In compliance with the State of Illinois Age Requirements, students must have a birthday on or before September 1st of the current school year to be accepted into their assigned grade (Either 3 by September 1 or 4 by September 1 for our Mixed-Age Junior Kindergarten program); 5 by September 1 for Kindergarten; 6 by September 1 for 1st grade, etc.)  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 play date 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 play date 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 applications that have come in prior to Thanksgiving will be communicated prior to Christmas. Applications received by the regular deadline of January 15 will be notified of admissions decisions by mid-February. 

Accepted students will have two weeks to confirm their enrollment by submitting required paperwork and forms, and paying a $1,000 non-refundable New Student Deposit, which will be applied to their 2027/28 tuition billing. 

Tuition assistance is available for families who qualify and is awarded based on need. The application must be submitted during the window while it is open (February - March).  Families must re-apply each year for the Tuition Assistance Program if they wish to be considered in subsequent years. Information about the Tuition Assistance Program will be sent with the 2027/28 Tuition Agreement Packets in February of 2027. Available funding does run out each year and financial assistance may not be available for those applying and enrolling after the deadline. 

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, a Basketball Game, or attending a Parent-Led Play Date. These opportunities provide valuable insight into our highly-engaged Immaculate Conception–St. Joseph School community, but they are not at all required. Please note that attendance at any fundraising or community event has no impact on the admissions decision-making process.

ICSJ families represent between 26 and 28 Chicago zip codes any given year. The greatest number of our families reside in the neighborhoods immediately surrounding our campuses (60610 and 60614), however, the rest of our families travel from widespread neighborhoods, including, but not limited to, Fulton Market, Lakeshore East, River North, River West, Bucktown, Lakeview, Lincoln Square, Logan Square, North Center, the South Loop, Ukrainian Village, 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 (JK and Kindergarten) 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, snack to share with classmates, from a list of pre-approved, nut-free choices.  

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.

All students are encouraged to bring a re-fillable water bottle to school and may fill it during the school day from one of several water bottle fillers at each campus. 

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