FAQ's

Have Questions? We’re Here to Help.

We know choosing the right school comes with a lot of questions. Below you’ll find answers to some of the most common questions we receive about admissions, tuition, financial aid, campus visits, and life at St. Michael’s.

If you don’t find the answer you’re looking for, please don’t hesitate to contact the Admissions Office. We’re happy to help!

Does my family and my child need to be Catholic to attend SMHS?

St. Michael’s High School is a Lasallian Catholic school. Currently 71% of our student body identifies as Catholic but we welcome students of all faiths and backgrounds. Mass and prayer are a regular part of the school day; however, students are required only to respect the Catholic tradition. They are encouraged to explore their personal spirituality and faith during times of prayer.

Is there a dress code policy and will my child be required to wear a uniform?

I want my child to attend St. Michael’s but how can I afford it?

St. Michael’s is very proud to offer the best value for private education in Santa Fe. Tuition assistance is available for many income levels. The tuition at St. Michael’s is approximately one - half of that at comparable Santa Fe private schools. The Lasallian mission emphasizes our dedication to providing a school that is economically, academically, and socially accessible to all.
Paying for a Lasallian Catholic school education can be a strain on the family and require some sacrifice. We work with families to help find a way to send their children to St. Michael’s despite financial hardship.

Are students required to participate in athletics, extracurricular activities and service projects?

Extracurricular activities are an extension of the academic program and provide the opportunity to learn a variety of skills that will serve our students throughout life. Involvement in extracurricular activities also leads to greater academic success. We want all our students to explore the wide variety of options we offer and choose an activity that fits their interests. We have something for everyone. While students are not required to participate on an athletic team, in an extracurricular activity, or in a service project, all SMHS students are encouraged to participate in at least one of these every year they attend St. Michael’s. Service learning is a key component of our Lasallian Core Principles.

Students are required to participate in a yearly class retreat. Retreat days are organized by grade level and are designed to strengthen each student’s connection to the Lasallian Core Principles. Aside from pushing our students to be successful academically, we focus on the whole child to ensure that our students become kind, respectful, selfless people who make their community a better place for all.

What are service projects and why do they matter?

Service is an integral component of both curricular and extracurricular programs. One of our Five Lasallian Core Principles is Concern for the Poor and Social Justice. Our students are encouraged to be Lasallian leaders. A few examples of the many wonderful service projects that our students participate in are National Honor Society students tutoring 7th and 8th graders, picking up trash around the City, donating blood at the SMHS annual blood drive, or contributing time collecting jackets, socks, hats, etc. for the homeless during the winter months.

Community is the heartbeat of school culture. The SMHS community articulates our common Lasallian identity, creates opportunities for students to meaningfully connect, facilitates opportunities to serve those in need and leads both the development of school spirit and spirituality.

Will my child have to participate in the Lasallian Catholic practices?

According to our school mission statement, our foundation is clearly realized in the Five Lasallian Core Principles. The core principles guide us to create an environment where the Catholic faith is instrumental in contributing to the Lasallian education philosophy; “enter to learn, and leave to serve.”

While we understand that many of our students are not Catholic, they are required to attend mass and prayer services at the school as well as complete the required core religion curriculum. All we ask is that students are respectful during those times.

Will my student be okay following a different religion other than Catholic?

Why does my child need extra credits in Religion class to graduate?

We are an accredited educational institution through the Western Catholic Educational Association (WCEA). At SMHS it is our ethical duty and obligation under the WCEA accreditation to ensure faith formation and educational excellence. With that being said, our Religious Studies curriculum is guided by the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops (USCCB) Curriculum Framework. In correlation with WCEA, USCCB, we are also an affiliation of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe, therefore we must obtain and maintain all graduation requirements under that framework and for accreditation.

What will religious holidays look like at SMHS?

My child is not from a legacy family. Will this negatively impact my child’s chances of getting accepted into SMHS?

My child struggles with testing. What if they don’t do well on the admissions test?

Our goal at SMHS is to provide a quality education to young men and women, preparing them for a life of leadership and service.

At SMHS, we take pride in knowing our applicants and recognizing the gifts and talents they will bring to our school. Therefore, we want to ensure that even though the placement testing is important in our admissions process, it is also a piece to the overall picture. We look at the “whole” student. We are seeking those who are not only willing to give their best effort academically, but also for those who are seeking to live their life practices by the teachings of the Five Lasallian Core Principles.

What is your private school plan? How do you support children with learning challenges such as dyslexia?

SMHS is a private school and while private schools are not legally required to provide students with accommodations, SMHS makes every attempt and effort to provide reasonable accommodations within our ability to students with learning exceptionalities.

Should a family choose to enroll their student with a current IEP, they should be aware that all IEPs are converted to Private School Plans (PSPs) through the assistance of the Private School Liaison from the Santa Fe Public Schools (SFPS).

PSPs are similar to IEPs. However, PSPs only include the accommodations that SMHS is able to provide. While family input is valued and plays an essential role in creating a PSP, SMHS reserves the final say on what accommodations can and will be provided. The finalized accommodations will be documented into a PSP form and reviewed in a formal meeting with the legal guardian, the SFPS Private School Liaison, the school representative, and the student. Once documented, the PSP is distributed to the teachers.

Our teachers consider themselves as servant leaders within our community. They work extremely hard to meet the needs of all students. Therefore, once they have reviewed the PSP, they do their due diligence in providing the accommodations listed within the PSP document.