Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a family service hour requirement?  Yes, parents are required to volunteer 10 hours per school year (5 each semester).  A cash fee of $20.00 may be substituted for each service hour.

What is a typical class size? Class sizes typically range from 24-26 students. In Kindergarten there is an Instructional Assistant in each classroom. In first through fifth grade, there is an Instructional Assistant per grade.

What community of Sisters staffs your school? Aquinas is staffed by the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia located in Nashville, TN. We currently have four sisters on staff – three teachers and one principal.

Is Aquinas accredited? Yes, Aquinas is accredited through the Virginia Catholic Education Association (VCEA).

Do you teach a foreign language? Yes, students at Aquinas begin Spanish instruction in first grade and continue through eighth grade. Spanish in grades 1-3 is an effort grade while in fourth through eighth grade it is an academic grade.  We also have a Heritage Program for native speakers of Spanish for students in grades 7 and 8.

What is the Ethnic diversity of the school?  The student population at Aquinas is ethnically diverse.  44% of the students are Black, Hispanic, or Multi-Racial.  43% of Aquinas families speak a second language.

What is a Blue Ribbon School of Excellence? The Department of Education honors schools which have achieved high levels of performance. One of the ways this performance is measured is through test scores. A Blue Ribbon School must maintain standardized test scores in the top 15% nation-wide over a five year period. Aquinas was recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence in 2011.

Does Aquinas have a clinic or school nurses? Yes, Aquinas has a nurse who provides full-time coverage in our clinic.

Is Aquinas a “nut free” school? While we cannot guarantee that we are 100% nut-free, the nurses at Aquinas identify and monitor all students with either food or environmental allergies to provide the safest environment possible.

Do you accept special education students? Yes, Aquinas strives to meet the needs of all its students. Students with special needs are evaluated once an application is submitted. A team of teachers will then determine if we can meet the education needs of the applicant.

Is there hot lunch? Yes, Aquinas has a 5-day a week voluntary hot lunch program. Students who wish not to participate may bring lunch from home. Milk and other snack items may also be purchased during lunch.

What is the difference between a parish and a regional Catholic school? A parish school serves only one parish while a regional school serves several parishes. At Aquinas we serve three parishes – Our Lady of Angels in Woodbridge, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Lake Ridge, and Sacred Heart in Manassas.

Do you accept international students?  Yes, we have had students from Pakistan, China, Saudia Arabia, England, Sierre Leone study with us.

 

 

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St. Thomas Aquinas Regional School
13750 Mary's Way
Woodbridge, VA 22191


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St. Thomas Aquinas Regional School admits students of any race, color, and national origin.