How to Apply
How to Apply to St. Helen Catholic School
Vero Beach, Florida
Thank you for your interest in St. Helen Catholic School, where faith, academic excellence, and community come together to educate the whole child. To apply for admission, please follow the steps below.
Step 1: Submit an Online Application
Once you have decided that St. Helen Catholic School is the right choice for your child, please complete the online application for the 2026–2027 school year and submit the $50 non-refundable application fee.
The online application for the 2026–2027 school year will open on January 13, 2026.
Please note: Submission of an application and fee does not guarantee admission. Several grade levels may have waiting lists.
Age Requirements
- Pre-K: Students must be 4 years old on or before September 1 of the school year and be fully potty trained.
- Kindergarten: Students must be 5 years old on or before September 1 of the school year.
Required Documents
Please do not begin the application unless you have all required and additional documents ready to upload.
Pre-K
- Copy of original birth certificate
- School Entry Health Examination (Form DH 3040)
- Immunization Record (we only accept medical exemptions)
- Certificate of Immunization (Form DH680) completed by a Florida Shots Provider
- Copy of Baptismal certificate (if baptized)
Kindergarten
- Copy of original birth certificate
- School Entry Health Examination (Form DH 3040)
- Immunization Record (we only accept medical exemptions)
- Certificate of Immunization (Form DH680) completed by a Florida Shots Provider
- Recommendation Form completed by Pre-K teacher (not needed if attended Pre-K at St. Helen Catholic School)
- Copy of Baptismal certificate (if baptized)
First -Eighth Grade
- Copy of original birth certificate
- School Entry Health Examination (Form DH 3040)
- Immunization Record (we only accept medical exemptions)
- Certificate of Immunization (Form DH680) completed by a Florida Shots Provider
- Most recent report card of current year and/or final report card of prior year
- Most recent standardized test scores
- Copy of Baptismal certificate (if baptized)
- Copy of First Holy Communion certificate (if applicable)
Additional Documents (if applicable)
- Copy of first Holy Communion certificate
- Custody papers/legal documents
- IEP/504 plans
Step 2: Student Screening & Interview
Once your application is complete, a member of our Admissions Team will contact your family within 3-5 business days to schedule a student assessment.
- Pre-K: Interview with the Pre-K teacher and takes about 30 minutes. Parent(s) will stay with the student during the interactive interview.
- Kindergarten: Interview with the Kindergarten teacher and takes about 30 minutes. Parent(s) will not accompany the student but will need to remain on campus.
- First -Eighth Grade: This is a Reading & Math Star Assessment. Parent(s) will drop off the student and will return to campus once the student finishes.
The Admission Team will review the application and student interview/assessment results. You will be notified of the admission decision by mid-February.
Step 3: Enrollment Packet
Upon acceptance, you will receive an email with instructions to log into FACTS and complete your enrollment packet.
- The enrollment packet must be completed within seven (7) days of receipt.
- You must pay $500 enrollment fee at the time of submitting the enrollment packet.
Step 4: Apply for VPK Voucher (PreK)/Step Up For Students Scholarships
Families with students entering Pre-K are eligible for funding through the Early Learning Coalition. Prior to attending your child’s interview with the teacher, complete and submit your application for a VPK voucher to receive funding. You will need to bring the certificate to the interview.
To complete an VPK Voucher application, click here!
St. Helen Catholic School proudly participates in the Step Up For Students scholarship program.
Estimated award amounts for the 2026–2027 school year:
Florida Tax Credit (FTC)/ Family Empowerment Scholarship (FES-EO) Scholarship. All students in Kindergarten through Grade 8 are eligible regardless of income.
-Grades K–3: ~$8,500
-Grades 4–8: ~$7,800
Unique Abilities Scholarship (UA). Families of students PreK-8 with a medical diagnosis, IEP, or documented speech or language impairment should explore the Unique Abilities Scholarship.
Grades Pre-K-8: ~$10,000
Please note: Families may apply for only one scholarship at a time.
Visit stepupforstudents.org for eligibility details and application instructions.
Applications (new and renewal) open on February 1, 2026. Apply early, as funds are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.
Once your child has been:
1. Accepted to St. Helen Catholic School, and
2. Awarded a Step Up For Students scholarship
You will receive an Award ID Number. Please log into the Step Up portal (EMA), locate the Award ID, and submit it using the school’s Step Up Data Form, which must be completed by May 1, 2026.
The 2026–2027 Step Up Data Form will open in February 1, 2026.
Returning Student Enrollment
Re-enrollment for current St. Helen families will open on January 13, 2026, and packets are due by February 1, 2026.
- Log into FACTS
- Select Apply/Enroll
- Complete the online re-enrollment packet.
- Update family information as needed.
- You must pay the $300 commitment fee at the time of submitting the re-enrollment packet.
- Re-enrollment packets submitted after the February 1 deadline will incur a $300 late fee.
Optional
Seeking Catholic Subsidy
Families seeking Catholic subsidy must submit a Parish Affiliation Form by April 1, 2026 to your parish to be signed by the pastor.
Need More Information?
We welcome your questions and invite you to schedule a campus tour or have your student be a Falcon for a Day (shadow another student) at any time during the admissions process.
Please contact:
Alexa Donegan – Admissions and Development Director
a.donegan@sthelenschoolvero.org