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School scholarships

To apply for financial aid or scholarships, please fill out the FACTS Financial Aid Application at https://online.factsmgt.com/aid. The school will let you know when applications are being accepted. Typically, they are accepted in January and February each year.

To sign up for or see payment plan options, please visit https://online.factsmgt.com/signin/42PF7. Sign ups typically open in May of each year for the upcoming school year.

If you have any questions, please call the FACTS Parent Help Line at (866) 441-4637 or call Carla at the Parish Office at (217) 429-5363.

Starting at 7pm on Tuesday, January 15, any parents interested in their child attending St. Patrick School during the 2019-2020 school year can apply for scholarships funded by state aid and individual/business donors.


But don’t wait!

Although applications will be accepted through April 1, applications are awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis. Applications will be time stamped, and it is expected that thousands of people will apply around 7pm on January 15.


Eligibility
To be eligible, your household income must be no more than 300% of the federal poverty level. You could qualify for full or partial tuition coverage as follows:

  • Less than $46,435 – 100% tuition
  • $46,435 - $62,750 – 75% tuition
  • $62,750-$75,300 – 50% tuition


Documents
To apply, the following documents will be required:

  • Federal tax return – Copy of your family’s 2017 return. If your family did not file a 2017 tax return, and you receive WIC or SNAP benefits, you may submit your statement of WIC or SNAP benefits.
  • Proof of Illinois residency (i.e., current utility bill or current driver’s license)
  • Proof of student’s age (i.e., birth certificate or federal/state ID or passport)
  • Letter of acceptance or enrollmentat an eligible, participating, non-public school – Call St. Patrick School at 217-423-4351 for this document.


Need assistance?

If you have any questions or need a assistance with this task, please call Carla Hahn at the church rectory. Her number is 429-5363.









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Apply
To learn more and to apply online, visit Empower Illinois. 


financial aid

Thanks to generous donors, we offer many scholarships for our students! All scholarships require that a parent or guardian fill out a FACTS Financial Aid Application.


Fr. Martin Mangan Scholarship

Scholarships are awarded each year for students attending St. Patrick School or St. Teresa High School. Applicants and their families must be active and participative members of Ss. James and Patrick Parish for at least six months. To apply for the upcoming school year, a letter should be sent to the following address by the end of May:


Father Martin Mangan, Scholarship Fund

742 E. Clay Street

Decatur, IL 62521


Virginia Jean Hanes Scholarship

This scholarship is in memory of Virginia Jean Hanes (nee Parks). A scholarship form will be sent home with students during the school year. This scholarship is based on financial need to help offset tuition.


Dorothy M. Hilligoss Murphy Scholarship

This scholarship fund helps students attending St. Patrick School between 2014-2023. The Estate of Mrs. Dorothy Hilligoss Murphy requested that two $500 scholarships be awarded to students attending St. Patrick School based on financial need of the family. Mrs. Murphy was a dedicated teacher who taught for twenty years at St. Patrick School during the 1970s and 1980s. This is a yearly application. A scholarship form will be sent home with students during the school year. 


McCoy Scholarships

Thanks to contributions from John Eugene "Jack" McCoy and Barbara Ann Witzman McCoy, several scholarships are available to St. Patrick School students. To be eligible for these scholarships, you must be a member in good standing of a Catholic Church. A scholarship form will be sent home with students during the school year. 


  • Honoring Monsignor George Powell - $500
  • Honoring Reverend Donald Wolford - $500
  • Honoring Reverend Jeffrey A. Grant - $500
  • Honoring Sister Rosemary - $500
  • Honoring Ms. Jan Sweet - $500
  • Honoring Mother Patricia Ryan - $500
  • Honoring Father Andrew South - $500
  • Honoring Father Thomas Masterson - $500
  • Honoring Father Terance Tracey - $500
  • Honoring Father Dennis Kollross - $500
  • Single Parent Scholarship - $500


Sister Lucy Education Fund Full Tuition Scholarship

The Sister Lucy Education Fund was established in honor of Sister Lucy Spinner, a principal at St. Patrick School in Decatur, Illinois, for most of her 50-year career in education.


Seventh grade students are invited to apply for this scholarship for the upcoming school year. Students are to submit a typed letter. Areas of consideration to be included are: academics, Mass attendance, parent involvement, school involvement, service hours, concern for others, volunteerism, composition, number of years in attendance at St. Patrick School, and any other information that may be considered important. This letter of application is to be written by the student.


​Find out why St. Patrick School is the perfect fit for your family!

St. Patrick School can be very affordable. We offer a variety of financial aid options and scholarships to help offset tuition. ​


The first step in applying for financial aid or scholarships is to sign up for FACTS account and fill out a financial aid application. 


In addition to getting scholarships, FACTS provides tuition payment plan options.

affordable education

State of illinois scholarships

St. Patrick School Logo

Click on the graphic below or visit this link to watch a tutorial about Empower Illinois: Empower Illinois Tutorial.