges than students graduating from other religious and non-sectarian schools. Additionally, 86.5 percent of Catholic school graduates go on to attend four-year colleges compared to only 44 percent of public school graduates. 

Yes. St. Agatha uses FACTS, a web-based system that allows parents and students to monitor their progress in each class. Every student is assigned a unique login and password for security. Our teachers update their gradebooks each week which allows parents to view grades per assignment, per trimester, and to see any missing assignments. 

On Wednesdays, Middle School students receive a printout with all of their missing assignments. 
 

St. Agatha Catholic School follows the State of Oregon Immunization Law. All students are required to have up-to-date- immunications or have a mom-medical exemption CIS form with an immunization education certificate on record with the school. 

Vermont Hills Family Life Center (VHFLC) coordinates aftercare for our families. Vermont Hills is not affiliated with St. Agatha but comes highly recommended and provides aftercare at two neighboring Catholic schools.

Contact information for VHFLC:
Website: https://www.vhflc.org/
Phone number: (503) 452-8633
Email: [email protected]

Registration: https://www.cognitoforms.com/VermontHillsFamilyLifeCenter/VHFLCSchoolAgeRegistration20232024

Vermont Hills does not charge registration fees until it is confirmed that your child has a spot and will be attending. You will receive email verification from Vermont Hills prior to any charges. Students are enrolled on a first-come, first-served basis and there must be a minimum number of children enrolled for the program to operate.