Preschool – 3 Year Olds |
This program will not be available for the 2026-2027 school year.
Eligibility & Class Size
Students must be 3 years old on or before September 15, 2025.
Class size is limited to 14 students.
Session Days & Hours
Monday – Friday | 8:10am – 11:10am |Morning Only
Morning Preschool Program
Monday – Friday | 8:10am – 3:20pm | All Day
Morning Preschool Program & Optional Wraparound Preschool Enrichment
Tuition & Fees | 2025-2026 School Year
Morning Preschool Program | $400.00/month or $3,500.00/year
Optional Afternoon Enrichment Program | $500.00/month or $4500.00/year
25-26 TUITION & FEES
Payments are due September 1st-May 1st.
Tuition payments should be made through BlackBaud Tuition Management.
Pre-Kindergarten – 4 Year Olds
Eligibility & Class Size
Students must be 4 years old on or before September 15, 2025. A student who turns 5 before September 15th, but is not quite ready for Kindergarten can enroll in our Transitional Kindergarten program beginning in the 2026-2027 school year.
A Des Moines Public Schools Universal Preschool Application must be completed. This will be available on our website beginning every March and emailed out to registered parents. Class size is limited to 20 students!
Session Days & Hours
Monday – Friday | 8:10am – 11:10am | Morning Only
Morning Pre-Kindergarten Program
Monday – Friday | 8:10am – 3:20pm | All Day
Morning Pre-Kindergarten Program & Optional Afternoon Enrichment Program
Tuition & Fees | 2025-2026 School Year
Morning Pre-Kindergarten Program | $433.34/month or Universal Preschool Funding
Optional Afternoon Enrichment Program | $450.00/month or $4,500.00/year
* The Afternoon Enrichment Program is not UPK funded.
25-26 TUITION & FEES
Payments are due September 1st-May 1st.
Tuition payments should be made through BlackBaud Tuition Management.
Universal Preschool Funding (UPK) Information
St. Joseph Catholic School is proud to be a Des Moines Public Schools Preschool Community Partner. This program provides FREE tuition to 4-year-old preschool students through the Universal Preschool Funding. A student must be 4 years old on or before September 15, 2025 to qualify for Universal Preschool Funding. A completed UNIVERSAL PRESCHOOL APPLICATION 2025-2026 is required along with an attached birth certificate. After the October 1st deadline, students are no longer eligible for the funding.
Benefits of the Universal Preschool Funding program:
- Accredited by the State of Iowa
- State Certified and Licensed Teacher in Early Childhood Education
- Designated playground for Preschool Students
- School Lunch will be provided | Eligible for free or reduced lunch | Students enrolled in Afternoon Enrichment Program Only!
Hawk’s Club
Hawk’s Club (Before & After Care) – Currently not available for the 25-26 School Year
Registration
24-25 Hawk’s Club Registration
Hours
7:00am-8:00am Before School | 3:15pm-5:30pm After School
Fees, Payments & Assistance
24-25 TUITION & FEES
All Hawk’s Club payments should be made through Brightwheel.
Child Care Assistance Application
Program Details
Before & After Care is available every day that school is in session. It is also available on select Professional Development days.
Morning and after drop-ins are available as well. The fees are listed below. If after school drop-in care is needed, please contact the office to advise of the dismissal change.
Before & After Care will be available all day on several no school days. Please see the calendar link for more information on those dates.
Due to DHS regulations, we are only able to provide care for students in Preschool-Grade 5.
Winter Policies
If school is cancelled due to weather, Hawk’s Club is also cancelled for the day. This also pertains to Professional Development days when an all-day Before & After Care is scheduled.
If school is dismissed early due to weather, Before & After Care will run for its normal duration of 2 hours and 15 minutes. (For example, if school dismisses at 12 pm, Before & After Care will run until 2:15 pm).
** In instances of extremely severe weather, Before & After Care may be cancelled entirely. In this case, an email/text notification will be sent from the school and announcements will be posted to Channel 8.
If school is delayed, Before & After Care will start according to the delay period. (For example, for a 2-hour-delay Before & After Care would open at 9:00 am).
Forms & Resources
Fees & Payments
BlackBaud Tuition Management
Brightwheel
JMC
25-26 Cost to Educate & Fees
All tuition payments should be made through BlackBaud Tuition Management.
All Hawk’s Club payments should be made through Brightwheel.
All lunch payments should be made through JMC!
ST. JOSEPH CATHOLIC 