Tuition & Financial Aid

Choosing The New Community School is a transformative investment in your child’s future; one that nurtures both academic growth and personal development. At TNCS, tuition covers essential aspects of our college-preparatory program for students with dyslexia and related learning differences, including individualized instruction, athletics, and enriching after-school activities. Beyond academics, our program helps students discover their strengths, build resilience, and develop the skills they need to navigate the opportunities and challenges of life with courage and purpose.

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Tuition

Tuition for the 2025 - 2026 Academic School Year for both Middle & Upper School is $37,440.00

What factors determine the annual tuition rate?

Comparing our tuition increases since 2020-2021 to others in the Richmond area, our tuition has risen 16.0% through 2024-25, while the median Richmond tuition rose 20.0% (DASL database, NAIS). 

When considering our tuition, is it important to remember these factors: 

• Our teacher to student ratio is extraordinarily low. Language Fundamentals classes average 2 – 4 students, and academic classes average about 8-10. Overall, our student to teacher ratio at TNCS is 4 to 1. Our customized instruction and student success depend on these low ratios. 

• Our teachers are our most important asset. With an average of 15.9 years of teaching experience, it is critical that we retain our exceptional faculty and attract dedicated and enthusiastic new teachers in the competitive Richmond market. 

• 100% of tuition goes to the operation of the school. Capital campaigns have raised over $10 to cover construction of Founders Hall and the Wellness Center addition in the past  years.

Enrollment agreements are offered beginning in February. A deposit of $1,000 is due with the signed enrollment agreement.

WHAT OTHER COSTS CAN I EXPECT? 

In addition to tuition, expected fees include: 

• MacBook required for grades 8-12 

• Technology Fee of $100 per year for apps and resources 

• Laptop fee for grades 5 – 7, $100 per year, to cover provided chromebooks and MacBooks 

• School textbooks, supplies, and resources, estimated at $200 per school year 

• Field trips, costs vary 

• Athletic fees, $50 - $100 per season 

• Yearbook fee 

• Personal school supplies purchased through the School Store 

• LF testing fee $25, and the cost of personal books for LF classes 

ARE THERE WAYS TO MAKE A TNCS EDUCATION MORE AFFORDABLE? 

Following are resources available to help with tuition. 

Use of Section 529 Plans to Pay Tuition 

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 contains a provision that allows the use of Section 529 accounts to pay for private K-12 education up to $10,000 per year, per child starting in 2018. These accounts can be established by parents, grandparents, or family friends and contributions can receive state tax advantages.  The investments grow tax free and withdrawals are not taxed on capital gains, to the extent they are used to fund qualified educational expenses. There is additional information on this new tax law change on the  Saving for College website. 

Medical Expenses as Itemized Deductions 

If you itemize your tax deductions, you may be able to include in medical expenses the cost of attending The New Community School, as a Special Education tuition expense. For more information, see IRS Publication 502 Medical and Dental Expenses  for use in preparing returns, and/or check with your tax professional. 

Financial Aid from The New Community School 

Following on the beliefs of the school’s founders, the board of trustees and school administration are committed to serving all segments of the community as best as we can. Although our funds are limited, we encourage parents to apply for assistance from the school after other sources of funding have been explored.  

Any questions regarding this process can be addressed to the  Business Office. 

Loans 

Financing options include home equity lines, personal loans, or financing through Your Tuition Solution.  Brochures are available from the Business Office and the Admissions Office if you have any questions. 

Scholarships 

Education loans or scholarships from churches, related opportunities, community service organizations or philanthropic foundations may also be available to you. The school suggests that you apply to some of these groups who give aid to individuals, instead of schools. 

Extended Family Support 

Some of our families receive assistance with tuition from relatives. While there is an annual limit on gifts to others, gifts of tuition are not limited. 

Federal/State/Local Funds 

Public school systems have placed students at The New Community School. In these instances, the public schools pay 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 instances, parents have gained placement for their child at New Community under Public Law through due process procedures developed by the Virginia Department of Education. 

IS THERE A FINANCIAL AID CALCULATOR? 

How Do Private Schools Determine Aid?  is a very informative article that speaks to the variety of issues that are considered in determining financial aid. 

ARE OPERATING FUNDS USED FOR OTHER PURPOSES BY THE SCHOOL? 

Operating Fund income, consisting of tuition 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 capital campaigns for buildings, property, or endowment efforts, are funded by contributions and gifts given specifically for those purposes. 

WHEN ARE TUITION PAYMENTS DUE? 

There is a $1,000 deposit, due when the enrollment agreement is signed. The school offers two billing options: 

• 5 Payment Plan: equal payments billed on the 1st of June, July, October, January, and March. 

• 10 Payment Plan, for those who choose to pay their bills automatically through ACH. Payments are drafted on the 15th or 30th of June, July, August, September, October, November, January, February, March, and April. 

• These billing programs are setup through the FACTS Tuition Management portal. 

WHAT ARE THE AVAILABLE METHODS OF PAYMENT? 

Tuition and other payments can be made using the online FACTS Tuition Payment portal where families can pay by online debit, or by credit card.  Families can also make send a check payment to the School office or using our online system. Most major credit cards are accepted, as well as debit cards. Additional fees apply. The Business Office can also setup an automatic draft on your checking or savings account. Contact the Business Office for more information (804.266.2494 x2233). 

Apply for Financial Aid

Working to make a TNCS education more affordable and accessible

At The New Community School, we are committed to making education accessible to as many families as possible. We offer limited financial aid each year to qualified students, and awards are granted on a first-come, first-served basis. We'd like to encourage you to submit your application as early as possible to ensure your family is considered for assistance. We’re here to support you every step of the way in making the best decision for your child’s future.

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TNCS uses Clarity to receive and evaluate financial aid applications. Clarity is an online financial assistance platform currently used by many independent schools.  The Clarity platform provides a clear and consistent method for software tools that many independent schools use. Using this platform, TNCS seeks to review all requests objectively and consistently.  

Parents should go to the Clarity Application and create an account to apply. The application typically takes less than 30 minutes to complete. The Clarity Application is mobile-friendly, so you can complete it anywhere. Families 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. 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 The New Community School requires you to upload additional tax documentation, including:

• A complete copy of both parents’ 2023 Federal Income Tax return and supporting schedule, if this hasn’t already been filed with the IRS.
• A copy of all parents’ 2023 W-2s.
• Business tax returns (2022 and 2023) for families who own businesses.
• Additional documentation as requested from our office.

The deadline for completing the financial aid application, including relevant supplemental documents, is March 1st for returning families and new families.