Affording a Cheshire Academy Education
For the 2022-2023 academic year, day tuition was reduced by nearly a third to be better aligned with the income levels of more families within the region. Boarding tuition was reduced by 10%.
In addition to supporting current CA families, making CA more affordable to a greater number of families in the region is the right thing to do. This approach is designed to provide greater accessibility to families, giving a wider range of students the opportunity to experience CA, while increasing the diversity and caliber of our student body.
Tuition for 2024-25 School Year
BOARDING
$62,475
plus fees
DAY SCHOOL
$32,498
plus fees
In addition to covering individual student expenses (such as the cost of books, clothing appropriate to the school’s dress code, and some athletic equipment), the following fees apply:
GENERAL FEE
$1,000 FOR 2024-25 YEAR
Covers costs associated with the school’s health center, music and art departments, laboratories, and a technology department to support network infrastructure, student email, and technology-based services.
TUITION REFUND INSURANCE
Required for all families when tuition is not paid in full upon enrolling. (More about Dewar’s tuition refund insurance, offered at over 1,300 independent schools and colleges, can be found on the Dewar website, and in the Tuition Refund Plan 2024-2025.)
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS FEE
$10,000 FOR 2024-25 YEAR
- Supervised room and board for ALL school vacations except winter break (Dec-Jan)
- Airport transportation, including early-arrival and late departure when needed
- Weekend activities and special events, local day and overnight trips
- ELL, SAT, and TOEFL support services
- Regular updates and meetings with the Head of School
- Assistance with and management of the visa process
- Personalized university and college counseling for each student and family
In addition, this fee includes SEVIS management which supports students with the issuance and maintenance of I-20 forms as well as maintaining their F-1 visa status while a student at Cheshire Academy.
How to Apply for Financial Aid
The goal of our financial aid program is to provide access to those who qualify for need-based financial aid and may not be able to otherwise afford to attend. Need-based financial aid is determined by Clarity and by Cheshire Academy’s Financial Aid Committee.
We awarded $4.5 million in financial aid for the 2024-2025 school year, with an average award of approximately $23,750. We invite families interested in receiving need-based financial aid to apply through Clarity by Feb. 1.
The Financial Aid Committee is designed to make a Cheshire Academy education possible for all families based on demonstrated financial need and the availability of funds. Cheshire Academy has partnered 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.
To get started, please go to the Clarity Application and create an account. The application typically takes less than 30 minutes to complete and is 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. Simply use the dropdown menu in the application to select those schools.
Please remember to return to your dashboard after you complete and submit your Clarity Application, as Cheshire Academy requires you to upload additional tax documentation. The deadline for completing the financial aid application including relevant supplemental documents is Feb. 1.
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. This Quick Reference Guide also provides a useful overview of the steps to complete your financial aid application.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Cheshire Academy requires all families to complete and submit the Parents’ Financial Statement (PFS) form through Clarity. Click here to begin the application on Clarity. In addition to the PFS, all families must submit to Clarity all tax returns for 2022 and 2023, including 1040, W2s, 1099s and all schedules.
Cheshire Academy has a limited financial aid budget and we are not able to guarantee that financial aid will be available to late applicants or students who begin at Cheshire Academy paying the full tuition. Thus, it is best for a family to apply for financial aid by the financial aid application deadline rather than waiting until the applicant has been accepted for admission or already enrolled in the school.
A family’s income, assets, and the number of siblings enrolled in tuition-charging schools are considered in qualifying a family for financial aid. In situations where one parent of a two-parent household chooses not to work full time and there are no preschool-aged children in the home, Cheshire Academy will add $25,000 to the family’s income when determining the family’s financial need.
CA considers a family’s income, assets, and the number of siblings enrolled in tuition-charging schools in order to qualify. We subscribe to the guiding principle that the primary responsibility for the cost of a child’s education resides with the family and that financial aid must be based on demonstrated need, not on willingness or unwillingness to pay. We expect that each family will make the funding of their child’s education a priority. The Financial Aid Committee utilizes all data provided through the PFS (Parents’ Financial Statement), tax documents including, but not limited to two years of a Federally filed 1040. All documentation is submitted to and verified by Clarity to determine a family’s “demonstrated need” – demonstrated need is the difference between the cost of education at Cheshire Academy and a family’s expected contribution to that education as a percent of your discretionary income.
We require all families to complete and submit the Parents’ Financial Statement (PFS) form through Clarity. Click here to begin the application on Clarity.
There is a limited financial aid budget, and we are not able to guarantee that financial aid will be available to late applicants or students who begin at Cheshire paying the full tuition. Thus, it is best for a family to apply for financial aid by the financial aid application deadline rather than waiting until the applicant has been accepted for admission or already enrolled in the school.
Families enrolling should be aware that it is unlikely they will receive additional financial aid in future years, beyond the original amount awarded, unless they are able to clearly demonstrate (in writing, with supporting documentation) a significant, unexpected material change in their financial situation.
The Plitt Loan
Through the generosity of The Clarence Manger and Audrey Cordero Plitt Trust, Plitt loans may be available to families who either did not qualify for financial aid or feel they need additional support to bridge the gap between their financial aid award and the cost for their student to attend CA. These loans allow families to pay for tuition in regular monthly installments at competitive interest rates, over a five-year period after graduating from the Academy. Interest does not begin to accrue on loan principal until such time as the loan payments begin. For more information on Plitt Loans, please contact Rich Ferraro.
Yes! CA currently offers three different types of payment plan options, ranging from one pay to monthly billings.
One Pay
One pay is due annually in July, which covers the cost of the student’s tuition, plus fees. Your 10 percent deposit will be applied to this bill.
Two Installment Payment Plan
Similar to the One Pay plan, families are required to pay half of the cost of tuition, plus fees, in July and the remainder of the tuition in December.
Monthly Payment Plan
In this plan, the cost of tuition is divided evenly from June (provided your student is enrolled before June 1) through January. Fees are all due on the first of the month. The 10 percent deposit is deducted from the first month’s payment. The final payment must be received no later than January.
Questions?
Contact our Financial Aid Office
Sheryl Stearns
(203) 439-7613
Scholarships
Every year, Cheshire Academy enrolls a diverse and promising student body from countless states and over 30 countries, resulting in a truly global experience for all students, as well as faculty and staff.
We recognize that committing to an independent school education is, financially, a significant decision for families. But as an internationally minded school dedicated to individualized support and challenging its students to maximize their potential, we do not want financial constraints to limit a family from pursuing their future here.
Many students interested in attending Cheshire Academy could be eligible to apply for a variety of merit-based scholarships. Criteria and requirements for each scholarship vary. Review the information below about each of the scholarship programs available at CA. If you need additional information, you may contact admission@cheshireacademy.org, or 203-439-7250.
Awards vary year to year based on availability.
Cheshire Town Scholarship
(for students entering 9th grade)
Originating in 1938, The Cheshire Academy Town Scholarship is open to students from the town of Cheshire applying for the 9th grade. The winner of this prestigious award receives a full, four-year scholarship to attend Cheshire Academy. Partial scholarships are offered to runner-up applicants.
For scholarship consideration, the candidate must:
- Be a resident of Cheshire having lived in town for a minimum of one year.
- Complete a personal interview by Feb. 1.
Submit a completed admission application by Feb. 1. - Submit, by Feb. 1, an additional 400- to 600-word essay stating why they should be our next Town Scholar. Content may include a description of interests, qualities, or unique life experiences that may set the student apart from other students. Essays can be submitted to admission@cheshireacademy.org.
- Complete the eighth grade by June 30, 2025.
Alumni Legacy Scholarship
(for students entering grades 9-12 or postgraduate year)
This merit-based scholarship is for children, grandchildren, and relatives of Cheshire Academy alumni. If awarded, families will receive $10,000 off the total cost of a boarding tuition. This scholarship, for boarding students, is also available to siblings of currently enrolled students entering grades 9 through 12 and postgraduate.
We take pride in the Academy’s long history of educating individual students by developing their confidence, character, and critical thinking skills, enabling them to thrive as global citizens. The Legacy Scholarship helps to ensure that this proud tradition will continue for generations to come.
A family who receives a financial aid award in their first year can expect to pay a similar amount of tuition each year that their child is enrolled at Cheshire Academy, assuming their financial circumstances do not change. Eligible families may also apply for need-based financial aid.
The Mi Corazon Foundation, Motter Family Scholarship
(for new boarding students from Canada entering grades 9-11 or a postgraduate year)
Throughout its long history, Cheshire Academy has been educating individual students by developing their academic and leadership skills, enabling them to further grow in and contribute to the school community and subsequently thrive in college and as global citizens. For more than two centuries, Cheshire Academy has also offered opportunities for students from around the world to join and experience secondary education in the United States.
For scholarship consideration, the candidate must:
- Be a resident of Canada
Demonstrate financial need
Have a record of academic achievement and aspiration
Show leadership interest, experience, and potential - Complete a personal interview by Feb. 1.
Submit a completed admission application by Feb. 1. - Submit, by Feb. 1, an additional 400- to 600-word essay stating why they should be considered for the The Mi Corazon Foundation, Motter Family Scholarship. Content may include a description of interests, qualities, or unique life experiences that may set the student apart from other students.
- Complete the eighth grade by June 30, 2024.
