PREPARING TO APPLY
To better prepare you for enrollment to St. Thomas High School, the premier all-male catholic college preparatory high school in Houston, take the time to review our PREPARE page. On this page, you will learn about St. Thomas’ admissions procedure, timeline, upcoming events, tuition, scholarships, and much more.
Select from the sidebar below to read about the different ways to prepare yourself for applying to St. Thomas. The Admissions Department is here to help you navigate the journey to becoming a St. Thomas Eagle. Our knowledgeable staff is happy to answer your questions about your future at St. Thomas High School.
FRESHMAN APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
2020-2021 Freshman application will go live on August 1, 2019
TRANSFER APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
FRESHMAN APPLICATION
- Will go live on Thursday, August 1, 2019
INDEPENDENT SCHOOL ENTRANCE EXAM (ISEE)
- Saturday, November 16, 2019
- Registration Deadline: Saturday, October 26, 2019 (closes completely on Saturday, November 2, 2019)
- St. Thomas School Code is #571055
- Register at ISEETest.org
OPEN HOUSE
- Sunday, December 8, 2019
- 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
- Register Here
HIGH SCHOOL PLACEMENT TEST (HSPT)
- Saturday, January 11, 2020
- Registration Deadline: Wednesday, January 8, 2020
- St. Thomas School Code is #10
- Register Here
APPLICATION DEADLINE
- Wednesday, January 15, 2020 (including application, resume, and student statement)
- Apply Now
- Please note the following: All supporting documents, which include the application, middle school records, test scores, resume, and student statement must be submitted by January 15, 2020.
ADMISSIONS DECISION NOTIFICATION
- Friday, March 13, 2020
INCOMING FRESHMAN REGISTRATION NIGHT
- Friday, April 3, 2020
TRANSCRIPTS & RECOMMENDATIONS
To access the required recommendations and transcript request forms, please download copies from the following links and submit them to your school’s registrar after December 1, 2019.
- Transcript Release Request (PDF)
- Math Teacher Recommendation (PDF)
- English Teacher Recommendation (PDF)
Please do not request transcripts until after the fall semester has ended. It is very important that your current grade’s transcript reflect a complete semester. We must receive these completed documents directly from your current school by the January 15, 2019 deadline.
St. Thomas High School has chosen to provide the Houston Association of Independent Schools (HAIS) Recommendation forms; however, St. Thomas High School will accept both the HAIS recommendation forms and the Catholic High School Recommendation forms that other high schools provide.
ENTRANCE EXAMS
St. Thomas High School requires all freshman and sophomore applicants take the Independent Schools Entrance Exam (ISEE) and/or the High School Placement Test (HSPT) and submit their scores as part of the application process.
ISEE REGISTRATION
- The Independent School Entrance Examination (ISEE) will be offered Saturday, November 16, 2019 at 8:00 am in Clay-Storey Hall.
- Pre-registration is required. Register at ISEETest.org and choose the testing location of your choice. If not taking the ISEE at St. Thomas High School, please be sure to include St. Thomas High School as a score recipient. Our school code is #571055.
- To avoid a late registration fee, students must be registered by Saturday, October 26, 2019. Registration closes completely on Saturday, November 2, 2019.
HSPT REGISTRATION
- The High School Placement Test (HSPT) will be offered Saturday, January 11, 2020 at 8:00 a.m. in Clay-Storey Hall.
- Pre-registration is required for St. Thomas High School. Register here for the HSPT at St. Thomas High School. If not taking the HSPT at St. Thomas High School, please be sure to include St. Thomas High School as a score recipient. Our school code is #10.
- Registration closes completely on Wednesday, January 8, 2020.
TUITION
Tuition for the 2019-2020 school year is $19,180. Tuition payments can be made annually, semi-annually or monthly. A non-refundable, tentative registration of $600 and a $500 non-refundable tuition deposit are due at the time of registration. All freshman will have an additional Camp Aquinas registration fee of $600. Tuition for the upcoming 2020-2021 year is officially set and announced in February, 2020.
St. Thomas High School uses Smart Tuition to invoice tuition and fees. If you have any questions about SMART Tuition, please contact Smart Tuition at 888-868-8828. Other questions can be directed to Susan Krus in the St. Thomas High School Business Office at 713-864-6348.
Books are purchased new or used from MBSDirect for approximately $250-$750 yearly.
APPLY FOR FINANCIAL AID
St. Thomas High School uses SmartAid, an online portal, to gather and assess financial and personal information for financial aid decisions. St. Thomas High School will only review your financial aid application after your application in SmartAid is complete. You will need to assure you have completed the application fully and honestly. The SmartAid application for the 2020-2021 school year will be available on the school’s website on or about December 1, 2019. Please note that no applications will be accepted directly at St. Thomas High School.
For additional SmartAid information, please review the following link:
AWARDING FINANCIAL AID
Applications for financial aid for the 2020-21 school year must be completed by February 1, 2020. Those that have complete applications by that date will be considered in the first round of awards which will be distributed in mid-March, 2020. Applications received or completed after February 1, 2020 or where tax returns are received after February 20, 2020 will be considered on a rolling basis when and if funds are made available. If you are a late applicant, you will be contacted if funds become available.
FINANCIAL AID CONTACTS
If you have any questions regarding the financial aid application, please contact SmartAid directly. The SmartAid Help Desk is available at the email address and toll free number below; SmartAid is available 24 hours a day to assist you with your application. Unfortunately, contacting St. Thomas High School directly for assistance will delay the assessment of your application.
At St. Thomas High School we take our motto of teaching Goodness, Discipline and Knowledge to heart. We encourage you to approach your financial aid application with the honesty and integrity we expect from your sons and our St. Thomas families.
Contact SmartAid first: 800-360-8027 (FREE) OR www.smartaidforparents.com
FINANCIAL AID TIMELINE
Sunday, December 1, 2019
- SmartAid Financial Aid Application is available
Saturday, February 1, 2020
- Online application must be complete and received by SmartAid
- Late applications will be considered after all applications received by the deadline are considered
Thursday, February 20, 2020
- 2019 tax return must be received by SmartAid (do not send any information directly to STHS)
Week of March 16, 2020
- Award notifications will be sent from SmartAid
Friday, April 3, 2020
- New student registration is due
- Students not enrolled by this date may forfeit financial aid
SCHOLARSHIPS
St. Thomas High School has a long tradition of providing a Basilian Catholic education to students from all socioeconomic backgrounds. The Basilian Fathers remain committed to assisting those families who may not be in a position to pay full tuition to attend St. Thomas High School. Each year, nearly one-third of our students receive academic scholarships or financial aid.
ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
Merit-based academic scholarships are awarded annually to the top performing students in each grade level at St. Thomas High School. For incoming freshmen, merit scholarships are awarded for the first year based on a student’s score(s) on the High School Placement Test (HSPT) or the Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE). In following years, these academic scholarships are based on academic standing, attendance and discipline.
GABEL SCHOLARSHIP
The George Clifford and Mary Theresa Gabel Scholarship was created to allow students with exceptional academic potential but limited financial means to fulfill the dream of an outstanding education. The scholarship is valued at 80% of the yearly tuition per year. Typically, two incoming freshmen are named Gabel Scholars every year.
BASILIAN FATHERS SCHOLARSHIP
In addition, the Basilian Fathers at St. Thomas High School may award one scholarship to a qualified top student at each of the twelve archdiocesan designated inner-city Catholic schools listed below.
Assumption Catholic School
Holy Ghost School
Our Lady of Guadalupe School
Our Lady of Mt. Carmel School
Queen of Peace School
Resurrection School
St. Augustine School
St. Christopher School
St. Francis of Assisi School
St. Peter the Apostle School
St. Pius V School
Our Lady of Fatima – Galena Park
TRANSPORTATION
St. Thomas High School will offer transportation services with wifi-enabled buses for students living in the Cypress, Kingwood, and Spring communities.
ROUTES
We offer morning pick-up and after school drop-off at the following locations:
St. Edward Catholic School (Spring)
2602 Spring Stuebner Rd
Spring, TX 77389
Pick-up from St. Edward is at 6:30 AM.
Departure from St. Thomas High School is at 4:00 PM.
St. Martha Catholic School (Kingwood)
2411 Oak Shores Dr
Kingwood, TX 77389
Pick-up from St. Martha is at 6:00 AM.
Departure from St. Thomas High School is at 4:00 PM.
Christ the Redeemer Catholic School (Cypress)
11507 Huffmiester Rd
Houston, TX 77065
Pick-up from Christ the Redeemer is at 6:30 AM.
Departure from St. Thomas High School is at 4:00 PM.
RATES
$1,000 annual fee per student (not family), fully paid at time of reservation.
RESERVATIONS
All reservations are on a first come, first serve basis. Reservations are confirmed upon receipt of signed agreement, parent/student information page, and full payment to the St. Thomas High School Business Office.
CONTACT
For more information, please email EagleTransport@sths.org.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
All qualified students are welcome at St. Thomas regardless of religious affiliation. Because we are a Catholic school, all students must take Catholic Theology classes, attend class retreats and worship with the St. Thomas community at liturgies and prayer services. We believe that every young man is going on his own unique journey of faith.
Additionally, there is a Metro bus line stop in our front yard and many students take advantage of this convenience.
Students do not wear a uniform, but they do have a dress code that requires khaki dress slacks with a belt, a shirt with a collar and dress shoes.
Classes are held from 7:50 a.m. to 3:10 p.m. Buildings and offices are open from 7 to 4 on most week days. Please call ahead to confirm hours for any specific office or day.
A student must score at or above grade level on the HSPT or ISEE Test, have a strong academic record and receive an excellent recommendation from his Junior High School in order to be accepted to St. Thomas. A strong essay on the application and familiarity with the school also help a student’s application. A student must meet all of the above criteria in order to be well prepared for and successful in our rigorous college preparatory program.
St. Thomas offers many extracurricular clubs that sponsor activities for our students and the students from our sister schools: St. Agnes Academy, Duchesne Academy, and Incarnate Word Academy. Likewise, St. Thomas students are invited to activities those schools sponsor, so there are ample opportunities to mingle with girls. St. Thomas and its sister schools also host a variety of dances throughout the year. Other opportunities include: Band, Drama, Spirit Clubs, Sporting Events, Pep Rallies, as well as numerous TAPPS academic events.
Most classes average about 20 students: some classes are as small as 8, while the largest classes are limited to 25.
Tuition can be paid in three ways. All payments are made directly to SmartTuition:
- One annual payment made on July 1st for the full amount.
- Semi-annual payments made on July 1st and December 1st.
- Ten monthly payments made between July 1st through April 1st.
At St. Thomas our educational program heeds the ancient motto “a sound mind in a sound body.” Interscholastic athletics are an important part of that idea.
The St. Thomas Eagles, compete in football, baseball, basketball, track, soccer, tennis, cross country, wrestling, swimming, rugby, lacrosse and golf.
All sports are available on the freshmen, junior varsity and varsity levels. All students are encouraged to try out for any team or become a team manager or trainer. Many other opportunities are available through an ongoing intramural program. We have a long, proud history of championship sports. We have earned state titles in rugby, cross country, football, basketball, baseball, soccer, tennis, track, basketball and golf.
TAPPS – Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools
Every St. Thomas student participates in service. Freshmen have a 20-hour service requirement and all Sophomores complete their service while on their retreat. Juniors and Seniors are expected to perform a minimum of 40 hours of service in each of those two years. All students have served over 100 hours by the time they graduate.
Approximately 95% of St. Thomas students participate in one or more of the many clubs and organizations available at St. Thomas. These include campus ministry, foreign language clubs, art and music, speech and debate, student government and student publications.
We are accredited by the Texas Education Agency, the Texas Catholic Conference, the Southern Association of Schools and Colleges and the National Catholic Education Association.
CONTACT ADMISSIONS
Dr. Maxwell M. Holmes, Director of Admissions
Maxwell.Holmes@sths.org | 713-864-6348 Ext. 337
Claudia Walker, Admissions Coordinator
Claudia.Walker@sths.org | 713-864-6348 Ext. 175
QUESTIONS?
Please complete the form at the link below to get your specific questions answered and to subscribe to our Eagle Connection mailing list. You can reach us directly at 713-864-6348 ext. 175 or at Admissions@sths.org. We appreciate your interest in St. Thomas High School!
