family individualized tuition
The most important part of the Chicago Waldorf School is you.
The Chicago Waldorf School is, first and foremost, a community of individuals. We hail from five different continents, dozens of countries, and over 30 local neighborhoods. We represent a variety of different religions, genders, skin colors, abilities, and sexualities. Each of us brings something wholly unique, enhancing the richness and vibrancy of the entire school community. The Family Individualized Tuition (FIT) model is built to ensure that we can continue to welcome an ever-wider array of individuals from all over the city, the country, and the world, and grow our community in new and exciting ways.
what is fit?
No two families are identical. The Chicago Waldorf School uses a variable tuition model to assess each family’s financial picture to determine a tuition that works best for you.
FIT takes into consideration numerous aspects of a family’s financial picture, such as: sibling enrollment, child or elderly care, and extenuating circumstances as they relate to employment income or family expenses. The information below is intended to provide clarity to families as they consider applying, but there will be families who fall outside of these parameters.
2024-2025 tuition ranges
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3 Half Days | $3,500 - $13,550
3 Full Days | $4,000 - $17,200
5 Half Days | $5,000 - $20,650
5 Full Days | $6,500 - $26,300 -
$6,500 - $27,350
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$6,500 - $29,550
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$7,000 - $34,950
Your family’s fit
Family Individualized Tuition includes all required fees for organic, high-quality classroom supplies, professional-grade art materials, and local and out-of-state trips.
There are a few costs not included in your tuition: New Family Fee, which is a one-time $1,500 fee for all new families; instruments; after-school athletics (Middle and High School); After Care; hot lunch program; the 12th grade Maine trip.
household income
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Families in this income range rarely have the capacity to devote significant financial resources towards tuition, and typically have an annual FIT level at the low end of the posted range.
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Families in this range often have to make difficult choices about how best to allocate financial resources. We strive to set a FIT level for each family for which a CWS education is accessible. Annual FIT levels for families in this range are typically between $7,000 and $16,000.
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Independent school tuition often seems out of reach for middle income families. We strive to set a FIT level for each family for which a CWS education is accessible. Annual FIT levels for families in this range are typically between $12,000 and $26,000.
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The financial flexibility of families with incomes in this range varies widely. Factors beyond annual income - such as family size, number of dependents in tuition-charging institutions, and accrued assets - weigh heavily in determining each family's FIT level. The range of FITs in this income level range from $17,000 up to $35,000 annually.
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While many families in this income range have the financial capacity to fund substantial investments in their child's education, other families - particularly families with multiple children - expect that the tuition bill for several children will make independent school out of reach. Families at this income level will typically have an annual FIT level at the high end of the posted range, but may be adjusted if siblings are enrolled..
ready to apply for fit?
would you like to opt out?
Families that choose to opt-out of FIT must indicate this by completing the Opt-Out Form; these families are not required to submit a family financial overview and will be billed the highest tuition amount posted for the applicable grade level(s).