Admissions
Welcome to Saint Joseph High School!
There are several opportunities to visit and learn why we are the only high school in Pittsburgh to be a School of Excellence (Top 50 Catholic High School in the Nation) since 2006. Contact us to Discover Your St. Joe's!
9th GRADE APPLICATION PROCESS
1) Apply online or submit the SJHS Admissions Application and submit a $50 application fee.
2) Submit a record request form to your current school to send a copy of your transcript from 7th and 8th grade.
3) All SJHS 9th grade applicants are required to take the STS HSPT (Placement Test) at SJHS.
PLACEMENT TEST
The placement test will be administered on two dates at the SJHS Science and Technology Center in the fall and winter.
Saturdays at 9am - 12pm:
December 9 and March 16
Students should arrive at 8:45am. Dress is casual, and a number 2 pencil is required. If you have applied to SJHS by submitting the admissions application there is no fee to take the test. If you have not yet registered you can bring your admissions application to the placement test. If you do not apply to SJHS there is a $10 placement test fee to pay at the door upon entrance. If you are taking the placement test with us and need us to send our your scores to another school there is a $25 fee. While students are testing a meeting for parents/guardians will take place in the Maloney Room on the 2nd floor to discuss the Admissions process and answer any questions. A brief tour will take place after the meeting.
To register contact Mrs. Shane Palumbo ’92 at 724-226-4932 or admissions@SaintJosephHS.com.
4) Once a student is accepted to the freshmen class a $100 commitment deposit is required to reserve a student’s place by February 1.
5) At the end of the 8th grade school year final records are required from the student's elementary school. Students must submit a record request form to his/her school.
TUITION (2024-2025)
St. Joes has the most affordable tuition in the Pittsburgh Diocese! The tuition per student $12,500 (Catholic family rate) and $13,000 (non-Catholic family rate). There is a second child tuition credit of $500.
Catholic education is affordable. Scholarships are available up to $10,000! View the "Scholarships" section above.
Set up Tuition Payments
Families must set up tuition payments via FACTS. Tuition must be paid in full by the last day of school.
Fees
SJHS uses FACTS for all fees.
- Fundraising Fee - $500 per student can be satisfied with participation in selling Carpenter’s Club tickets in the fall and/or $20,000 Super Raffle tickets in the spring.
- Technology Fee - $150 per student covers the cost of the iPad or Google Chromebook, security solutions to protect our students, software and hardware support.
- First Day Fee – $20 per student covers the cost of the SJHS Student Handbook/Planner, a SJHS Badge and a lock for the student’s locker.
FINANCING YOUR EDUCATION
Assistance is available and awarded in the form of scholarships, aid and grants. In order to be considered for financial assistance families are required to complete a FACTS Financial Aid Form. These applications are available in January and require supporting documentation (income tax return, etc.). If you have received financial assistance, a grant or a scholarship from SJHS for the previous school year, these awards are not automatically renewable. In order to be considered for continued assistance you must reapply each year. If you are a registered in coming freshman, you will automatically receive information to apply.
In order to be considered for financial assistance a FACTS Financial Aid Form must be completed and submitted by March 15. These forms are available per the instructions below and differ per Diocese.
Pittsburgh Diocese Tuition Assistance
Amount: Varies with individual need Deadline: March 31 Eligibility: Open to students who are registered in a parish in the Pittsburgh Diocese and demonstrate financial need based on the application. The application must be filled out online.
Pittsburgh Diocese Subsidy
Amount: $125 Deadline: None Eligibility: All students who are members of the Pittsburgh Diocese receive a grant of $125 from the Diocese in support of their education at SJHS.
Greensburg Diocese Tuition Assistance
Amount: Varies with individual need Deadline: March 31 Eligibility: Open to students who are registered in a parish in the Greensburg Diocese and demonstrate financial need based on the FACTS Grant and Aid Assessment application. Diocese of Greensburg Grant and Aid Assessment.
OTHER RESOURCES FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
Armstrong County Community Foundation
The Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program offers scholarships for eligible students to attend approved private Pre-K-12 schools in Armstrong and surrounding counties. The application deadline for ETIC scholarships is July 15th of each year.
https://servingtheheart.org/
Junior Achievement
Many 8th grade students participate in Junior Achievement which allows students to apply for academic scholarships for a Catholic High School. Once at SJHS students have the opportunity to continue to apply for these scholarships when participating in JA day at an elementary school. Learn more.
https://www.juniorachievement.org/web/ja-westernpa/ja-%20scholarships
SJHS Financial Aid
Amount: Varies with individual need Deadline: March 31 Eligibility: – Completion of financial aid form(s) mentioned above. – Families with one child in a household income allowance of $60,000 or less. Add $10,000 for each additional dependent.
Saint Joseph High School Scholarships
SJHS offers many scholarships to students who are:
- Incoming freshmen
- Committed to academic success
- Involved in school activities or clubs
- Registered to take the Placement Test at SJHS or are scheduled
Complete the application above.
Request an academic transcript from your school to be sent to SJHS from elementary school.
Apply online to SJHS.
IN-PERSON OPEN HOUSE
The SJHS Open House provides interested students and families the opportunity to tour the campus, meet faculty, current students and parents, and learn more about SJHS. SJHS offers a fall and spring open house.
Saturdays from 10am - 12pm
October 21 and March 23.
SPARTAN SHADOW DAY
Students in grade 8 can shadow a current freshman at SJHS for the day. It's the best way to Discover Your St. Joes!
Shadow days begin at 7:45am in the Science and Tech Center Lobby and end at 2:30. Pickup and drop off are the same location. We ask students to wear their school uniform or dress in business casual attire (no tshirts, tanks, shorts, sandals please). SJHS will provide lunch.
Parents are welcome to come in for a private tour on shadow days at 1:45 and then meet with their student at 2:30 with the Admissions Director.
Contact Admissions Director Mrs. Shane Palumbo '92 to schedule a visit: admissions@SaintJosephHS.com or 724-226-4932.
PRIVATE TOURS AVAILABLE BY APPOINTMENT
Call to schedule a private tour of our campus. Tours can be scheduled any day of the week including evenings and weekends. We will find a time that will work for your busy schedule.
BUS ROUTES TO SJHS
Public school districts in PA are required to provide transportation (at no cost) to a Catholic School if the school district is within a 10-mile radius of SJHS AND the school district provides transportation to their public high school students. The school districts included are: Burrell, Deer Lakes, Fox Chapel, Franklin Regional, Freeport, Highlands, Kiski, Leechburg, New Kensington, Plum Borough, and South Butler.
In addition, SJHS private busing is available from Butler/Mars, Ford City/Kittanning, Oakmont/Penn Hills/Verona, and Shaler. The cost per each student for the private bus is $550 for the entire school year.
For more information on transportation, please contact Mrs. Mandi Porter: mporter@SaintJosephHS.com or 724-224-4100.
If your current high school experience isn’t quite what you expected, consider Saint Joseph High School. If you are thinking about transferring, we may be able to help. Transfer Students are admitted on a rolling admission.
1) Schedule a private tour.
2) Schedule your Shadow Day and be a Spartan for a Day.
3) Submit the Official SJHS Transfer Student Application and $100 application fee.
4) Complete the Transfer Student Release of Records Form & return it to your high school.
5) Complete the Diocesan Discipline Form and submit to SJHS. It must be signed and notarized.
6) Parent & Student must attend an interview with the Admissions Committee.
7) Transfer Students are admitted on a rolling admission. Senior transfers are not accepted. Transfers do not need to take the placement test. No transfers are accepted after February 1.