At a Glance

Upon leaving St. Charles, students will possess not just knowledge, but the study skills, problem-solving abilities and intellectual curiosity that will help them achieve success in higher education and professional life. 

Upon leaving St. Charles, students will have the foundation for a deep, personal relationship with Jesus Christ and an understanding of the Catholic Church and her teachings and sacraments that they can proclaim, practice and integrate into their lives as Catholics. 

Upon leaving St. Charles, students will strive to act upon their Catholic faith and use their intellectual skills to live as responsible and ethical leaders in the community and to act as stewards supporting those in need through service and charity.

“Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect.”  Romans 12:2.  St. Charles is committed to exploring new ideas and methods in education.  St. Charles empowers its faculty to evaluate and help improve curriculum to exceed the expectations of an increasingly competitive world.  It encourages creative programs to improve both teaching and learning.  It invests not just in technology, but in helping teachers maximize its value in the classroom. 

“He also told them, ‘Take care what you hear.  The measure with which you measure will be measured out to you, and still more will be given to you.’”  Mark 4:24.  St. Charles is a place where parents, students and teachers are listened to and understood.  The school fosters differentiated instruction to support a wide variety of different learners.  St. Charles continuously assesses and monitors its learning environment in order to provide students with responsive, flexible instruction and teachers with focused professional development.  St. Charles values and appreciates an active and involved parent community. 

“Be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ.”  Ephesians 4:32.  St. Charles is where students feel welcomed, and learn to be welcoming.  “Love your neighbor as yourself” is the foundation for the school’s discipline policies and its high standards for behavior in the classroom, on the grounds, and in the use of technology and social media.  St. Charles is not just where students respect teachers and administrators, but where they are encouraged to embrace their own position as Catholic role models and leaders for the younger students following them. 

Enrollment: 385 students

Average Class Size: 17 students per class

Student-to-Teacher Ratio: 13:1

Teacher/Principal Certification: Wisconsin Department of Instruction & Archdiocese of Milwaukee

Affiliation: Roman Catholic School, part of St. Charles Catholic Parish & the Archdiocese of Milwaukee

Grade Levels: 3K to 8th Grade

Early Childhood: 3K and 4K with multiple options of half days, after-lunch days, and full days. Students can also attend two, three, or five days a week in 3K. Our 4K program is every day from 8:25 am to 11:30 am at a minimum. Many students stay all day. By state law, students are required to rest for at least 90 minutes each afternoon. 

Lower School: 2 classes per grades 3K through 5th

Upper School: 2 classes per grades 6th through 8th

Specialty Areas: STEM, Academic Support, Guidance, Reading Specialist, Spanish, Art, Music & Physical Education

Religion: Religion is woven throughout the school day as well as through weekly schedule of classes.

Mass: Students in 3K through 4th Grade attend Tuesday mornings at 8:30 am; students in 5th through 8th Grade attend on Thursday mornings at 8:30 am. Once a month and/or on holy days, the entire school from 3K through 8th Grade attends Mass together.

Daily Prayer: Each day starts and ends with prayer.

Sacramental Preparation: First Reconciliation & First Holy Communion

Athletics: 5th to 8th Grade Interscholastic Volleyball, Basketball & Track plus 3rd to 8th Grade Cheerleading

Clubs & Extracurriculars: Band, Boy Scouts, Chess Club, Girl Scouts, Homework Club, Math Clubs & MATHCOUNTS, Ski & Snowboard Club, Spring Musical, Student Council, Youth Choir

Tuition Assistance: Tuition Assistance available, and we encourage you to apply. Please contact the School Office for more information. Each year, about 10% of the student population receives financial aid through our Tuition Assistance Fund, and more than $30,000 is awarded in scholarship assistance annually. 

Uniforms: Required for students in 5K to 8th Grade.

Hot Lunch: We offer hot lunch through Kettle Moraine. Meals for students are $2.65 per day and are billed through a Parent Portal account.

Our school and parish are connected geographically as one campus. We have a full-court gym hosting volleyball and basketball teams from Catholic schools across the Milwaukee area. Inside the gym is a state-of-the-art stage and sound system where musicals are performed. The Parish Hall on the east side of the building serves as the cafeteria, where hot lunch is served daily. Dedicated music and art rooms were built in 2017; also added that year was a 1,500-square-foot cutting-edge STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Math) Lab. There is central heating and air conditioning throughout the building. 

Test Results/ Rankings: Students in 5K through 7th Grade take Iowa Tests of Basic Skills each Spring in reading, writing, math, social studies, and science. Students also take MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) tests in math and reading in Fall, Winter, and Spring. The tests are a personalized assessment experience by adapting to each student's learning level—precisely measuring progress and growth for each individual student.

Accreditations/Memberships: Wisconsin Religious and Independent Schools Accreditation (WRISA)

Celebrations/Traditions: Living Nativity, Living Stations of the Cross, VIP Day, Science Fair, Spring Musical, Band Concerts, Advent Concert and Spring Concert, and many others.

Graduates: Over 1,600 students have graduated since the school opened in 1959, moving on to high schools including Divine Savior Holy Angels, Marquette University High School, Catholic Memorial High School, Arrowhead High School, Oconomowoc High School, and other high schools in Lake Country.