Tuition & Financial Aid

What is the CHS Community Gift Program?
The CHS Community Gift Program is need-based tuition assistance provided because we deeply believe in the value of what God is doing on the campus of Christian Heritage School.  We exist as a support to Christian families in the region.  The Community Gift Program assistance application process allows families to apply for reduced tuition that is right for their families’ financial situation. This makes a Christian Heritage education affordable to many qualified students who could not otherwise join our school community.  That being said, it is critically important that this process is navigated with integrity and full disclosure of available resources.  This allows CHS to continue to help those who genuinely need assistance. 

How Does the Community Gift Program Work?
Any family (current or new) of a kindergarten through twelfth-grade student may apply for tuition assistance if they are concerned about affording the full tuition rate at Christian Heritage School and they think they may qualify for the program. Many factors are considered when determining the tuition amount a family is able to pay, including income, assets, unusual expenses, and the size of the family. The awards available for the family in a given year are also considered in light of the amount of the Community Gift Program resources available at that time at Christian Heritage and the overall level of demonstrated need.

An application for tuition assistance does not affect the admission process.  Regardless of financial need, parents should initiate the admission process as early as possible. Families may apply for tuition assistance only after they have applied for admission to the school.

It is not possible for a family or the school to estimate the tuition level for which a family qualifies without the completion of a tuition assistance application. Applications are submitted directly to a third-party agency, Clarity Financial Aid.  Clarity evaluates the application and makes a recommendation to the school’s finance office. Families are notified of the tuition level for which they qualify directly from the school’s financial office.

Unfortunately, the school is not able to provide tuition assistance to every deserving student. We work within the available resources to make the school accessible to as many students and families as possible.  Families must apply for assistance each year it may be needed.  Additionally, the school and the family should have a mutually agreed upon philosophy that the goal would be to decrease assistance needed as a child’s education continues through the years.  Again, this allows us to target assistance to those who need it most as they enter CHS.

Do I need to apply to Christian Heritage School for admission to receive tuition assistance?
Yes.

Upon completion of my tuition assistance application, when will I receive confirmation of my tuition rate?
Typically, within 3 weeks of providing all the required information to our confidential third-party service.

What is the cost to apply for tuition assistance?
During the Open Enrollment portion of our Application Timeline the cost to apply for tuition assistance is $60.

Should every new family submit an application for tuition assistance?
No.  Only families who feel that they may not be able to pay the listed tuition for their student’s grade level should submit an application.

Do I need to apply for tuition assistance every year?
Yes. A new application must be submitted every year.

If I do not qualify for the program this year, can I apply again next year?
Yes. A family that does not qualify is welcome to reapply the following year; especially if their family income or expenses change significantly.

Do I need to apply for admission separately from applying for tuition assistance?
Yes. For new students, application to Christian Heritage School and application for tuition assistance are two separate processes. However, new families may complete both application processes simultaneously.

Will applying for tuition assistance hurt my student’s chance of being admitted to the school?
No. Admission applications and tuition assistance applications are evaluated separately, and an application for tuition assistance has no bearing on the admission process.

What kind of economic situation is typical of a family who qualifies for tuition assistance?
A wide range of families with a variety of circumstances qualify for the program, from those who are able to pay close to the top range of tuition assistance to those who are at the entry level of the range. Many factors are evaluated, including income, assets, unusual expenses, and the size of the family.

Is there a multi-student discount?
Multiple students are one of the key factors in the formula used to determine tuition assistance. One of the important questions asked on the confidential tuition assistance application relates to family size and number of students enrolled at CHS.

Are some families awarded full tuition?
No. Every family is required to make a financial investment in their child’s education. Our commitment to providing tuition assistance means that we are sharing in that investment with you.

Are all admitted students offered tuition assistance if the family qualifies?
No. Unfortunately, the school does not have the ability to offer tuition assistance to every student who qualifies for both admission and tuition assistance. A student may be admitted to the school but placed on a waiting list for tuition assistance. It is recommended that families apply for tuition assistance as early as possible.

Can I work for the school in exchange for tuition for my student? 
The school does not trade tuition for services rendered.  The school may from time to time extend a contract to a parent for services rendered, if our competitive bidding process determines that this service is necessary and reasonable compared to other bids, but in these cases the parent would be paid as a school vendor and would still be responsible for tuition payments.

Who should I contact with questions about tuition assistance?
Questions about tuition assistance should be directed to:
Lara Taylor, Finance Office
LTaylor@chskingsmen.org
203.590.6125

The Christian Heritage School Tuition Assistance program is designed to make a CHS education possible for all families based on demonstrated financial need and the availability of funds. CHS is proud to now use the Clarity Financial Aid Application 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. We are confident that this change is going to make the process of applying for financial aid easier for families, without seeing significant changes to your award if your financial circumstances have not changed year to year.

Clarity uses the previous year's taxes (2023), meaning you do not need to have your current year taxes (2024) completed before applying. This is a major shift from our previous process. Additionally, Clarity removes the need to upload your W2 and 1040 by transferring them directly from the IRS. This reduces the amount of information that you will need to enter manually and makes it possible to complete the application quickly and efficiently.  However, please note that the school will continue to request your current year taxes when these become available.  You will be able to upload these to your application but this will not hold up the process of computing your need.

To get started, please go to the Clarity Application found in the blue box labeled "Community Gift Program" and create an account. 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.

Please remember to return to your dashboard after you complete and submit your Clarity Application, as CHS requires you to upload additional tax documentation including your 2024 W-2s and your 2024 1040 , when available. 

The deadline for completing the financial aid application including relevant supplemental documents is February 28th for returning families.  New families are considered on a rolling basis.

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.

You will need to submit a Clarity application each year in order to qualify for financial aid; however, Clarity retains your information from previous applications, so it will be even easier to reapply.

Family Application Guide: https://clarityschools.com/library/family-application-guide/

Application Quick Reference Guide: https://clarityschools.com/library/quick-reference-guide/

SPANISH Family App Guide: https://clarityschools.com/library/spanish-family-application-guide/

SPANISH App Quick Ref Guide: https://clarityschools.com/library/spanish-quick-reference-guide/

The CHS Family Toolkit is a document designed to give resources to your family to assist in planning for your child's Christian Heritage education costs.  We understand that it is a financial sacrifice to send a child to Christian Heritage School, but it is an investment in your child's life that is well worth it.  As you know, it is our heart to help make CHS as affordable as possible for as many families as possible, but we simply do not have the resources to help every family to the full extent that they may need.  To that end, we have developed the CHS Family Toolkit to further be your partner in coming alongside of you to help a life changing CHS education become a reality.  We are honored and blessed to join you in believing that the Lord will make a way for your child to be shaped and molded at CHS to be everything he or she is called to be!!!  Click HERE for the Toolkit.

Tuition billing begins in May.  If you enroll prior to May, we will collect a non-refundable $1,000 deposit that will be applied to your May invoice.  If you enroll from May onward, the initial payment is as follows:

• May - 10% tuition + $500 activity fee
• June - 20% tuition + $500 activity fee
• July-September - 30% tuition + $500 activity fee

Late Fees:  Blackbaud considers payments late if not received within 5 days of the due date, and a late fee of $50 will be assessed. 

CHS reserves the right to require payment by cash or bank check if an account has more than one rejected payment.

CHS uses a Continuous Enrollment Agreement.  The term of the agreement shall be in effect for the academic year in which the student is enrolled and shall renew automatically each successive academic year unless the CHS Finance Office receives a written notice of withdrawal for the following school year by February 28.

The overhead expenses of the school do not diminish with the departure of some students during the course of a year. Upon acceptance of a  Continuous Enrollment Agreement by CHS, parents become obligated to pay the tuition for the full academic year.  No portion of tuition paid or outstanding will be refunded or canceled in the event of absence, withdrawal or dismissal of a student. By signing the enrollment agreement, parents oblige themselves to pay, to the extent permitted by law, the school’s costs for enforcing the collection of tuition and fees including, without limitation, attorney’s fees and expenses.  Please refer to your enrollment agreement for more detailed information.