In compliance with the State of Illinois Age Requirements, students must have a birthday before September 1st of the current school year to be accepted into their assigned grade. A child must independently and successfully use the toilet in order to attend our Junior Kindergarten program.

All prospective Junior Kindergarten and Kindergarten applicants are required to attend a 30-minute playdate following the submission of a completed application. During this visit, members of our early childhood faculty engage children in developmentally appropriate classroom centers and activities that reflect a typical learning environment at Immaculate Conception–St. Joseph School. While this is not a formal assessment, the playdate provides our teachers with an opportunity to observe each child’s emerging skills, personality, and strengths. The insights gathered during this time help us thoughtfully determine school readiness, ensure a strong partnership between home and school, and create balanced classroom communities that support the growth of every child.

Admissions decisions for the Early or Priority Applicants will be emailed as soon as possible after a student has completed the admissions process.  Accepted students have two weeks to confirm their enrollment by submitting required paperwork and forms, and paying a $1,000 New Student Deposit. 

Admissions decisions for applications submitted after the early or priority application deadlines will be emailed within a few days of the Shadow/Playdate step of the application process. Accepted students have two weeks to confirm their enrollment by submitting required paperwork and forms, and paying a $1,000 New Student Deposit. 

Tuition assistance is available for families who qualify and is awarded based on need. All families must apply each year for the Tuition Assistance Program. Information about the Tuition Assistance Program will be sent with admissions welcome packets in February. 

While we warmly welcome prospective families to attend ICSJ fundraising and community-building events prior to enrollment, participation is entirely optional and is intended solely to help families experience our school culture and community firsthand. We encourage families to explore our community in ways that are meaningful to them, such as attending a Family Mass or participating in the Children’s Liturgy at one of our parishes. These opportunities provide valuable insight into the faith-centered foundation of Immaculate Conception–St. Joseph School. Please note that attendance at any fundraising or community event has no impact on the admissions decision-making process.

ICSJ families represent over 28 Chicago zip codes. Approximately 30% of our students reside in the neighborhood immediately surrounding our campuses. The remaining 70% of our families travel from widespread neighborhoods, including, but not limited to, Bucktown, the Gold Coast, Lakeview, Lincoln Park, Lincoln Square, Logan Square, North Center, the South Loop, Ukrainian Village, the West Loop, and Wicker Park.

While the ICSJ Admissions office welcomes references from currently enrolled or alumni ICSJ families, a personal reference is not a requirement for admission. Part of the application process includes applicants providing the contact information for our admissions team to reach out to a current teacher and/or administrator at the child's current school to request additional feedback. 

Early Childhood students participate in a daily morning snack as part of their classroom routine. Each student is assigned one day per month to provide a healthy, nut-free snack to share with classmates. In keeping with our emphasis on independence and community, classrooms are equipped with purified water systems, and students practice pouring their own water and serving themselves in a family-style setting.

Depending on lunch schedules, some classrooms in grades 1-3 may also incorporate an individual mid-morning snack. Teachers will communicate any additional snack guidelines at the beginning of the school year.

Students enrolled in the After School Care program are encouraged to bring a separate, nut-free after-school snack.