Secondary Scholarships

• Catholic baptismal certificate, or a baptismal certificate and a Profession of Faith.
• Contact information for the principal of the current school, who will be asked to submit an evaluation of your child.
• Contact information for the principal of the Catholic high school your child wishes to attend.
• Parish Verification Form, dated after January 5, 2027.
• High school acceptance letter, which may be uploaded later after the initial application process is completed.

Applications are available beginning January 28, 2027.

1. Confirm that your child meets every eligibility requirement before applying.
2. Create a Submittable account when the portal opens. The account should be created using the parent’s name and email address. You will be able to work on and save the application before submitting it.
3. Complete and submit the parent or guardian portions with the required documents as soon as they are ready.
4. Upload the high school acceptance letter when it becomes available.

To begin your application, click here.

Your current principal serves as the designated reference. As soon as you assign the reference in the application, the principal will be automatically notified via Submittable that an application is pending. You may submit your application to the Knott Scholarship Funds before this reference is completed. Once the reference is completed and submitted, it will automatically attach to your application. All references must be received by the deadline. No exceptions.

For students currently attending an Archdiocesan School:

• The Archdiocese will send numeric grades and test scores directly to the Knott Scholarship Funds office. The principal does not have to submit grades or test scores.

For students attending an independent Catholic school, private school, public school, or who are homeschooled:

• The current principal will be responsible for uploading numeric grades.
• If your child is in public school, you may need to work with the guidance office to convert grades into numerical values for the principal to submit.
• If your child is homeschooled, please review the homeschool requirements here: Homeschool Requirements.
• The Archdiocese will send WINTER MAP scores directly to the Knott Scholarship Funds office.
• Parents should contact the admissions or enrollment office at a Catholic school to arrange testing. The student may test one time only, and that is the only WINTER MAP result that will be accepted. It is the responsibility of the parent to coordinate testing with the Catholic high school.

For students who attend a Catholic school this year, but were at a different school in the previous academic year:

• The Catholic school principal will be responsible for uploading the numeric grades from your previous school.
• You will need to obtain those numeric grades, with a letter from your past principal or guidance counselor attending to the accuracy of the grades, and supply those to the Catholic school principal.
• The Archdiocese of Baltimore will provide the current academic grades along with WINTER MAP test scores directly to the Knott Scholarship Funds Office.

• Grades from the last marking period of 7th grade and the first marking period of 8th grade should be available by the end of December.
• HSPT scores should be available by the end of December.
• WINTER MAP scores should be available by the first week of February. Confirm those scores with your school. Only winter scores are used for application purposes.

Applications available: January 28, 2027.

High school acceptance letters delivered: February 18, 2027

Submitted applications will be reopened on February 18, 2027, and you will be notified, for high school acceptance letter uploads.

Completed Knott Scholarship applications due: 5:00 p.m. on March 5, 2027.

After the initial evaluation, if selected for an interview, you will be notified during the week of March 8.

Interviews will take place during the week of March 15.

Winners will be announced around April 12.

Mandatory Celebration Mass, Pinning, and Orientation will be held April 25, 2027.

• My child is CURRENTLY in 8th grade.
• My child is Catholic or has officially converted to the Catholic Church, and I have the baptismal certificate.
• My family lives in an eligible area, is registered in a Catholic parish, and my child has applied to an eligible Catholic high school.
• My child earned at least the 95th percentile composite score on the HSPT.
• My child earned at least the 92nd percentile in Reading, Mathematics, and Language Usage on the WINTER MAP assessment that was administered in a Catholic school.
• My child earned at least a 93 in every required subject for both required grading periods.
• I have a completed Parish Verification Form dated no earlier than January 5, 2027, and I will upload it myself to the application.
• I have the name and contact information for the principal of my child’s current school, as well as the Catholic high school to which my child is applying.
• I understand I can submit my portion before the reference is complete, and I will be notified once the reference is received.
• I understand the high school acceptance letter may be uploaded later.
• I will submit everything required by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, March 5, 2027.

Above is a summary only. It is responsibility of the parent to comply with all directions and criteria. If you do not meet ALL criteria, do not apply. Each year there are more qualified applicants than funds to award. We make no exceptions to our criteria.

Tuition exemption: Students who are exempt from tuition because of a parent’s employment by the school or parish are still eligible to apply. If awarded, the scholarship must be applied to tuition, and the school may apply its exemption to other expenses.

FINANCIAL NEED

Knott Scholarships are awarded primarily for outstanding academic achievement. In limited cases, the program may also consider extreme financial need. Your child must first meet every stated requirement, including all academic requirements, before financial need can be considered.

• How financial need is reviewed: Financial need is determined through FACTS. A link to FACTS and the required code is included in the application portal.
• When tax information is required: Tax information may be required only if you request financial need consideration through FACTS. If you are not requesting financial need consideration, no tax information is required. The Knott Scholarship Funds office reserves the right to request copies of your latest federal income tax return, including all schedules used.
• How students are ranked: Students are ranked based on the information submitted in the application. Outside letters of recommendation or support are not accepted and will not be reviewed.
• School records: By applying, you understand that grades and test scores will be sent to the Knott Scholarship Funds office by your child’s current school or by the Archdiocese of Baltimore, as applicable.
• Confidentiality and final decisions: By applying, students, parents, guardians, and school personnel agree that all grades, test scores, evaluations, tax returns, and related information received by the Knott Scholarship Funds office are strictly confidential and will not be discussed with applicants, parents, guardians, or school personnel. All decisions are final.
• Awards are for tuition and tuition only. If awarded, scholarship funds are paid directly to the school and cover tuition only. Books, fees, etc., remain the responsibility of the parent.

The parent will:

1. Complete the online application.
2. Upload the child’s baptismal certificate.
3. Upload the Parish Verification Form.
4. Upload the high school acceptance letter when it becomes available.
5. Arrange for their child to have the WINTER MAP test administered at a Catholic parish school if the child is not already attending a Catholic parish school.

The current principal will:

1. Provide numeric grades if the student attends a non-Archdiocesan school
2. Complete the reference.

The Archdiocese of Baltimore will:

1. Provide HSPT scores.
2. Provide WINTER MAP scores.
3. Provide grades for those students currently enrolled in an Archdiocesan school.

The Knott Scholarship Office will:

1. Review the applications as they are submitted and contact the parent with any omissions, errors or questions before the deadline. Applications are processed in the order received.
2. Notify the parent if the application is complete before the deadline.
3. Will contact the applicant about a mandatory in-person interview.
4. Notify all applicants as to the final outcome of their applications. All decisions are final.

• Pinning Ceremony attendance is required: Newly designated Scholars must attend the Knott Scholarship Pinning Ceremony on Sunday, April 25, 2027, at St. Joe Fullerton Church, 8420 Belair Road, Baltimore, MD 21236. If a student cannot attend, the scholarship will not be awarded.
• Academic progress will be monitored: Ongoing grade reports will be sent to the Knott Scholarship Funds office during all four years of the scholarship.
• Annual updates are required: Students must complete a Scholar Profile each year and keep contact information up to date to maintain the scholarship.
• Participation matters: To maintain their scholarships, EACH year Knott Scholars are expected to attend at least one Knott Scholarship Funds event. Service, faith, networking, social, and community activities provide a way to help others as well as to build the community of Knott Scholars.
• Leadership is encouraged: Scholars are encouraged to pursue leadership opportunities in their schools, parishes, and communities, including the Knott Scholars Student Council when available.
• Alumni are expected to stay connected: Following graduation, Knott Scholar Alumni are expected to continue being an active member of the Knott Scholar community. This includes maintaining communication with the Knott Scholarship Funds office, offering support and assistance to other Knott Scholars through event attendance and/or social networking, and continue to be active participants in their school, church, and neighborhood communities.
• The award cannot be transferred: The student must attend the school listed on the application.
• Acknowledgment is required: Students and a parent or guardian will be asked to confirm these conditions. Failure to comply may result in forfeiture of the scholarship.

Knott Scholarships are for full tuition for up to four years. No books, fees, etc. are covered by a Knott Scholarship. If awarded, your chosen school with replace ALL awards and aid with the funds supplied by the Knott Scholarship Office. We pay the school directly on behalf of your family.

Knott Scholars are expected to maintain academic excellence as outlined by their specific scholarships.

Knott Scholars are expected to make Knott Scholarship Funds’ events a priority and participate in at least one Knott Scholarship Funds community project or social event each year.

They are expected to provide information on their activities annually through a Scholar Profile, which is distributed by the ​Knott Scholarship Funds​ ​office.

Knott Scholars are expected to maintain contact with the Knott Scholarship Funds office once they have graduated and are designated as Knott Scholar Alumni.

Knott Scholars are expected to be active participants in their school, church, and neighborhood communities.

No, they are not. The ​Marion I. & Henry J. ​Knott Foundation is a ​separate​ organization that provides funding to organizations in the Archdiocese of Baltimore. Schol​a​ships are awarded from the Knott Scholarship Funds. In any correspondence regarding a scholarship, inquiries should be made to the Knott Scholarship Funds.

Our portal is open for applications for a specific period of time. Feel free to begin the application and save it to draft form as you complete different sections. Before beginning the process, verify:

Your student meets the grade requirements.

• Your student meets all testing requirements. Contact your school administration if you are unsure about the test scores.
• The student is Catholic and is an active member of a parish in the Archdiocese of Baltimore and meets our geographic requirements.

If your application is submitted your reference/evaluation will be added to the application automatically. You do not need to wait for that notification to apply.

NO. Once you have determined the initial criteria are met, you should begin the application process. When the application is saved to draft form, your evaluator/reference is notified and can complete their portion. Waiting until the week the applications are due may not allow adequate time to address any questions or concerns from the Knott Scholarship Funds. All secondary applications that are submitted prior to the high school acceptance letters are re-opened so that you may indicate the high school of your choice and upload the acceptance letter.

The Knott Scholarship Funds office will contact you if there is an issue with your application. We will confirm when all materials have been received. Applications are reviewed for completeness in the order received.

Each year we receive more qualified applications than funds to distribute. We therefore do not make any exceptions to our application criteria.

We recommend the following:

Review the critical dates on the scholarship page that pertains to the type of scholarship you are interested in.

Verify all your child’s grades and test scores, especially the WINTER MAP test. Make sure you have all contact information for both the current and proposed school and your documentation (Baptismal Certificate, Parish Verification Form) at your disposal.

Begin your application, saving it in draft form and then submitting it when you have completed all the information for which you are responsible. You will be notified once your evaluator/reference completes their portion, and if there are any questions or omissions with your application. Then, the KSF Office will re-open your application once the acceptance letters (for secondary school) or the confirmation of enrollment information (for elementary school) are available.

Knott Scholars are encouraged to seek out leadership opportunities in their schools, parishes, and communities. Knott Scholarship Funds convenes a Knott Scholars Student Council for secondary students to apply leadership skills by planning and executing a variety of events. As an active member of our community, our Scholars are offered numerous and valuable opportunities to lead at our events, in our communications and with each other. Our team will communicate these opportunities to our Scholars, both past and present, on a consistent and timely basis.