How families pay here
Santa Cruz Catholic School was listed in the Texas Comptroller's TEFA finder when we checked on October 12, 2026, so a student with an Education Freedom Account can use it here. For 2026-27 the account sends $10,474 per student, deposited in three parts: 25% on July 1, 25% on October 1 and the final 50% on February 1.
This school reports special-education services or a learning-differences focus. When a TEFA student has a current IEP that TEA has on file, the account grows: for a Hays CISD resident, roughly $15,839 to $16,949 across regular-campus IEP settings, never more than $30,000.
This school also enrolls pre-K children. TEFA funds 3- and 4-year-olds who meet a state free pre-K criterion, such as qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, limited English, or a parent who teaches in a Texas public school. Kindergarten has no such test, so a child can continue here on the full award.
The Diocese of Austin's schools office lists TEFA among its affordability options, alongside the need-based Beacon of Hope scholarship that families apply for through FACTS. Parish and sibling pricing stays in place for families who pay with TEFA.
Check my funding for this school →
“Santa Cruz Catholic School is a faith-centered learning community dedicated to nurturing the whole child—mind, heart, and spirit. Rooted in Catholic values, we partner with families to provide a strong academic foundation, meaningful spiritual formation, and a supportive, inclusive environment. Our students are known,…”
The school's description in the TEFA finder
Its 2023-24 answers to the federal Private School Survey showed 203 K-12 students, 23 full-time-equivalent teachers, a 8.7:1 student-teacher ratio and a 172-day school year.
Programs reported to the state
Discounts reported to TEFA: Scholarships Available, Sliding Scale Tuition, Sibling Discounts.
Associations (federal survey): National Catholic Educational Association.
What to ask on your tour
- Is the school in the TEFA finder now, and will it take part in 2027-28?
- Does billing follow the state's July, October and February deposits, or is a deposit due from us first?
- Which fees, such as books, uniforms or lunch, can be charged to the account?
- What aid, sibling or church-member pricing is available for any balance?
- Which IEP settings and needs do you have room for, and do you bill on-campus therapy as a school fee?
- Are you an approved TEFA pre-K provider, and do you take child care assistance for after-care?
After grade 8: nearby schools that continue
Santa Cruz Catholic School ends at grade 8. These schools serve grade 9 through 12 and are among the closest of the same tradition:
- San Juan Diego Catholic High School: grades 9-12, about 11 mi away · in TEFA
- St. Michael's Catholic Preparatory School: grades PK-12, about 14 mi away · in TEFA
- St. Gabriel's Catholic School: grades PK-12, about 14 mi away
- Kolbe Academy: grades PK-12, about 18 mi away · in TEFA
Nearby schools with full profiles
- Ladybird Montessori School: Independent & Secular School, grades PK-9, 2.5 mi · TEFA
- Athena Micro-academy of Austin: Independent & Secular School, grades 6-12, 3.5 mi · TEFA
- Whole Life Learning Center: Independent & Secular School, grades PK-8, 4.5 mi · TEFA
- Parkside Community School: Independent & Secular School, grades PK-6, 6.4 mi
- Little Learning Grove: Independent & Secular School, grades PK-2, 6.8 mi · TEFA
- Headwaters School Elementary Campus: Independent & Secular School, grades K-5, 6.9 mi
IEP funding for nearby districts
| Home district | TEFA-funded students (Jul 29, 2026) | IEP: speech only (00) | IEP: mainstream (40) | IEP: resource / self-contained (41-44) | IEP: residential facility (81-89) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hays CISD | 441 | $11,412 | $16,949 | $15,839 | $25,957 |
| San Marcos CISD | 165 | $11,408 | $16,918 | $15,814 | $25,883 |
| Lockhart ISD | 82 | $11,387 | $16,771 | $15,692 | $25,532 |
| Luling ISD | under 30 | $11,614 | $18,030 | $17,247 | $29,526 |
Totals are the $10,474 base plus the district add-on from the Comptroller's 2026-27 Special Education Funding Table, capped at $30,000. Funded counts come from the TEFA Annual Demographic Report (data as of July 29, 2026); districts with fewer than 30 participants aren't listed in that report. All Austin-area districts →
We list 12 K-12 private schools in Buda, Kyle, San Marcos & Lockhart, and 8 of them were in the TEFA finder.