We offer a faith-filled and prayerful environment for children to grow both spiritually and academically.

As a Catholic school, our faculty has the freedom to point students toward Jesus and help them develop Christian values in their daily lives.

Catholic school education teaches students to seek the fullness of divine truth proclaimed in the Scriptures, preserved by the apostolic bishops, and expressed in the life of the Catholic Church.

Numerous research studies have concluded that Catholic school education generally produces greater achievement and better citizenship.

The Catholic school social and learning environments are accepting and supportive.

Holy Family Academy of Van Zandt County Texas is a qualified 501(c)3 nonprofit school, governed and operated by a Board of Directors.

The Board includes seven Catholic lay people, who volunteer their time and expertise. A Catholic pastor also serves as spiritual advisor to the Board.

The school is an independent Catholic school and not governed by a local parish.

There are at least five major advantages:

1) A parish does not have to help support the school financially.

2) School operation and management are typically beyond the expertise of a parish pastor and his staff.

3) The future of the school and daily operation are controlled by a board of directors and not any one bishop or priest.

4) A bishop cannot sell or tax the school to help cover diocesan expenses.

5) The school can remain consistent in its instructional program and operating procedures despite any administrative change in the local parish or diocese.

Yes, both in Texas and the rest of the country.

About 25%-30% of the new Catholic schools started in the last 10 years are independent.

Holy Family Academy is supported by tuition, private donations, and endowments. The school is a qualified, 501(c)3 nonprofit. Donations are tax deductible.

Yes. The school is open to all students regardless of faith tradition, ethnic background, or place of birth.

Yes, of course. Sacred Scripture is fundamental to the Catholic faith, and Bible study is part of the curriculum.

Religious education will also include periodic attendance at the celebration of Mass in the school commons, and participation in other prayers and devotions as age appropriate for students.

Holy Family Academy is accredited by the Education Department of the Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops, a TEA approved accrediting agency.

Teaching staff are professionally certified and highly qualified.

Yes. In order to meet the accreditation standards of the TCCB Education Department, the school must follow a religious education curriculum approved by Texas Bishops.

HFA follows the curriculum established by the Dioceses of Tyler and Dallas, which outlines required content, goals, and academic standards rooted in Catholic educational principles.

Yes. The Board of Directors makes every effort to keep tuition affordable for all families, regardless of income level.

There are discounts for additional children attending from the same family.

Parents may apply for financial aid based on need.

School staff also receive a tuition discount.

Yes, the school is eligible for TEFA. You can apply for funding on their website.

We generally follow the Canton ISD calendar, but not totally. TEA allows public schools to count minutes of instruction, but private schools must count days of instruction. This affects the length of our school year. See calendar under “For Parents” for more details.

There are no geographical limitations for attendance at Holy Family Academy VZC. Everyone is welcome.

The school is located at the edge of Canton on State Highway 64, two miles east of downtown Canton (a short distance past the county vehicle registration office).

As long as space is available, we accept enrollments throughout the school year.

Children may be dropped off as early as 7:15am. School begins at 7:55am.

We do not offer after school care at this time.

Yes. Uniforms are required for all students.

The cost of uniforms is affordable; detailed info about uniforms and student dress code is available under the “For Parents” tab.

For those eligible for Texas Education Freedom Accounts (TEFA), uniforms can be purchased through their Odyssey marketplace.

Yes, standardized tests (IOWA Test of Basic Skills and the CogAT Cognitive Abilities Test) are administered each spring during a designated 2-week testing window. These tests are administered to students starting in kindergarten and are sent off to be scored. The school’s faculty and staff analyze the results and use the data to determine the students’ learning level.

We give out report cards quarterly and have opportunities for parent-teacher conferences twice a year.

There is a monthly school newsletter and regular posts on Facebook.

You can contact the school or your child’s specific teachers any time with questions or concerns.

Children with mild to moderate learning differences are given the same consideration as all applicants. HFA does not offer a formal special education program; however, our faculty and staff are committed to working collaboratively with parents to support children whose needs can be reasonably met within the scope of HFA’s resources.

HFA understands that our students are of a tender, impressionable, and vulnerable age. Our young students are being introduced to God through nature, family, and their experiences at school. They are like sponges, soaking up all that is placed before them with repetition. For these reasons, HFA maintains a school environment that limits students’ exposure to technology and directs their focus to faith-filled experiences as we lay the spiritual and academic foundation.