Early Childhood Admissions in Chicago: Pre-Kindergarten (3), Junior Kindergarten (4), and Kindergarten (5)

Thank you for your interest in St. Therese Chinese Catholic School in Chinatown, Chicago.
Our Early Childhood Admissions process is designed for families applying to Pre-Kindergarten (age 3), Junior Kindergarten (age 4), Kindergarten (age 5), and First Grade.
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Conveniently located near the South Loop and Bridgeport, St. Therese offers a structured and welcoming admissions process to help your family get to know our award-winning Catholic school community.

Step 1: Visit St. Therese School (Open House)

Schedule a School Tour
All prospective parents are required to attend an Open House to experience St. Therese firsthand.
During your visit, you will:
  • Tour our school and classrooms
  • Learn about our rigorous academic curriculum and Mandarin language program
  • Meet with our Principal and Registrar
Visit our Open House page for upcoming dates, or contact the school office to schedule your visit.
We require prospective parents to visit St. Therese during one of our Open House events. Visit our Open House page for the upcoming schedule. Parents should email or call the office to schedule a visit during one of the Open House events..

During the Open House, parents will gain perspective about the school’s curriculum and offerings. Parents will have a full tour of the school and will meet with the Registrar and Principal.

2. Submit an Admissions Inquiry Form

Begin the Application Process
After attending an Open House, families should complete the Admissions Inquiry Form, which includes:
  • Child’s name and date of birth
  • Parent/guardian contact information
Once submitted to the Registrar, your child will be placed on the appropriate list for their incoming academic year.

3. Registration and Waiting List Process

Important Enrollment Policies
St. Therese registers students one year in advance of the academic year.
Families applying beyond that timeframe will be placed on a Waiting List. Families will be invited to attend Open House and Registration Day, typically held in September or October.

Important Reminder
Families who do not attend Registration Day will forfeit their position, and the next family on the list will be offered the opportunity to register.

Registration Day Requirements
On Registration Day, parents must bring:
  • Child’s official birth certificate
  • Registration and curriculum fee (non-refundable)
After submitting required documents and payment, families will receive a link to complete online registration.

Age Requirements
Early Childhood Program Age Guidelines
To ensure proper placement, students must meet the following age requirements by September 1 of the current school year:
  • Pre-Kindergarten (Age 3):
    Children must be 3 years old on or before September 1
  • Junior Kindergarten (Age 4):
    Children must be 4 years old on or before September 1
  • Kindergarten (Age 5):
    Children must be 5 years old on or before September 1
No exceptions are made to these age requirements.

Final Step/Checklist

Please refer to the Application and Registration Checklist for a complete list of required documents.

Contact Information Final Step/Checklist

For questions about Early Childhood admissions in Chicago, please contact our Admissions Office:
We look forward to welcoming your family to St. Therese Chinese Catholic School.
St. Therese Chinese Catholic School