Military Families and Catholic Education
The Catholic Diocese of Richmond and our schools are committed to supporting military students and families who may face frequent relocation or a deployed parent. Every military transfer is unique and our schools work with families to provide assistance along the way.
of our students are connected to military personnel
In honor of your commitment to our country, we are committed to making your child’s educational experience a welcoming encounter.
Planning Your Arrival:
Enrolling in Catholic Diocese of Richmond Schools
- Review the Enrollment Process and Admissions Requirements for the Catholic School(s) to which you are applying.
- Admissions Requirements:
- Birth certificate, Baptismal certificate for Catholic students, proof of adequate immunization as required by the Code of Virginia, physical examination within 12 months of entering school in addition to records from previous school and proof of custody where applicable.
- Students who wish to enter Kindergarten must be age 5 by September 30th of the school year for which they are applying.
- Tuition Assistance & Financial Aid: A variety of need-based tuition assistance and scholarships are available to help make Catholic education affordable. Please refer to the school’s tuition assistance information regarding the availability of additional merit scholarships, eligibility requirements and application instructions.
Schools in the Diocese of Richmond admit students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students and schools. We do not discriminate on the basis of color, race, national and ethnic origin in administration of educational policies, athletic and other school administered policies.
The Virginia Purple Star Designation is awarded to military-friendly schools that have demonstrated a major commitment to students and families connected to our nation’s military. Schools that earn the award receive a Purple star recognition to display onsite.
More information about the Purple Star School designation is available from the Virginia Department of Education and the Military Child Education Coalition.
Diocese of Richmond
Purple Star Schools
- Catholic High School
- Christ the King Catholic School
- Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic School
- Peninsula Catholic High School
- Portsmouth Regional Catholic School
- Saint Patrick Catholic School
- St. John the Apostle Catholic School
- St. Mary Star of the Sea Catholic School
- St. Matthew’s Catholic School
- St. Pius X Catholic School
- St. Gregory the Great Catholic School
- Star of the Sea Catholic School
Additional Information for Military Families
Academic Planning for Military Families
Diocesan schools follow the Consensus Curriculum by the Diocese of Richmond Office of Catholic Schools. Additional information regarding course materials, specific programs and assessments may be obtained from the school to which you are applying.
- Support for Exceptional Children: The Diocese of Richmond is committed to educating God’s children and recognizes that they come to school with individual needs and unique gifts. The Diocesan program for exceptional children provides procedures to ensure that students’ needs are met by the school and provides structures for working with local education agencies to support students as necessary.
- Advanced Academic Programs: Our schools provide opportunities for increased rigor to challenge students with additional course offerings or accelerated curriculum to better meet student needs. This may include honors, advanced placement or dual enrollment options depending on the grade level and school.
- The Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children (MIC3) establishes a set of rules designed to remove barriers to educational success imposed on children of military families because of frequent moves and deployment of their parents. View the Virginia Code of Law for more information.
- Throughout the enrollment process, it is important special care be taken to fully explore how to address school transfer issues which generally impact the following categories:
- Enrollment Requirements: immunizations, entrance age, records
- Course/Grade placement
- Attendance and absences related to deployment
- Eligibility for extracurricular participation
- Graduation Requirements: course waivers, credits, high school transfers
- Armed with the appropriate information, these decisions will be made at the school level.
Our schools want to help your child and family connect with our school and surrounding communities. They are a wonderful source of information to ensure a smooth transition and introduce you to other school families. Please contact your school’s office for:
- Student registration; standardized testing; guidance and course selection; course and grade placement; absences related to deployment; and graduation requirement information.
- Transcripts and records requests
- Information about participation in extracurricular activities and sports eligibility. The schools are also a good resource for information regarding local sports leagues, scouts, youth groups and other activities.
- Parent-teacher organization information and events
- Child Care: Many of our schools offer before and/or afterschool care programs.
Preparing your move: Transferring from a Catholic Diocese of Richmond School
Thank you for the opportunity to educate your child. Our schools understand preparing for your next move can be stressful and can assist you along the way. Contact your school’s office to:
- Notify your current school of your pending orders/relocation
- Request student records be sent to your child/children’s new school
- Complete the school’s withdrawal process
- Military Camps and Services
- Operation Purple Camp, serving military families in different phases of military life.
- Our Military Kids provides grants for sports, fine arts, and tutoring programs for dependents of the National Guard and reserves who are deployed and dependents of wounded warriors.
- Resources for Military Families with Children Requiring Special Accommodations
- Exceptional Family Member Programs provide assistance and support to military families with members that have special needs.
- Educational Supports for Military Connected Students
- Tutor.com for U.S. Military Families provides tutoring and homework help at no cost to active duty service members and their eligible dependents.
- The Army Educational Outreach Program provides both students and teachers a collaborative, cohesive, portfolio of Army-sponsored STEM programs that effectively engage, inspire, and attract the next generation of STEM talent through K through college programs and expose them to DoD STEM careers.
- Department of Defense Educational Activity (DODEA) School Liaison Officer Directory for all Branches of Service worldwide
- Army Performance Triad: Back to School Material for parents with school aged children
- Social, Emotional & Behavioral Supports
- Behavioral Health Services for Military Families
- Tricare nurse advice line (1-800-tricare, option 1): provides urgent telephonic assessments, gives advice and helps with finding providers for Tricare Beneficiaries
- Tricare: Site where Tricare beneficiaries can access to find providers of all specialties based on location, Tricare insurance plan, and age
- National Capital Region Crisis Hotline: 703-527-4077
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-talk (8255)
- Military Family Life Consultant (MFLC) offers trained, licensed professional counselors for service members & their families to speak with free of charge for up to 12 sessions. All information shared with the counselors is kept strictly confidential & off the record, except to meet legal obligations/prevent harm to self or others. The program encourages service members & families to seek assistance when coping with the concerns of daily life, and to eliminate barriers that service members may feel prevent them from reaching out for help.
- Army Community Service offers no-cost classes and trainings that are designed to equip Service members, Family Members, Retirees, and Department of Defense Civilians with the life skills, knowledge and support needed to face the challenges of military life.
- Military One Source is your central hub and go-to-place for the military community. Non-medical counselling is also available.
- Operation Purple Camp serves military families in different phases of military life.
- USO Center provides support for local military and their families.
- Behavioral Health Services for Military Families
- Deployment Specific Resources
- United Through Reading films a service member reading a book at the USO Center during their deployment. The book and DVD are mailed home.
- Sesame Street: Talk, Listen, Connect video and other resources
- Our Military Kids provides grants for sports, fine arts, and tutoring programs for dependents of the National Guard and reserves who are deployed and dependents of wounded warriors.
- Educator Resources:
- Military Facts and Data
