Manhattan Catholic Schools is a private Roman Catholic school in Manhattan, Kansas, serving students from Pre-Kindergarten through 8th grade. The school’s mission is to work in partnership with parents and, inspired by the Holy Spirit, develop the whole child-mind, body, and spirit-through an excellent, traditional Catholic education.
The school is located at 306 South Juliette Avenue, Manhattan, KS 66502. Enrollment is reported at approximately 277-300 students, and the school serves families from Manhattan, Riley County, surrounding counties, and nearby parishes.
Overview of Manhattan Catholic Schools
Manhattan Catholic Schools is a parochial Catholic School located in Manhattan, Kansas. We serve students in grades Pre-K thru 8, mostly from St. Thomas More and Seven Dolors of The Blessed Virgin Mary parishes in Manhattan, but our diverse MCS student body is made up of approximately 300 Catholic and Non-Catholic students from Riley and other surrounding counties and parishes.
Manhattan Catholic School is one of 31 private schools in Manhattan, KS. Manhattan Catholic Schools is a private school located in Manhattan, KS. The student population of Manhattan Catholic Schools is 277 and the school serves grades PK-8.
| Category | Information |
|---|---|
| School type | Private school |
| Religious affiliation | Roman Catholic |
| Grades | Pre-Kindergarten through 8th Grade |
| Enrollment | Approximately 277-300 students |
| Student-teacher ratio | 11:1 |
| Length of school day | 7 hours |
| Address | 306 South Juliette Avenue, Manhattan, KS 66502 |
| Educational association | National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA) |
Mission and Catholic educational approach
Mission Manhattan Catholic Schools is a Faith Community working in partnership with parents and inspired by the Holy Spirit to develop the whole child - mind, body, and spirit. Our mission is to provide an excellent, traditional Catholic education to prepare our students to become Catholic disciples in an ever-changing world.
The school’s religious affiliation is Roman Catholic. Most students come from St. Thomas More and Seven Dolors of The Blessed Virgin Mary parishes, while the student body also includes Catholic and non-Catholic families from surrounding communities.
Grades and enrollment
Manhattan Catholic Schools has grade levels from Pre-Kindergarten (age 3) through 8th Grade. Student enrollment at Manhattan Catholic Schools is around 300 students.
The school reports a student-teacher ratio of 11:1. The average class size is 17 students, with 10 students per Pre-School class and 15 students per Kindergarten class.
| Grade level | Students |
|---|---|
| Pre-K | 40 |
| Kindergarten | 32 |
| 1st grade | 38 |
| 2nd grade | 33 |
| 3rd grade | 32 |
| 4th grade | 24 |
| 5th grade | 18 |
| 6th grade | 24 |
| 7th grade | 19 |
| 8th grade | 17 |
Student demographics
Approximately 84% of the student body is Catholic and 16% are not. Minority enrollment is reported at 20.3%, while White students represent 79.7% of enrollment.
| Student group | Percentage |
|---|---|
| White | 79.7% |
| Hispanic/Latino | 9.7% |
| Two or more races | 6.3% |
| Asian or Asian/Pacific Islander | 2.5% |
| Black or African American | 0.8% |
| American Indian or Alaska Native | 0.4% |
| Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander | 0.4% |
Teachers and accreditation
Manhattan Catholic Schools' teachers hold credentials and are licensed by the state of Kansas State Department of Education. Several MCS teachers also hold advanced degrees and special endorsements.
The school reports 22 classroom teachers. Information about the number of teachers with advanced degrees is unavailable.
Manhattan Catholic Schools is a member of the Salina Diocese. Manhattan Catholic Schools is fully accredited by the Kansas State Department of Education, AdvanED of North Central Accreditation and the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA).
Manhattan Catholic Schools' Pre-School and Pre-Kindergarten programs are certified by the State of Kansas Department of Health and Environment.
Academic program and school day
The reported length of the school day is 7 hours. The school serves students continuously from early childhood through the end of elementary and junior high education, covering Pre-Kindergarten, elementary grades, and 6th-8th grade.
College enrollment information is unavailable for Manhattan Catholic Schools. Sports and athletics data is also not available for the school.
Families, parents, and community
MCS has always had a strong parent volunteer program, and we work in close partnership with our families. At MCS, each family agrees to participate in volunteer service per school year.
Parent volunteers will generously give countless hours per year to support Manhattan Catholic Schools. This family partnership is part of the school community’s approach to supporting students, teachers, programs, and the broader school environment.
Tuition and financial aid
Financial aid is available, although the reported tuition and financial-aid information does not provide a current standard tuition amount. Tuition and fees may vary depending on grade, boarding status, if applicable, and may have changed for the current school year.
Three opportunities are available for families to apply for financial aid for K-8 tuition assistance for the 2026-27 school year: SGF, ACE and TADS. Applying early is advised!
SGF, Scholarship Granting Fund, is now available for new students in grades K-8, including all Kindergarteners, through the Scholarship Granting Organization.
ACE Scholarships student applications will open again, September 15, 2026. Families can apply via the ACE portal. The application information is available in several languages, along with an option to submit an application in a language other than English.
TADS tuition assistance
Manhattan Catholic Schools has contracted TADS (Tuition Aid Data Service) to determine financial aid awards to those families that apply for tuition assistance. Applications are made online with the TADS program.
Families will have access to the TADS Family Portal, establishing a new account with login information. In that program, you will follow and complete the process by submitting the requested information through the Family Portal.
Once an account is established, there is an option to complete the information using instructions in Spanish. When all information requested is complete, TADS will calculate the award need and notify MCS.
TADS will start accepting applications online on March 1. When all applications are completed and final calculations made by TADS, MCS will send families notification of the aid we can provide.
MCS has benefactors for financial aid. However, the amount cannot meet the needs of all our families. Thus, no family can receive more than 50% of the cost of tuition for their family.
Other MCS enrollment and book fees must be paid by the family. MCS pays an annual cost for TADS programming. The application fee for families is $60, which is a family’s investment in reducing the cost of their tuition.
Financial-aid application requirements
For financial aid, all updates and applications must be done by August 1st. TADS will not allow changes in applications starting on August 2nd.
The new Easy Apply process allows families to provide consent to directly access their IRS data and documents and skip all redundant tax-related questions on the application. Families are still able to provide next-year estimates if they expect a major life change.
A redesigned School Selection experience enables families to find and apply to their desired schools or programs with fewer clicks. A streamlined experience for Section 6: Basic Tax Info gathers information to populate the right application questions for each family based on several factors, including US taxpayer status and business ownership.
Enrollment and required paperwork
The school’s K-8 enrollment materials include final enrollment paperwork, tuition information, school supply lists, and financial-aid instructions. The required forms differ for returning families, new students, Kindergarten students, and junior high students.
Forms required for all families and students
- Form B: Medical Information, one per student.
- Form C: Parental or Guardian Medical Consent Form and Liability Waiver, one per student.
- Photo/Video Release Form, one per family with all student names listed.
- Use of the Internet Agreement, found in the handbook on pages 21-22, one per student.
- Parent/Student Handbook Acknowledgement Form, one per family.
Forms required when applicable
- Bus Transportation Registration Form if using the public school bus to or from school.
- School Health Assessment Record for annual health information and immunization updates.
- Medical Statement to Request Meal Modification Form for food allergies or special dietary needs.
- Allergy and Anaphylaxis Emergency Plan if a student has allergies, asthma, or requires an epinephrine auto-injector.
- Application for Free or Reduced-Price Meal Benefits, which all families are encouraged to complete online.
Additional requirements for new students and Kindergarteners
- Race & Ethnicity Form, one per family.
- Home Language Survey, one per family.
- Current School Health Assessment Record, one per student.
- Record Release Form, one per student.
- Copy of the birth certificate.
- Copy of immunization records.
- Copy of sacrament certificates, including Baptism, First Reconciliation, and First Communion, when applicable.
Junior high requirements
All junior high students in grades 6-8 need to complete the Code of Conduct form, which must be signed by both the parent and the student.
A KSHSAA Sports Physical is required if a student participates in any sports. The school also requires a KSHSAA Concussion Form for students participating in sports.
At least one P.E. shirt is required for physical education. The junior high elective form will be sent to parents by email when the schedule and electives have been finalized.
Preschool and extended programs
Little Cardinal Preschool, Cardinals After School Program, and Cardinals Summer Program information is available through Manhattan Catholic Schools.
The Pre-School and Pre-Kindergarten programs are part of the school’s early-childhood offerings, with the Pre-School program certified by the State of Kansas Department of Health and Environment.
School calendar and daily information
The school calendar includes the start of the school year, testing dates, midterm dates, and other school activities. The school day is listed as beginning at 7:40 a.m. on the school-resumption schedule.
Location and nearby area
Manhattan Catholic Schools is located at 306 S. Juliette, Manhattan, KS 66502. The school is situated in Manhattan, Kansas, and serves students from Manhattan as well as Riley and other surrounding counties and parishes.
Neighborhood information, nearby homes for sale, and nearby schools are associated with the school’s location at 306 South Juliette Avenue.