LA GATOR and St. Peter Chanel Interparochial School
The state lists St. Peter Chanel Interparochial School as a BESE-approved nonpublic school for 2025-26 (accredited). That approval is the requirement for taking LA GATOR scholarship tuition. Its federal Brumfield v. Dodd nondiscrimination approval dates to 1976.
The state doesn't publish which approved schools registered with LA GATOR each year (statewide, more than 240 took part in the first year), so ask the office whether it is set up for 2026-27 and how it bills the account.
The school reported 249 K-12 students and 84 pre-K students on that list. That ranks #32 of 69 approved schools in our ten-parish directory by K-12 enrollment.
St. Peter Chanel Interparochial School was not on the 2024-25 Tuition Donation Credit participating list, so STO scholarships may not be available here. Ask whether the school has joined since.
In the federal Private School Survey (2023-24), it reported 254 students, 22 full-time-equivalent teachers and about 11.5 students per teacher. It lists membership in National Catholic Educational Association.
From kindergarten through grade 7 is 8 school years. At 2026-27 amounts, a student funded every year here would bring about $41,944 at the standard amount, or $61,008 at the 250%-of-poverty amount. Amounts are set each year and new awards depend on funding, so treat this as a planning number. LA GATOR starts at age 5, so pre-K years are paid privately.
Paying the balance
Diocese of Baton Rouge schools typically offer a lower rate to registered, participating parishioners, plus need-based tuition assistance. Ask how LA GATOR applies to the parish rate, and whether an STO scholarship or diocesan aid can cover the balance.
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After grade 7: where students can continue
St. Peter Chanel Interparochial School ends at grade 7. These approved schools serve grade 8:
- Ascension Christian School (Gonzales, grades PK-12, about 17 mi)
- Ascension Catholic Diocesan Regional School (Donaldsonville, grades PK-12, about 17 mi)
- The Church Academy (Saint Amant, grades PK-8, about 19 mi)
- St. Theresa of Avila Middle School (Gonzales, grades 4-8, about 19 mi)
- St. Elizabeth School (Paincourtville, grades PK-8, about 21 mi)
Questions to ask the school
- Are you registered as a participating LA GATOR school in Odyssey for 2026-27, and how do you bill the account?
- What is the full cost for my child's grade, including mandatory fees, and what's left after the account?
- Do you accept STO scholarships (ACE, Arete, Aspiring Scholars, Son of a Saint), and in what order do you apply them?
- Which state test or national norm-referenced test do LA GATOR students take here?
- Does a pre-K seat here carry into kindergarten, when LA GATOR starts?
Closest private schools
| School | Type | Grades | Distance | BESE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gonzales Baptist Academy | Baptist | K-12 | 16.9 mi | — |
| Ascension Christian School | Christian | PK-12 | 17.0 mi | ✓ |
| Ascension Catholic Diocesan Regional School | Catholic | PK-12 | 17.1 mi | ✓ |
| The Church Academy | Christian | PK-8 | 19.0 mi | ✓ |
| St. Theresa of Avila Middle School | Catholic | 4-8 | 19.2 mi | ✓ |
| St. Elizabeth School | Catholic | PK-8 | 20.6 mi | ✓ |
Straight-line distance from federal survey or address coordinates.