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Donahue Academy has a thorough and carefully selective admissions process. We are best equipped to serve those who are at or above grade level and meet our standards of behavior. Each applicant is evaluated based on their academic records, recommendation forms, standardized testing results, grade level assessments and an interview process.

All students must meet our academic readiness standards for the grade they are applying for. Purchasing a house in Ave Maria does not guarantee admission to the school.

Donahue Academy admits qualified and mission-supporting students of any race, color, sex, national or ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school.

Please note: the age of the applicant by September 1st must meet requirements set by the State of Florida and the Diocese of Venice.

• Pre-Kindergarten: 4 years old
• Kindergarten: 5 years old
• First Grade: 6 years old

Application Process and Document Requirements

At a glance:

• Applications will be accepted from September 15th through January 15th.
• Assessments and interviews are conducted in person or via Zoom from January 15th through March 15th.
• Notifications of Acceptance or Rejection will be sent from March 15th through April 1st.
• Wait Pool Offers will be extended from May 1st through May 30th.
• Enrollment closes on June 15th.

Please ensure all the following documents have been submitted by the deadline of January 15th:

1. Most Recent Report Cards / Official Transcript
2. Standardized Test Results
3. Individualized Education Plan (IEP), if applicable
4. Teacher Recommendation Forms
5. Administrative Report
6. Copy of Applicant’s Birth Certificate
7. Copy of Applicant’s Social Security Card, if applicable
8. Scholarship Award Letter(s), if applicable

Wait Pool Offers and Acceptance Priorities

Some grades may have a wait pool established. If there is a wait pool and a seat opens, qualified applicants in the wait pool will receive an offer following the acceptance priorities:

1. Applicants with siblings currently enrolled in Donahue Academy
2. Applicants in Catholic families who regularly attend and contribute to Ave Maria Parish
3. Applicants in families with at least one parent employed by Ave Maria Parish or Ave Maria University
4. Applicants transferring from another Catholic school
5. Applicants in Catholic families registered in a parish outside of Ave Maria who regularly attend and contribute to their parish
6. Applicants in non-Catholic families residing in Ave Maria who fully support the mission and vision of Donahue Academy
7. Applicants in non-Catholic families who fully support the mission and vision of Donahue Academy

Donahue Academy Does Not Make Advance Promises of Admission

All admission decisions follow a formal process which includes written notification from the school. Parents should not make assumptions of admissions outside of this formal process. The admissions process and evaluation may determine there is not a good fit between the applicant and the school.

Applicants who are offered admission will have seven (7) calendar days to accept their offer and submit a non-refundable deposit fee of $300 per student with a per-family maximum fee of $1,000.

If an applicant accepts an offer of admission into Donahue Academy, the following forms must be submitted before enrollment closes on June 15th or admission and any non-refundable deposit fees are forfeited.

1. State of Florida School Health Entry Exam Form (“Yellow Form”)
2. Florida Certification of Immunization (“Blue Form”)
3. Copy of Baptismal Certificate, if applicable
4. Copy of First Holy Communion certificate, if applicable
5. Medication Authorization Form, if applicable

The “Yellow” and “Blue” forms are available from any Florida physician’s office. All Florida Residents must submit their Yellow and Blue forms by April 30th.

Upon acceptance, you may set up your FACTS Tuition financial account. You can also begin the process of requesting financial aid and applying for scholarships.

Students admitted into Donahue Academy’s Pre-Kindergarten program are not automatically accepted into our Kindergarten for the following academic year. A separate admissions process is implemented for all applicants to Kindergarten. For more details, please contact our Admissions Office or review our Pre-K Handbook and Kindergarten Expectations.

Before making your final decision to attend Donahue Academy, please read the Family Handbook to ensure you are aware of and agree to our policies.