This is one of the questions we hear most often, and we are always glad when families ask.

No. Students do not have to be Catholic to attend St. Anne. Each year, about 60% of our students and faculty come from other Christian traditions or faith backgrounds, and many families first visit because they are looking for a strong school community. Students attend religion class, pray together, participate in school Masses, and learn within a community shaped by Christian faith and values.

Please click here to learn more.

Choosing a private school is one of the most important decisions a family can make. While factors like tuition, class size, location, uniforms, and extracurricular activities are all important, certain questions should be at the top of every parent's list:

1. What are the qualifications of the teachers?

The quality of a school can never exceed the quality of its teachers.

At St. Anne Catholic School, all teachers are required to hold or be working toward Virginia teaching licensure and must maintain that licensure throughout their employment. Licensure requires ongoing professional development and continuing education to ensure teachers remain current in both their subject areas and instructional practices.

When comparing schools, families should ask:

• Are teachers licensed or certified?

• What educational requirements are expected of faculty?

• How does the school support ongoing professional development?
  

2. Is the school accredited?

Accreditation is one of the strongest indicators of a school's quality and long-term stability. Accreditation is a rigorous process that evaluates a school's academics, governance, finances, safety practices, policies, leadership, and commitment to continuous improvement. Accredited schools undergo regular review by independent organizations and must demonstrate that they meet established standards.

St. Anne School is accredited by the Middle States Association, a globally recognized accrediting organization that has served schools for more than 130 years. St. Anne is the only private school in Bristol with this accreditation.

Families considering any private school should ask:

• Is the school accredited?

• Who grants the accreditation?

• How often is the school reviewed?

• What standards must the school meet?

3. Is the school part of a larger educational system?

St. Anne School is part of the Diocese of Richmond Catholic School system. This connection provides curriculum support, educational leadership, professional development, school safety initiatives, and accountability that many independent schools do not have. Families often appreciate knowing that St. Anne is both a close knit local school and part of a larger educational network committed to excellence.

4. Does the school's mission match your family's goals?

Every school has a different mission and philosophy. At St. Anne Catholic School, we believe education is about more than academics alone. We challenge students to grow intellectually, spiritually, socially, and morally.

The best school is not necessarily the closest school or even the least expensive school. It is the school that best aligns with your family. We would love to start a conversation to help us see if SACS is the right fit for your child. Please contact us; we are happy to connect.

We understand that tuition is an important consideration for every family.

Because every family’s situation is different, we prefer to talk through tuition, payment options, and any available assistance personally rather than ask families to make assumptions from a website alone.

A private school education is an investment, but many families find St. Anne to be more affordable than they expected. We encourage you to reach out so we can walk through the options with you.

Our goal is to make a St. Anne education accessible to as many families as possible while maintaining the high standards that make our school special.

Yes. Tuition assistance is available for qualifying families.

We never want a family to rule out St. Anne without first having a conversation with us. All tuition assistance applications are handled confidentially and reviewed through an established process each spring for the upcoming school year.

For information about deadlines, eligibility, or how to apply, please contact us. We are happy to answer questions and help families understand their options.

This is one of the questions we are asked most often, and it is also one of the questions we feel most confident answering.

St. Anne students transition very well to high school. Our graduates attend public schools throughout the region, and they are prepared not only academically, but socially and personally.

Many of our alumni become involved quickly in high school life. Current St. Anne graduates participate in cheer, dance, golf, track, cross country, swim, basketball, soccer, clubs, honors classes, leadership opportunities, and service activities.

Academically, many St. Anne students enter high school prepared for advanced coursework. Depending on high school placement requirements, middle school students may have opportunities to earn high school credit in Spanish, math, science, and history while attending St. Anne. Our graduates have a strong track record of success in honors-level courses and advanced academic programs.

Because St. Anne students are expected to speak, write, participate, lead, serve, and take responsibility during their middle school years, they leave us ready for the next step.

We are proud of the way our graduates carry St. Anne with them into high school.

Yes. If space is available, students may enroll throughout the year. We will work with your family to make the transition as smooth as possible. St. Anne is a safe and welcoming community. Please contact us to start a conversation or come visit.

At SACS, we believe in teaching the whole child. We offer a variety of enrichment classes. Please click here to learn more.

Yes, uniforms are a longtime St. Anne tradition. Families often tell us they appreciate the simplicity of knowing what to wear each day, while students enjoy being part of a school community that shares a common identity. Students also enjoy spirit wear days and other special dress days throughout the year.

You can learn more about uniforms here. St. Anne families also have access to our Uniform Closet. Parents regularly donate gently used uniform items that their children have outgrown, and families are welcome to take pieces that fit their current needs. The Uniform Closet helps keep costs down and is one of the many ways our school community supports one another.

Yes! St. Anne offers AfterSchool care for ages preschool through 8th grade until 5:30 p.m. Students are provided a snack, allowed free play, and then work on homework or participate in other activities until parents arrive. Fees are calculated based on attendance, and students can attend occasionally or every day.

Bus service is available for families living in Kingsport. The bus departs from St. Dominic School at 7:20am. In the afternoon, the bus will arrive back at St. Dominic at 3:45pm. Parents may pay for the entire year in advance, it can be added to your FACTS payment, or fees can be paid by the trip.

St. Anne does not automatically follow one specific local school system for weather delays or closures. Because we are a smaller school and operate only one bus route, we sometimes have more flexibility than larger school systems. Our administration reviews local road conditions, weather forecasts, campus conditions, and the safety of our students, families, faculty, and staff before making a decision.

We make the best decision we can with the information available at the time, and safety is always the priority. Weather-related announcements are communicated through Flocknote, local news outlets, and other school communication channels.