I wanted to make sure I reviewed this as I send my son here and he loves it. I can tell day after…read moreday he is learning. He comes home telling me about his day and all hes learned I trust this school not because its where I spend my money but its the feeling I get while I get walk my son in and how the staff makes it a point to know his name even if he is 3. I never believed I would send my children here but it just turns out that investing into the future is not really that expensive. Villa Maria Academy is a Catholic, co-educational, secondary school established to further the mission of unity of the Sisters of St. Joseph. Through Villa Maria Academy's leadership, gospel-centered environment and commitment to academic excellence, we empower young people to recognize their God-given uniqueness and talents, to acquire knowledge and skills for success in a global society and to be leaders in creating a future of optimism, generosity and confidence. Founded: by Sisters of St. Joseph in 1892, 118 years young and the oldest of 3 Catholic High Schools in Erie. Affiliation: Villa Maria Academy is college preparatory Catholic school of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Erie for students in grades 9-12. Students from all faiths are welcome to attend. Accreditation and Memberships: * Accredited by Middles States Commission on Secondary Schools. * Member of National Catholic Education Association (NCEA) Number of Students: 300 Student to Teacher Ratio: 12:1 Tuition and Fees: * Total Tuition for 2011-2012: $6,995.00* (All freshmen receive a Tablet PC included in tuition) *Additional fees apply for seniors, athletes, non-Catholic students, and families choosing a special payment plan. Admission: Acceptance to the freshman class at Villa Maria Academy is based on the results of the mandatory Entrance Exam, elementary school transcripts, elementary school disciplinary record, and recommendations from the elementary school teachers and principal. Transfer students are accepted based on the transcripts, disciplinary records, and recommendations from the teachers and principal from the previous school. Non-Discrimination Policy: Although Villa Maria Academy is a distinctly Catholic school, it welcomes students of all backgrounds and does not discriminate against any qualified student on the basis of race, color, religious creed, ancestry, national origin, disability, or age, as required by law, in the administration of its educational policies, admissions procedures, financial aid/scholarship awards, and/or any other school administered programs. Class of 2011 Statistics: * 76 graduates * 96% attended a four-year college * Over $3.5 million in merit-based scholarships