Upper School Tuition and Affordability

Slate School is need blind and meets 100% of all demonstrated need for each admitted student. 

Slate School is the only K-12 independent school in the country that is need blind and meets 100% of demonstrated financial need for every admitted student. In this commitment and practice, we join fewer than 70 high schools and colleges — mostly colleges — in the country that meets the full demonstrated financial need for our students. We look at an applicant's character, commitment, and achievements. Not their family's income.

We ensure that a family's financial circumstances are not a barrier to an exceptional education at Slate School. Slate School embraces socioeconomic diversity and offers guaranteed scholarships and financial aid designed to ensure affordability for all families in the community. Slate School is the only non-public K-12 school in the United States to offer need-blind admissions, while meeting 100% of all demonstrated need for each admitted student. This means that financial need is not considered as part of a student's admission decision, and upon admission, the student's full financial need is subsidized by Slate School. We are proud that finances are not a barrier to enrollment, which enables us to attract the most talented students to Slate School, regardless of their family's financial circumstances.

Need-blind admissions: Your financial need and family’s financial circumstances do not affect your child’s ability to be admitted to Slate School. We do not review your financial aid application until after you are admitted to Slate School.

We meet 100% of demonstrated financial need for every admitted student, and for every year of attendance at Slate School. Financial aid is need-based and considers factors such as family's income, assets, family size, and extenuating circumstances. Our financial aid distribution is objectively determined, and we have no preferential policies that give some students better financial awards than others.

Our generous financial aid makes Slate School accessible to our admitted students.

Slate School is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that is funded by charitable contributions. These donations enable Slate School to subsidize the cost of tuition and to provide scholarships and financial aid to families attending Slate School.

All families with a gross income of less than $280,000 will receive guaranteed scholarships and financial aid to ensure that the family's financial obligation does not exceed 10% of their gross income for Grades 7-8 and does not exceed 12% of their gross income for Grades 9-12. The tuition for families with a gross income above $280,000 is $28,000 for Grades 7-8.

Additionally, students who have attended Slate Lower School for at least 3 years receive an additional 5% tuition discount.

All parents are expected to work to contribute towards the cost of their child’s education, and $25,000 is therefore the expected minimum income for each parent/guardian. An income of $25,000 is added to the gross parent/guardian income for a non-working, fully able adult with children who are older than 4 years old and who are not full-time adult students. Therefore, a parent whose income is less than $25,000 will still count in the gross income as an income of $25,000.

Additional scholarships and financial aid are available based upon an evaluation of demonstrated need. 

Each additional sibling attending Slate School receives an automatic 20% discount on the family obligation regardless of income.

A student who does not qualify for financial aid is not eligible to apply for a financial aid grant for the following two years, unless extenuating circumstances determine demonstrated financial need.

Financial Aid

Slate School has employed FACTS Grant & Aid for our financial aid application process and assessment. As a reliable resource for tuition management, FACTS analyzes families’ financial need based on income, expenses, and other considerations. To apply for financial aid, families should create an online FACTS account, complete the application, and submit it concurrently with the student application. The financial aid application should be completed as soon as possible, and February 15 is the firm deadline for completion for returning students and for new students. Financial aid is not guaranteed if the financial aid application is not completed by the February 15th deadline. If a student is admitted as a new student after February 15, the financial aid application will be considered as long as the financial aid application is submitted concurrently with the student application, and as long as financial aid funds remain available.

For parents who are divorced, separated, or never married, each legal guardian is required to submit a FACTS application. All legal guardians are considered in the financial aid calculation.

1. Go to https://online.factsmgt.com/signin/4LJ7Q February 15 is the firm deadline for completion. Financial aid is not guaranteed if the financial aid application is not completed by the February 15th deadline.

2. Required documents include 2023 income statements (including W2s, unemployment statements, and Social Security income statements), and 2023 IRS Form 1040 and relevant schedules. We also ask that business owners and those in partnerships include a Schedule C, Schedule E, Form 1120, and or K-1. Additional documents may be requested by FACTS.

Payment Plan Options

Families can choose one-payment, semester, and monthly tuition payment plans. There is a $55.00 enrollment fee for a monthly payment plan, $25.00 for a semester, and no enrollment fee for full payment plan.