FAQ's

Do you have to be Catholic to go to Saint Albert?

No. Saint Albert welcomes students from all different religious backgrounds. Approximately 10% of our students are not of the Catholic faith. All we ask for is a foundational belief in the teachings of Jesus and the desire to strengthen your personal spirituality.

How many students are enrolled at Saint Albert?

Saint Albert has approximately 800 students enrolled in grades Pre-K-12. That averages to about 60 students per grade, or about 18-26 students per class.

What is the student to teacher ratio?

The student to teacher ratio at Saint Albert is 15 to 1. With small classes and a dedicated faculty and staff, we have the unique advantage of working closely with parents to ensure that each student receives the personal attention he or she needs.

How do Saint Albert students compare with others on standardized tests and college entrance exams?

Results from the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills show that Saint Albert Elementary and Junior High students outperform their peers nationally. Our high school students also are well prepared for the entrance requirements for Iowa universities, as well as most other colleges and universities throughout the country. Our graduation rate is 99%; our five-year average ACT composite score is 23.2; and 96 percent of our graduates go on to a two- or four-year college or university.

Is tuition assistance available?

Saint Albert is committed to providing a quality, Catholic educatio to any student who desires it, regardless of their financial resources. Approximately 21% of our students receive financial assistance in the form of student scholarships and family grants through the Saint Albert Educational Foundation. Work study programs also are available to students throughout the year.

Does Saint Albert offer classes for college credit?

A variety of courses are available on the Saint Albert campus through Iowa Western Community College, including Trigonometry, Pre-Calculus, Calculus, Art Appreciation, Spanish IV and English Composition I and II. Chemistry I and II also are offered for college credit through Creighton University.

What time does school start and end each day?

The school day at the Primary Building (grades K-3) begins at 8:25 a.m. and ends at 3:00 p.m. Adult supervision at the Primary begins at 8:00 a.m. If your child comes to the Primary school before 8:00 a.m., he/she will be placed in the KidzKare extended care program, and you will be charged the current rate.

The school day for Intermediate students (grades 4-6) begins at 8:15 a.m. and ends at 3:00 p.m. For Junior/Senior High students, school begins at 8:05 a.m. and ends at 3:00 p.m.

What is the student drop-off and pick-up policy?

At the Primary School, busses drop off and pick up students on 9th Avenue. Parents who drop off and pick up students should park on 8th Avenue and walk with their child to and from the main entrance of the building.

For Intermediate students, the driveway that runs closest to the school on the upper level of the parking lot is to be used by busses only from 7:30 a.m.-8:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m. Parents dropping off and picking up students should utilize the first row of parking spaces next to the grass slope on the lower level parking lot. Faculty members will be posted on the steps to help with the afternoon pick-ups.

We are thinking about purchasing a computer for our child. What kind would be compatible with the computers used at school?

Purchasing a new computer can be a difficult decision. Our school computer labs are equipeed with: Microsoft Office with Powerpoint for both the IBM's and Apple computers; iMac G3 650Mhz, 192MB RAM; Gateway E-4200s Pentium III, 450 Mhz, 128 MB RAM, 17" monitors.

How does Saint Albert provide a faith-based education?

As a Catholic school, we are proud to offer daily classroom prayer, courses in religious studies, system-wide liturgies and sacraments, a campus ministry program and mission projects in our community and around the world. Because religious education is central to the mission of Saint Albert, we partner with families and the parish communities to prepare students for an active life in the Catholic Church. It's how we develop the whole child.

Is busing available at Saint Albert?

Saint Albert is accessible by bus in the Council Bluffs and Lewis Central school districts, and independent bus service is available from Neola and Glenwood.