FAQ’s

Frequently Asked Admissions Questions

Please click on the arrow to the right of the topic below that best matches any questions you may have. Please remember, you may always call the office at (781) 899-0353 or stop by to have your questions answered in person or over the phone!

How can I learn more about Our Lady's Academy?

To learn more about OLA, keep doing what you’re doing! Our website is a great place to start! We also recommend that you attend an Open House. Of course you are also welcome to call the school at (781) 899-0353 to have your questions answered and/or to schedule an appointment with our Principal to learn more or schedule a tour.

How do I know if there is an opening for my child at Our Lady's Academy?

Our Lady’s Academy currently operates on a rolling admissions policy throughout the year. You can contact the Main Office (781) 899-0353 to discuss openings that might be available for your child. You will then set up a meeting with the Principal. It is also usually suggested that a child come in to have a Shadow Day to shadow a student in the class that they will be in. In order to complete registration, you will need to meet with the Principal and provide school records, including: Report Cards, Individual Education Plans, 504 Plans, Education testing (including NeuroPsychological Evaluations), so that our team can determine if we can meet the needs of your child and if we believe our school would be a good fit for your child. Once we have all of the relevant materials, a determination can be made about whether a child will be accepted at Our Lady’s Academy.

How do I register my child at Our Lady's Academy?

Current OLA Families: Sometime in the late Fall (November/December), you will be notified and have an opportunity to re-register your child(ren) for the following school year.

New OLA Families: Registration for new families usually begins in January each year. Anyone can call the School Office in the Fall to get the specific dates when registration will be opened.

Initial Registration is done in person at the main office. You will be required to submit a Registration Form for each child and submit a registration fee for the family (not per child, but per family). Once initial registration at the office has been completed, you will receive an email inviting you to complete the subsequent registration components in the FACTS Management system.

My child is on the waitlist. How long will they remain on the list and how will I know if they are accepted?

There is no way to know how long someone will be on the waitlist. It all depends on changes within the relevant grade level. It is important to be on the waitlist, in order to be informed when an opening becomes available.

When an opening becomes available, you will be notified by the Principal, usually via a phone call. You will have the option to accept the opening or not. There will be a time-frame in which you will need to make a decision as we usually have a list of families waiting to be called when an opening becomes available. If you wish to accept the opening, you will be asked to complete the registration process so that your child can be entered into our system as soon as possible.

What are the requirements for entering Preschool?

Our Lady’s Academy Early Learners Preschool Program begins with our PreK3 Classroom. It is an academic preschool with a structured day of learning at the developmentally appropriate level for children beginning at age 2 years, 9 months of age. The Early Learners Program is not a day care and it is required that children are potty-trained before they enter our Program. There are also PreK4 and Transitional Kindergarten (TK) levels in the Program.

What is the tuition rate at Our Lady's Academy? Is there financial aid available?

The tuition changes each year and the current rate can be found on our Tuition and Fees page. There are different rates for in-parish and out-of-parish families. There are also different tuition rates for families with multiple children.

Financial aid is available for our students/families. Once families have submitted their information in the FACTS Management system, they can apply for consideration for financial aid. The earlier the paperwork can be completed, the better chance there will be funds available.

Is there bus service for Our Lady's Academy students?

There is bus service for students in grades K-8 who live in Waltham. If you are interested in bus service, you will be able to submit your desire for service and the bus company will set up the routes each summer with stops accessible to our eligible families.

Is After School care available at Our Lady's Academy?

Yes, there is extended day care available through the Little Saints Program. It is available from the conclusion of the school day (including early release days) until 6:00pm. There is a separate registration for the Little Saints Program and details about it can be found on our Extended Day page.