Affording AVS
Tuition
Each January, our Board of Trustees sets the tuition schedule for the coming school year. For the 2023–2024 school year, tuition is $39,900 for all grade levels.
Upon enrollment and re-enrollment, families secure their spot at AVS with a non-refundable deposit of 10% of net tuition – that is, the total amount due after any tuition assistance. This deposit is applied toward that year's tuition. Payment plans are available to families to pay the balance of tuition in 1, 4, or 9 installments.
Tuition covers all educational costs, including:
- School day instruction
- Student supplies
- School activities
- Field trips
Extras
After-school care and enrichment programming (including AVS Adventure Camps, which are offered to provide child care during many school closure days) are available at additional cost.
Tuition Assistance
We recognize that our tuition – though squarely in the bottom half when compared to our peer schools' tuitions – is out of reach of many families. Nevertheless, the Alta Vista School community places a high priority on fostering socioeconomic diversity among our students. committed to building a community of families who share common values, irrespective of financial means. We believe this benefits all AVS students. To that end, AVS has allocated more than $1.3 million for need-based Tuition Assistance in the 2022–2023 academic year. This is possible thanks to the generous support of AVS families who donate to the Annual Fund and who support the annual Gala, organized by the Parent and Family Group specifically to benefit our Tuition Assistance program.
We strongly encourage families who cannot afford to pay the full tuition to apply for Tuition Assistance. TA grants do not need to be repaid and are credited directly against tuition; depending on each family's calculated need, the school will offer as much aid as is available to help bridge the gap. We hire a third-party company to process applications and to assess each family's need based on a carefully calibrated rubric that takes into account the exceptional circumstances that come with living in the Bay Area.
Tuition Assistance application status does not play a role in each student's admission decision. Those decisions are made first, and Tuition Assistance is provided confidentially to families after an admission decision has been made. We strive to meet as much of each family's demonstrated need as our budget will allow.
Applying for Tuition Assistance
Complete the TADS application
AVS contracts with TADS, an independent and established Tuition Assistance service, to process TA applications. The deadlines for our Tuition Assistance application are:
Returning students: Jan 13th, 2023
New students: Feb 10, 2023.
Enter partner code 200491 to ensure that AVS receives a copy of the application.
All information and documentation submitted to TADS is kept confidential.
Other financial aid options
Alta Vista School works closely with Basic Fund, to offer privately funded financial aid to families who meet their need requirements:
Submit supporting documentation
TADS will provide you instructions on how to submit the following:
- Household members' most recently completed federal tax forms (personal and businesses owned)
- W-2s from each job held by household members
- Most recent pay stub from each job held by household members
- Documents that establish the amount of miscellaneous monthly or yearly income you currently receive (e.g., benefits from TANF, SNAP, unemployment, workers' compensation, etc.)
- All corporate, partnership, and trust forms if a household member owns 20% or more interest in a corporation, partnership, or trust
Do not send any of these items to AVS. They must be sent directly to TADS.
AVS will make a determination
Once your file is complete, TADS will analyze your submissions and provide AVS with a report that includes a recommendation of what your family should reasonably be able to contribute toward tuition.
Once admission decisions are made, AVS will then consider the files for each admitted student to make a determination about their aid offer that balances demonstrated need with available funds.
NOTE: TADS does not determine whether tuition assistance will be given or in what amount.
Need help with your application?
Contact TADS for assistance completing the application, submitting documentation, or checking your application status. TADS does not have award information.
Phone: (800) 344-8328
Email: sssandtadsfa@communitybrands.com