St. Matthew's Catholic School sits on South Chicago Road in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, just south of Milwaukee, and serves as the parish school of St. Matthew Catholic Parish within the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. The school enrolls children from 3-year-old kindergarten through eighth grade and is led jointly by the parish pastor and a full-time principal. St. Matthew's is recognized for blending a traditional Catholic education with a strong parish identity: students pray together, attend Mass, prepare for the sacraments, and serve the wider community as a normal part of their school week.
Mission: Believing Every Student Is a Child of God
The school's mission statement is simple and direct: St. Matthew Catholic School, believing every student is a child of God, challenges each to pursue academic excellence and to live the Gospel through worship and service to others. That mission shapes everything else on campus. The school's philosophy holds that, in cooperation with the Christian home, St. Matthew gives each student a sound foundation for a future vocation and helps them discover their own worth as Christian persons.
Faith formation is built into the rhythm of the week. Students and teachers take an active part in planning and participating in liturgies, learning to respond more freely to God and growing closer in communal worship. The faculty prays together weekly during the school year to strengthen their faith lives and create a unified spirit. Special sacramental preparation programs are offered for First Communion and First Reconciliation under the direction of the parish's Child Formation Director. The wider community is welcome to participate in the school's liturgical celebrations alongside students and staff.
Worship and Service as Daily Practice
Service is treated as part of being a St. Matthew student, not an optional add-on. Students are expected to participate in activities that promote selflessness, responsibility, and awareness of community needs. Service takes place both during school hours and through the home, with students responding to parish, community, and missionary appeals through prayerful and material support. The school frames the entire program around forming the spiritual, intellectual, physical, psychological, social, moral, aesthetic, and religious capacities of each child.
The school also takes seriously its role as part of a parish family. SCRIP gift cards, a major fundraiser, are sold in the gathering space after each Mass most weekends, and school families are woven into parish life through the athletic association and the Home and School Association. The pastor of St. Matthew Parish is the spiritual and temporal shepherd of the parish and the key person in relation to the parish educational program, sitting at the center of the school's governance structure.
A Curriculum Built on Archdiocesan Standards
St. Matthew's curriculum is designed for academic excellence in Christian education and consistently passes the rigorous accreditation process established by the Wisconsin Religious and Independent Schools Association, an association recognized by the College Board and the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Nonpublic Education. The school follows the Archdiocese of Milwaukee Standards in every subject.
In the early years, K4 through Grade 2, children build the foundational skills that will support their later learning and develop a love of school. Classrooms are described as nurturing communities where students grow and flourish. From Grade 3 through Grade 8, students build on that foundation, sharpening their ability to interpret, analyze, and solve problems across subject areas while continuing to benefit from the same nurturing classroom communities. Religion is woven into every subject and extra-curricular activity, and students participate in daily prayer and religion classes along with frequent opportunities for worship and Mass attendance.
Extended Care from 6:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
St. Matthew's Extended Care program provides before- and after-school care for children attending the school, taking place on school grounds under the administration of the school. The program opens at 6:30 a.m. and runs until 8:20 a.m. before school, then resumes immediately after dismissal and runs until 5:30 p.m. Extended Care is also available on early release days and is closed whenever school is closed. The program is housed in the school cafeteria, gym, and art room, with snacks of juice or milk and other healthy options, plus games, arts and crafts, homework time, outside play (weather permitting), and gym activities.
Rates for the program begin with a $25 per-family registration. For 4K through 8th grade, the first hour is $7.00, with each additional half hour at $3.00. A late fee of $1.00 per minute per child applies after 6:00 p.m. Billing is done biweekly through an automatic payment system, and statements are emailed to families. The program is also available for after-school pickups tied to extra-curricular activities and in emergency situations.
Hot Lunch and Food Support
St. Matthew partners with the South Milwaukee School District to provide hot lunches each day. Hot lunch costs $4.25 (including a choice of milk), with milk available separately for $0.50. Students in grades 4 through 8 can purchase up to two milks for an additional $0.50. Adult hot lunch is $5.15 with milk. The lunch menu is posted on the school's online information system. Families have online accounts through FACTS Family Portal, and purchases are deducted automatically; the school sends an email when an account balance falls below $20.
Families who qualify for free or reduced-price meals during the school year are also eligible to receive Summer EBT benefits to help cover food costs during the summer months. The school provides application instructions and a downloadable form, and points families to statewide resources for finding summer meal sites.
Athletics Through the Parish Athletic Association
The St. Matthew Parish Athletic Association, known as SMPAA, organizes parish-based sports teams and extra-curricular athletic events for the school and parish community. The association aims to develop self-worth, good sportsmanship, discipline, sound judgment, and physical well-being. All parish youth actively participating in St. Matthew School or Religious Education programs are eligible to participate. General meetings are held in March, July, and November in preparation for each sporting season.
Athletic offerings include soccer, volleyball, cross country, basketball, flag football, and track across various grade levels, with soccer and cross country available to students as young as third and fourth grade. SMPAA also runs a separate Athletics Registration process for its programs.
Clubs, Arts, and Extracurriculars
Beyond athletics, the school supports a variety of clubs and enrichment programs. Weekly piano lessons with instructor John Hefter are open to students of all skill levels and conclude with a year-end piano recital. The Drawing Club partners with Young Rembrandts to help students explore artistic techniques in a fun, supportive setting. The Chess Club welcomes students of all levels to build strategic thinking, problem-solving, and social skills through guided play and friendly matches. Code It is a coding class for students in grades 2 through 8 that uses the Tynker platform to teach digital animation, game design, and introductory HTML, Python, and Java.
First Lego League introduces students to robotics and engineering design. Scouting programs and Student Council also give older students leadership and service opportunities within the school. Together these programs make up the student life offerings beyond the regular classroom schedule.
Admissions and Tuition
St. Matthew School admits students of any race, color, and national or ethnic origin and welcomes children of all religious backgrounds, though the majority of students and families are Catholic. To enter 3K, a child must be three years of age on or before September 1; for 4K, four; for 5K, five; and for first grade, six (a Wisconsin state law requirement). Admissions are handled on a rolling basis. The school serves students from K4 through eighth grade, with class sizes typically between 16 and 24 and a student-teacher ratio of 17:1. Enrollment currently sits at 189 students in K4 through 8.
Annual tuition for the 2025-2026 school year is set at $4,500 for one child in grades K5 through 8, $8,550 for two children in those grades, and $11,925 for three or more. 4K full day is $6,400, and 4K half day is $4,550. The 3K program is $7,500 for full day, $5,250 for three full days, and $4,500 for half day. Families may pay in full by August 15 or use a monthly payment plan through FACTS, the school's tuition management system, with options of ten payments (August through May) or twelve payments (July through June). A non-refundable $100 deposit per child is due at enrollment.
St. Matthew School also participates in the Racine Parental Choice Program (RPCP). Families living in the Racine Unified School District may qualify for a voucher covering tuition for the following school year. The school accepts Racine Choice students in grades 4K through 8, with application windows opening in February, March, April, May, June, August, and September. A limited amount of financial aid is also available, with official financial aid applications released each June; a preliminary form is available earlier in the year for families exploring their options.
Home and School: Parents in Partnership
Parental involvement at St. Matthew runs through the Home and School Association, a standing committee of the School Advisory Commission that supports the school's financial and community life. The Association assists the principal in achieving fundraising goals for the operating budget and special projects, and sponsors events and activities that nurture the social, spiritual, and educational life of the home, school, and parish community. Parents are asked to volunteer for two activities during the year and are welcome to join committees or take on larger roles.
The 2025-2026 Home and School Association Board is led by President Angela Polzin, Vice President Tania Marciniak, Treasurer Samantha Wright, and Secretary Samantha Szukalski, with at-large members Katie Zajkowski, Kristyn Maletta, and Cory Brewer. The board meets at least six times per school year and uses a consensus-based approach to decision-making.
School Advisory Commission and Parish Oversight
The School Advisory Commission is dedicated to the promotion and welfare of Catholic education and advises the principal, pastor, and parish council on school visioning and planning. It is a standing commission of the St. Matthew Pastoral Council and focuses on ensuring the school thrives, supports excellence in Catholic culture and academics, and collaborates closely with the parish.
The 2025-2026 School Advisory Commission is chaired by Cory Brewer, with Samantha Szukalski as secretary, and members Jill Lininger, Samantha Olson, teacher representative Maria Waerzeggers, Principal Elle Teubert, Pastor Father Johny Amaladasan, and council and parish representatives Kelly Magee and Patty Trinko. The pastor holds final authority on key decisions at the parish level, including the approval of recommendations from the Advisory Commission and the selection of the principal.
Pastor and Principal: Father Johny and Elle Teubert
Father Johny Amaladasan serves as pastor of St. Matthew Parish and provides spiritual and temporal leadership for the school. Elle Teubert serves as principal and leads the school's academic and spiritual program. Teubert holds a bachelor's degree in elementary education and a master's degree in educational leadership from Cardinal Stritch University. She frames the school's work around faith, learning, and service coming together to shape the hearts and minds of students, with faculty and staff working collaboratively to foster an environment where students excel academically while developing a deep understanding of their role in God's world.
The school's faculty includes classroom teachers from 3K through eighth grade, along with specialists in art, physical education, Spanish, library, and reading resource. Many of the teachers hold degrees from area institutions including Marquette University, Cardinal Stritch University, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, Purdue University, Carthage College, Alverno College, and Lakeland College.
Safety by Design
St. Matthew has invested in physical safety measures throughout the building. Protective security film has been installed on the windows; the film is shatter-resistant and slows forced entry, giving students and staff time to respond in an emergency. All classroom doors open outward, an intentional design choice that prevents an intruder from easily pushing or kicking a door inward. Security cameras cover the campus, all doors remain locked during the school day, and visitors must buzz in and sign in at the school office.
The school partners closely with local law enforcement, which has trained teachers in best practices for emergency situations, and students practice regular safety drills. The school continues to explore further safety improvements and is actively pursuing relevant grants to support long-term campus upgrades.
A Day at St. Matthew
For families considering St. Matthew, a typical school day runs from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Students may arrive as early as 8:20 a.m., with any earlier drop-off going to Extended Care. All students in 3K through eighth grade wear a uniform as described in the parent handbook. For families living in the Oak Creek-Franklin Joint School District, bus transportation is included with the cost of tuition. Tours of the school are available year-round, with the best time to visit during the school day so prospective families can see students and faculty in action; shadow tours are encouraged for students considering a transfer in grades 4 through 8. To schedule a visit, families can contact the school office at 414-762-6820.
St. Matthew Catholic Parish and School share a single mission on South Chicago Road in Oak Creek: forming young people in faith, learning, and service within a parish family that has been part of the community for generations. Through its K-8 academic program, its sacramental preparation, its parish-based athletics and clubs, and the close partnership between parents, pastor, and principal, the school offers a complete Catholic education rooted in the rhythms of parish life.