Tuition & Financial Aid

Tuition 2023-24

Please note that activity fees are included in tuition. 

• Pre-K and Kindergarten: $19,200

• Grades 1-2: $24,500

• Grades 3-4: $25,500

• Grades 5-7: $27,200

• Grade 8: $30,400

• Grades 9-10: $32,200

• Grades 11-12: $33,600

• Key School (grades 2–8): $46,990

Tuition Includes (all grades): Most textbooks, local field trips, lab/studio fees, PSAT and ERB testing.

Financial aid is available to students in Kindergarten through Grade 12 and Key School Grades 2 through 8.

2023-24 Tuition Planner

Additional financial considerations

• Grades 6-12: Students are required to bring their own personal technology device (laptop, tablet, etc.)
• Grades 8-12: Optional international trip
• Grades 9-12: Advanced placement exam fees, college entrance exam fees (ACT, SAT)
• Grade 12: Graduation expenses such as cap and gown, invitations, and class rings

Not included in tuition: lunches, after school care, bus fees, calculators and similar school supplies; some field trips; yearbook or student photos; individualized programs or special tutoring.

Financial Aid Deadlines

November 15: LOWER/MIDDLE/UPPER SCHOOL APPLICANTS AND ALL CURRENT CDS FAMILIES

Lower, Middle, and Upper School applicants who complete both the admission and financial aid processes by November 15 will receive a Winter Decision (notification early January).

Returning CDS Student's Financial Aid applications are due by November 15.

February 15: Lower/Middle/Upper School/Key School 

Lower, Middle, Upper, and Key School applicants who complete both the admission and financial aid processes by February 15 will receive a Spring Decision (notification early March).

After February 15, we will process applications for admission and financial aid on a rolling, space- and funds-available basis. However, financial aid funding is generally no longer available; if any is available, it is extremely limited. 

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How to Apply for Financial Aid

New applicants: Complete steps 1-3.

Current Carolina Day School Families: The Financial Aid Office will contact you directly with instructions on how to reapply for financial aid. The deadline to apply for Financial Aid is November 15. If you are currently a CDS family who does not receive financial aid from the school but you are interested in applying, please contact the Financial Aid Office directly.

All applications are processed by School & Student Services (SSS). SSS charges a $60 application fee per family.

Questions? The SSS Parent Helpline is available at 1-800-344-8328 or contact Aileen Mitchner at Carolina Day School 828-210-9154, amitchner@carolinaday.org.

The PFS Workbook and Instruction Booklet is available in English and Spanish.

FINANCIAL AID PHILOSOPHY

Our financial aid program ensures that we enroll the best and brightest students in our classrooms, regardless of a family’s ability to pay. As a mission-based school that prepares young people to confidently make a meaningful difference in the world, Carolina Day School is committed to building a socially and economically diverse student body. Investing in your child by providing a Carolina Day School education yields a lifetime of value, and each of our families invests at a level of affordability. 

Socio-economic diversity is integral to a strong and healthy school and CDS vigorously supports a meaningful tuition assistance program to support achievement of our various diversity initiatives. Our commitment to affordability is strong, with approximately $3.3 million in financial aid granted for the 2022-23 school year to approximately 30% of our students. Our financial aid program enables us to enroll mission appropriate students who could not otherwise afford a Carolina Day School education.

Our financial aid program enriches the entire Carolina Day School community.

• For qualified students: access to an exceptional education

• For students who don’t receive assistance: outstanding peers are represented in our classrooms, regardless of their ability to pay the full cost of a Carolina Day School education

Financial aid decisions and admission decisions are made by two separate committees.

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APPLICATION DEADLINES

Your application for admission and your application for financial aid occur in parallel. Both applications must be completed by the admission deadline to be considered for admission.

November 15: Lower/Middle/Upper School 

Lower, Middle, and Upper School applicants who complete both the admission and financial aid processes by November 15 will receive a Winter Decision (notification early January).

February 15: Lower/Middle/Upper School/Key School 

Lower, Middle, Upper, and Key School applicants who complete both the admission and financial aid processes by February 15 will receive a Spring Decision (notification early March).

After February 15, we will process applications for admission and financial aid on a rolling, space- and funds-available basis. However, financial aid funding is generally no longer available; if any is available, it is extremely limited.

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APPLYING FOR FINANCIAL AID

In determining Financial Aid eligibility, Carolina Day School asks parents to submit a financial aid application, including their most recent 1040, all supporting schedules and W2 to School and Student Services (SSS) by the Financial Aid and Admission Deadlines. Business owners are asked to submit business tax returns and K-1(s).  FOR SECURITY PURPOSES, DO NOT SEND TAX DOCUMENTS TO THE SCHOOL.

Carolina Day School is committed to admitting and enrolling as many qualified students as we can. Though we do have a generous financial aid budget, it is finite. Because we have more qualified applicants than we have the means to fund, our current reality is that we do not have the resources to fund all applicants. Our advice is to apply early and meet the November 15 Winter Decision Deadline.

School and Student Services (SSS) uses a methodology to compute a family's ability to pay (Effective Family Contribution) for educational expenses for all children. Carolina Day School uses the SSS process as a starting point for all Financial Aid applications and does a separate sensitivity analysis to account for unusual or special circumstances.

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FINANCIAL AID POLICY

Financial Aid decisions are determined by the Carolina Day School Financial Aid Committee through an analysis of each family’s financial situation. Financial information is held in strict confidence. The following policies guide the Financial Aid Committee decisions:

1. Carolina Day School believes that all families should bear some financial responsibility for their child’s education. Financial aid grants will not cover more than 90% of the cost of tuition.

2. Financial aid is available to students in Kindergarten through Grade 12 and Key School Grades 2 through 8.

3. Carolina Day School is committed to supporting your student when we award a financial aid grant. To best serve our families, we calculate financial aid awards on an annual basis. Parents are required to reapply for Financial Aid and submit the required documentation each year by the published deadline. Unless there has been a significant change to your family's financial situation, you should expect to receive a consistent percentage award, although your family contribution will likely increase from year to year. The committee will review and make adjustments appropriate to changes in financial resources and tuition increases. 

4. In a family applying for Financial Aid, we expect both parents (if applicable) to be employed. For purposes of calculating the amount a family can contribute to their child’s Carolina Day School tuition, our system assumes both parents (if applicable) are employed.

5. The Financial Aid Committee expects all parents to contribute financially to their child’s tuition. Each household is expected to submit a completed PFS and all other required documentation in order for CDS to gain a realistic picture of family resources. If the non-custodial parent is involved in the child’s life, we expect that parent to participate in the financial aid process. If the non-custodial parent refuses to comply, the Financial Aid Committee will determine whether or not the family will be eligible for an award. If a non-custodial parent is not involved in the child’s life, we will request a verification letter from a third party (minister, attorney, social worker, etc.). In cases of divorce, the Financial Aid Committee may request a copy of the divorce decree. We understand that each situation is unique and will be handled on an individual basis.

6. We expect that families who begin by paying full tuition to the School will continue to do so.  If you enroll by paying full tuition, you are not eligible to apply for financial aid for the following two years, unless there has been a significant change with your financial situation. 

7. If you apply for a financial aid grant and do not qualify, one of two things may happen:

   • If you enroll at Carolina Day School, you are not eligible to apply for financial aid for the following two years.

   • If you do not enroll at Carolina Day School, you are welcome to both apply for admission and a financial aid grant the following year.

8. Financial aid covers some costs beyond tuition.

   • For students who utilize the bus and incur the additional fee for ridership, financial aid will be applied to the bus fee in the same proportion as it is applied for tuition.

   • For students registered for After-School Care, we will provide financial aid to After-School Care fees in the same proportion as financial aid is applied to tuition. Students must be enrolled in After-School Care on an annual or semester basis.

   • For those students who qualify for free or reduced school meals, we provide lunch.

   • Financial aid does not apply to After School Adventures, Lower School Play for Your School Athletic Programs, or other types of programs after school.

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QUESTIONS

Please contact Aileen Mitchner, Admission & Financial Aid Associate, at amitchner@carolinaday.org or 828-210-9154.