What is the tuition fee for a full year?
The tuition fees for the school year 2007 - 2008
are as follows:

When are tuition payments due?
The following is a typical payment schedule, based on the enrollment agreement for Grades 6 to 8.

How can my child attend the school if I can't afford the full tuition?
Not all families are able to meet the full cost of tuition. A few alternatives are described here:

1. Federal/State/Local Funds. Most public school systems have placed students at The New Community School. In these instances, the public school system pays all of the tuition costs. Occasionally, the public school system initiates the placement process because it believes that it is not able to provide an appropriate program for the student. In other cases, parents have gained placement for their child at New Community under Public Law through due process procedures developed by the Department of Education in Virginia.
2. Financial Aid from The New Community School. The school's founders were committed to the idea that the school should serve all segments of the community. Although our funds are limited, we encourage parents to apply for assistance from the school after other sources of funding have been explored. We make every effort to see that a student is not denied attendance due to financial limitations. Financial aid is "need based" and usually partial in nature. Financial aid forms are available from the business office and should be submitted at or before the time of enrollment each year. Financial aid is awarded after careful and confidential review of the application. Aid decisions are made separate from admissions decisions, but may progress at the same time.

   Applications for financial aid from The New Community School should be completed and submitted by April 16th. The earliest decisions on aid are usually made for returning students in May, later decisions are made in July and possibly August. Financial aid is limited and the school advises application as early as possible before the budgeted financial aid has been fully distributed.

3. Scholarships and Loans. Education loans or scholarships from church related groups, community service organizations or philanthropic foundations may also be available to you. The school may suggest that you apply to some of these groups who give aid to individuals instead of schools.

How are currently enrolled students and their families meeting the cost of tuition?
Approximately, 64% of our students are meeting the tuition need based on the typical enrollment agreement payment schedule, 8% are enrolled on a modified payment plan, 22% are receiving some portion of supplemental financial aid and 6% are attending the school under contract with their local public school systems.

What factors determine the annual tuition rate?
The cost of intensive remedial and special education is unavoidably expensive. It is driven by the need for a low pupil/teacher ratio, which is critical to successful individualized instruction. (The total ratio of students to teachers at TNCS is currently projected to be 6 to 1 for the 2007-2008 school year.) When compared to other programs of its kind in the nation, the tuition is still low. In addition, the average tuition charged to our students is well below the school's actual average operating cost per student. This means that, in addition to tuition revenues, we will need to raise more than $375,000 in annual gifts or other income. The Board of Trustees, other volunteers and groups like the Parents Association and the Alumni Association work together to provide this difference through very active and essential fund raising efforts like the Annual Fund.

Although the school is beginning to benefit from a growing endowment fund, that fund is still relatively small and the annual fund is critical to the school's success and robust financial health.

How are the school's tuition revenues and contributions used?
The school's expenses are well focused on the mission of the school. Expenses related to the education program and services comprise 74% of the total expenses. Additionally, 10% provide for general and administrative services, 8% for maintaining buildings and grounds, and 8% for other expenses including development costs.

Are operating funds used for other purposes by the school?
Operating Fund income -- that is, tuitions and Annual Fund contributions -- is used only for meeting the needs of the school's educational programs, financial aid and related support services. Other important projects determined by the Board of Trustees, such as a capital improvement project to purchase and renovate a classroom building, are funded by contributions and gifts given specifically to those projects.

How can I start the financial aid process?
Currently, approximately 22% of our students receive financial aid from The New Community School Foundation. We make every effort to see that a student is not denied attendance due to financial limitations. Financial aid is "need based" and usually partial in nature. It is awarded after careful and confidential review of the application. To begin the process:

Please call the business office to request information on how to apply for financial aid. You may do so at any point during the application process or if you wish, you can wait until you have received a decision from the Admissions Committee. However, the Financial Aid Committee does not act on applications for aid until after the Admissions Committee has made its decision.

What is the timetable for financial aid application?
Applications for financial aid from The New Community School should be completed and submitted by April 16th if possible. Funds are limited and the school advises application as early as possible. The Financial Aid Committee does not act on an application until all of the following have occurred:

As soon as the Financial Aid Committee has acted, you will be notified of their decision.

What if I have questions along the way?
Contact the school's financial aid officer:
L. Brooks Zerkel
The New Community School
4211 Hermitage Road
Richmond, VA 23227
804.266.2494
FinancialAid@tncs.org