Admission

Tuition and Affordability

Affordable Excellence: Affording an IDS Education

While the value of an IDS experience is clear, affording an independent school tuition can be a financial challenge. This challenge can become even more daunting when families are faced with affording tuition for more than one child. As such, IDS is committed to working with families to close the gap between what they can afford and the cost of an IDS education.
Available to full-day students in Preschool through Grade 8, IDS financial assistance is based on the need of the family and has no bearing on our admission decisions. To be considered for tuition assistance, please complete an application online with Clarity.

The Independent Day School (IDS) Tuition Assistance Program is designed to make an IDS education possible for all families based on demonstrated financial need and the availability of funds. IDS is proud to partner with Clarity to determine a family’s level of financial need based on the information that families share in the application which includes assets, income, expenses, and debts.
Clarity will require permission to request and obtain your tax information as part of the application process. The application typically takes less than 30 minutes to complete. The Clarity Application is also mobile-friendly so you can complete it from anywhere. You are also able to save your progress and return at any time. At the end of the application, there is a $60 fee to submit, and you can share your application with additional schools that accept the Clarity Application for no additional charge.
 
In those cases where parents are not living together, the resources of both parents will be considered in establishing the family’s level of need. Award decisions are made by the IDS Tuition Assistance Committee.
 
 
The deadline for completing the financial aid application including relevant supplemental documents for returning families is December 31, 2025 and for new families, it is January 31, 2026.
 
If you need support during the process of completing your application, there is in-app support available through the “Help” button in the bottom left of the screen, as well as email and phone support at support@clarityapp.com or 206-210-3752, in both English and Spanish. The application itself is also fully translated into Spanish.

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Did you know that…

  • Families earning more than $200,000 per year may qualify for tuition assistance, depending on circumstances.
  • More than 50% of our families receive some form of tuition assistance.
  • Admission decisions are not impacted by tuition assistance applications.
  • Tuition assistance awards are grants and do not need to be paid back.
  • All tuition assistance arrangements are confidential.

Financial Assistance Timelines

Returning Families New Families
Clarity Application December 31, 2025 January 31, 2026
Enrollment Contract Issued February 1, 2026 March 9, 2026
Signed Enrollment Contract with Deposit Due February 23, 2026 April 10, 2026
Copies of the following, and others as required:
•2024 tax return(s), W2s, Form 4506		 With application
As soon as possible, but no later than April 17, 2026		 With application
As soon as possible, but no later than April 17, 2026


Please note that any new student tuition assistance applications received after the deadline will be considered and processed on an individual basis. Do not let missing the deadline deter you from applying.




2025-2026 Tuition

List of 8 items.

  • Beginner - Half Day

    $17,440.00

  • Beginner - Full Day

    $22,667.00

  • Pre-K - Full Day

    $23,702.00

  • Kindergarten

    $28,877.00

  • Grades 1 - 2

    $31,568.00

  • Grades 3 - 4

    $32,603.00

  • Grades 5 - 6

    $35,501.00

  • Grades 7 - 8

    $38,192.00

    • Autumn Games

Payment Options

IDS offers a variety of payment options. Regardless of the payment option selected, a 10% deposit is due with the signed enrollment contract.

List of 4 items.

  • Monthly payments

    Balance of tuition plus $900 facilities fee payable in 10 monthly installments, April through January.

  • One payment

    Balance of tuition (90%) plus $900 facilities fee due August 2

  • Three payments

    40% of tuition balance plus $900 facilities fee due June 1
    30% of tuition balance due August 2
    20% of tuition balance due December 1

  • Two payments

    60% of tuition balance plus $900 facilities fee due July 1
    30% of tuition balance due December 1
The sooner you start your financial planning for an IDS education, the better. Please call the Enrollment Office at (860) 347-7235 if you have any questions. You can also email Matt McCaffrey, Director of Strategic Enrollment Management and Marketing at: mccaffreymmc@independentdayschool.org.