Faith isn't a class period here
Our priests and deacons are in classrooms regularly, not once a semester. The whole school goes to Mass together every week, with our own students serving, reading, and singing. Children pray several times a day, and in preschool they learn the prayers line by line. Religion is taught and graded at every grade level.
The church is next door. Our pastor knows our students by name.
The sacraments, and when they come
Sacramental preparation happens here, during the school day, in partnership with the parish and your family. Nobody is handed a packet and sent home with it.
First Reconciliation
Second graders prepare for their First Reconciliation.
Confirmation & First Communion
Restored OrderReceived together, as the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois does it. Our third graders are confirmed by the Bishop at the Cathedral in Springfield, alongside children from across the diocese, with a retreat day each year for the students preparing.
Altar Servers
Altar server training begins, open to both boys and girls.
What is the Restored Order?
It returns the sacraments to their ancient sequence, so that the Eucharist stands as the completion of a child's initiation rather than a step along the way.
What faith looks like Monday through Friday
Clergy in the classroom
Our parish priests and deacons visit frequently. Students know them as teachers and familiar faces, not only as the men at the altar on Sunday.
All-school Mass, every week
K–8 attend together in the church next door, and students help prepare the liturgy by serving, reading, and singing.
Prayer through the day
Morning prayer, grace before lunch, and prayer at the close of the day. Preschoolers learn the prayers line by line.
Religion as a subject
Taught and graded at every grade level, with its own curriculum and standards, alongside math and reading.
The seasons of the Church
Advent, Lenten, and Rosary services follow the liturgical calendar, and Catholic Schools Week is celebrated every year.
The All-City Mass
Every September, all the Quincy Catholic schools gather for Mass at Quincy Notre Dame.
Integrate. Elevate. Orient.
Catholic education isn't religion class bolted onto an ordinary curriculum. The Diocese of Springfield has asked its schools to rethink how every subject is taught, around three ideas.
Subjects taught in relation to one another rather than in sealed compartments, so a period of history, the literature written in it, and the science and art it produced reinforce each other.
Teaching aimed at the good, the true, and the beautiful, rather than at test performance alone. Human creativity points somewhere, and children should be shown where.
Every subject turned toward Christ, so that learning serves something beyond a résumé.
This year, our faculty is doing that work. Teachers from across Quincy Catholic Schools met here at St. Francis last spring to begin mapping the religion curriculum, and it continues through the 2026-27 school year with dedicated in-service days.
It's a deliberate alternative to an approach that treats education as career preparation and little else. It also means our teachers are asking harder questions about their own instruction than most schools require.
Taught by people who practice it
Religion at St. Francis is taught by our own faculty, supported by parish clergy who are in the building constantly.
In the younger grades, religion is taught by the same teachers who teach everything else, which is the point: faith isn't handed off to a specialist down the hall. Our clergy visit classrooms throughout the year, and our students know which one will stop to talk in the hallway.
Service is part of the curriculum, not an add-on
Our students work throughout the year on projects serving the sick and the poor, in the parish and across Quincy. Teachers build these into the religion curriculum rather than scheduling them around it, so children learn early that faith is something you do, not only something you know.
What if we're not Catholic?
You're welcome here, and you always have been. A number of our families aren't Catholic, and some aren't members of any parish.
Here's what's true, plainly. Your child will take religion class and attend Mass with their classmates. They'll learn Catholic prayers and practices, because that's what this school is. They will not be pressured about your family's faith, singled out, or treated differently, and nobody will be awkward about your family being here.
At Mass, students who aren't Catholic come forward for a blessing rather than receiving Communion, the same as in any Catholic parish anywhere. It's ordinary, and by October nobody notices.
Do students attend Mass at St. Francis Solanus School?
Yes. Kindergarten through eighth grade attend all-school Mass together every week during the school year, in the church next door. Students help prepare the liturgy by serving, reading, and singing.
Do we have to be Catholic to enroll?
No. Students of every faith background are welcome at St. Francis Solanus School and always have been. Your child will take religion class and attend Mass with classmates, and will be treated no differently than any other student.
Is religion a graded subject?
Yes. Religion is taught and graded at every grade level with its own curriculum and diocesan standards, alongside math, reading, science, and social studies.
When do students receive the sacraments?
Preparation for First Reconciliation takes place in second grade. Confirmation and First Holy Communion are received together in third grade, in the Restored Order followed by the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois. Third graders are confirmed by the Bishop at the Cathedral in Springfield.
What is the Restored Order?
It restores the sacraments of initiation to their ancient sequence: Baptism, then Confirmation, then First Holy Communion. Children receive Confirmation and First Communion together, with the Eucharist completing their initiation rather than preceding Confirmation by several years.
Can my child be an altar server?
Yes. Altar server training begins leading up to fourth grade and is open to both boys and girls.
How often are priests in the school?
Regularly. Our parish priests and deacons visit classrooms throughout the year, in addition to celebrating the weekly school Mass.
What if my child isn't baptized?
That's not a barrier to enrollment. If your family later becomes interested in the sacraments, the parish is glad to walk with you, and there's no pressure either way.
Do students do service work?
Yes. Service projects for the parish and the wider Quincy community are built into the religion curriculum at every grade level.
What is Catholic Schools Week?
A national celebration held each year, when Catholic schools mark the year with special Masses, activities, and events for students, families, and parishioners.
What our families say
Faith & Tradition
Our family's love for St. Francis Solanus School is deeply rooted in faith and tradition. With Joe's family having attended for generations, it is incredibly meaningful to now watch our children walk the same halls and grow in the same values-rich, faith-centered environment.
Joe & Alexis Darnell FamilyKnown at every stage
St. Francis Solanus meets the individual academic needs of all our children at every stage of development. Our older kids recognized the "St. Francis Solanus difference" during an initial school visit and were ready to start the next day! The parent-teacher partnership is collaborative and focused on helping students do their best, and the Catholic influence of the priests, deacons, DRE, and staff is focused on fostering a true and lasting relationship with Jesus Christ.
Aaron & Karen Weiman FamilyTo be Jesus to others
St. Francis provides a quality Catholic experience. They learn not only how to add and subtract but to know Jesus, love Jesus, and to be Jesus to others. We are proud of our choice to have provided a faith-based education for our children and that our children have continued to choose St. Francis for their children. It is important to celebrate the privilege of a Catholic education and we have been blessed to have been supportive of continuing this legacy.
Deacon Dennis and Pat HolbrookAccountability with grace
The culture is one of partnership. Students are truly known by their teachers and staff. There is accountability paired with grace. Leadership is present and engaged.
The Friye Mamdani FamilyEnthusiasm and dedication
The teachers of St. Francis are observing and always seeking ways to improve the abilities of our students. The enthusiasm and dedication from the teachers has helped our children gain confidence and excel in multiple areas.
Brad & Makenzie Holtmeyer FamilyLessons come to life
The teachers at St. Francis bring lessons to life, creating engaging classrooms where students feel excited about learning. What stands out most is their strong training in literacy instruction, ensuring that every student grows as a confident, capable reader and communicator.
John & Lindsey Kelly FamilyWe felt the pull
We never thought we would be the family transferring our children to a new school. After being parishioners for a few years, we felt the pull to enroll our children at St Francis school. As soon as we took a tour, our girls' faces lit up and they said they wanted to start the next day.
Brad & Amanda Genenbacher FamilyLoving, caring & nurturing
Mrs. Wiewel has taught both of our girls over the last two years. She is so loving, caring and nurturing and with her help, our child was able to succeed in an academic area she was previously struggling in.
Brad & Amanda Genebacher FamilyAcademic excellence
St. Francis School offers a welcoming and nurturing environment where academic excellence is paired with strong values rooted in the Catholic tradition.
Dr. Samuel & Danielle Healy FamilyInviting family-feel
The school is small which gives it a warm, inviting family-feel. Staff and students alike begin to know everyone within the building. This brings a sense of comfort knowing our children are being well taken care of while growing in academics and in faith.
James & Tera Terwelp Family
Come on a Mass day.
Visit during all-school Mass and you'll understand this page better than we can explain it. Ask when you schedule and we'll arrange your tour around it.