Mission
Regina Coeli School is a Roman Catholic elementary school in the Diocese of Youngstown serving grades PreK through Fifth in Alliance, Ohio, and its surrounding communities. The school shares in the mission of Jesus Christ by educating the holistic needs of its students. It is open to children of all races and faiths and is committed to high academic standards in a safe, disciplined environment. The staff, along with the support of parent partners, strives to help students develop their full potential and grow in their relationship with God and each other.
Mission Statement
Regina Coeli/St. Joseph School, a Roman Catholic Elementary School of the Diocese of Youngstown, serves to share in the mission of Jesus Christ by educating the whole child. It is open to children of all races and faiths and is committed to high standards based on 21st century skills, in a safe and disciplined environment. The staff, along with the support of parent partners, strives to help students develop their full potential and grow in their relationships with God and each other.
Students
We service many students, coming from a variety of school districts in Stark County, Ohio. Primarily, our student population is made up of students from the following school districts/areas:

Admissions
Welcoming Students of All Faiths At Regina Coeli School , we embrace students and families from diverse religious backgrounds to become part of our school community. Our affordable Catholic education combines academic excellence with small class sizes, extracurricular activities including athletics and arts, and a variety of student organizations. Enrollment and registration are available throughout the year. To find out more about Regina Coeli School or to arrange a campus visit, please contact our admissions office at 330-823-9239.
Enrollment Steps
- Contact the school or speak with the Enrollment Director ⇨
- Schedule a campus tour ⇨
- Experience a shadow day to visit classes ⇨
- Begin the enrollment process by submitting an application
Preschool
Research by the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) indicates that children enrolled in high-quality preschool programs tend to enter kindergarten with more advanced pre-reading skills, expanded vocabularies, and stronger foundational math abilities compared to their peers who do not attend such programs. Regina Coeli Preschool, which offers a nurturing Catholic family environment, serves children aged 3 to 5 years old. The preschool has earned a Five-Star Step Up to Quality Ohio rating and provides more than ten different grants and scholarships to support enrolled families. Families can choose between half-day or full-day attendance, with options for 2, 3, or 5 days per week, accommodating various schedules.
Children must be at least 3 years old by August 1 to enroll. For additional details, please contact the school office at 330-823-9239.
Preschool Program Philosophy
The early childhood years should be characterized by warmth, security, curiosity, and discovery. Since faith development begins early in life, preschool education plays a vital role within the broader scope of Catholic education. Catholic preschools, in partnership with parents, serve as effective environments for introducing young children to the Gospel message. These programs also support families in nurturing their children’s growth and development. Preschools affiliated with the Diocese of Youngstown foster communities of learners that uphold respect for children, families, teachers, and staff. Young children are naturally active and social, learning best through exploration of their surroundings. Each child is unique, with individual growth patterns, preferences, and cultural backgrounds. Effective learning occurs when children actively participate, driven by their innate curiosity, through hands-on experiences and investigations. A Diocese of Youngstown preschool environment emphasizes a developmentally appropriate, child-centered curriculum designed to inspire curiosity, foster self-confidence and independence, and develop literacy and readiness skills essential for kindergarten. Since children are inherently curious scientists eager to solve problems, our programs integrate science and math through meaningful, connected activities that include the arts. Play is a vital part of childhood development, serving as the primary mode of learning. Our focus is on experiences that positively influence the child’s holistic growth—emotionally, physically, cognitively, socially, and spiritually—while nurturing self-esteem. Recognizing that each child learns differently, we encourage choice, responsibility, and active participation, creating a foundation for lifelong learning through intentional, engaging experiences.
Goals and Objectives of the Preschool Program
- To foster awareness of God’s love for every individual and recognize each child as a unique creation of God.
- To introduce Scripture through engaging storytelling.
- To nurture an understanding of God's goodness through adult role modeling and an appreciation of nature.
- To build trust between children and adults outside their family environment.
- To maintain close communication with parents for a deeper understanding of each child's gifts and needs.
- To create a warm, supportive environment where children feel excited about learning and exploration, allowing their natural curiosity to thrive.
- To cultivate respectful relationships, property respect, and an understanding of rules within the Catholic school community.
- To promote cooperation, problem-solving, and peaceful conflict resolution, respecting others' rights.
- To help children develop a sense of self-worth and self-esteem by recognizing their value aspart of God's creation.
- To foster independence and confidence in understanding and navigating their environment.
- To offer engaging, age-appropriate materials and activities in reading, writing, math, social studies, and science that support developmental progress.
- To provide meaningful play experiences that enhance social, emotional, and language development.
- To encourage creativity and self-expression through a variety of artistic media.
- To instill a positive attitude toward school and cultivate a love of learning as a foundation for future academic success.
Tuition and Scholarships
Our students receive support through individual parish tuition grants and foundations.
The Mary Ellen Cushwa Wolsonovich Scholarship offers tuition assistance funded by Stark County. Applications for this scholarship can be submitted through FACTS.
These are state-provided tuition vouchers available to qualifying families, enabling them to send their children to a private or parochial school of their choice. Eligibility for the EdChoice or Expansion Scholarship is based on income criteria or attendance at a public school designated as underperforming by the Ohio Department of Education.
This scholarship program, established by the Diocese of Youngstown, is funded through donations to the SGO (Scholarship Granting Organization). Contributions to the Good Samaritan Scholarship Fund are used to provide scholarships to students enrolled in Catholic schools within the Diocese, with a focus on supporting low-income families seeking quality educational opportunities. Donations can be directed to support Regina Coeli via the dropdown menu. To contribute, visit https://doy.org/ministries/catholic-schools/.
If you would like more information about our scholarship programs or tuition options, please call or email us.
History
In the early 1950's it was apparent that the St. Joseph Parish, the mother church of Alliance, could no longer adequately minister to the post-war increase of Catholic families in the city. Father John Cunningham, pastor of St. Joseph was charged with establishing a new parish. After an initial purchase of a 53 acre contract in the Marian allotment, the new parish was dedicated to the Blessed Virgin and given the Latin name Regina Coeli, meaning Queen of Heaven. Because St. Joseph had been overcrowded for several years, Monsignor Cunningham began construction of the school as his first priority in 1956. The new parish was dedicated and blessed by Bishop Emmet M. Walsh in 1958, and numbered about 500 families. The boundaries of the parish divided the city of Alliance at Union Avenue, consequently serving the west side of town. Regina Coeli had one of the first parish councils in the Diocese, organized in 1969 by Father John Turk.
The Altar-Rosary Society, Infant of Prague Guild, St. Ann study Club, and the Astro Booster club were among the earliest parish organizations. The present permanent church was remodeled and dedicated by Bishop James W. Malone on April 13, 1975. In order to eliminate the parish debt and establish a permanent church, the school and church were combined into an auditorium. Parishoners decided to remodel the present structure rather than construct the gothic church proposed by Monsignor Cunningham in 1958. A shrine was then constructed to honor the parish patroness, the Blessed Virgin Mary, in 1980. The parish school began operating with five grades in the fall of 1957. The Sisters of St. Dominic of Akron, already staffing St. Joseph, agreed to serve at Regina Coeli.
Sister M. Dennis was the first principal, and the rest of the staff included Sister Kevin, and Mrs. Yvonne Welch. Today the Parish conducts a comprehensive religious education program, an active youth ministry program, as well as many adult programs. The parish school merged with St. Joseph's and is still called Regina Coeli. The secondary education is provided at a nearby St. Thomas Aquinas High School. From its inspired beginnings, Regina Coeli has developed into a spiritually active and financially sound parish. Regina Coeli currently serves over 950 families, and the combined school is once again growing.