apply for fit

Ready to apply for your Family Individualized Tuition?

The Chicago Waldorf School uses the services of a third party, Clarity, to conduct a need-based financial picture analysis service which guides the Family Individualized Tuition determinations made by the CWS Finance Committee. The process includes submitting a Form 4506c to give Clarity permission to pull your prior year tax return. CWS also requests most current pay stubs to be uploaded. Complete your financial information, including income, expenses, assets and debts. There is an app fee of $60 per household. Please allow less than 30 minutes for the process.

deadlines for 2025-2026 school year

Current Families: Applications Due December 1, 2024
New Families: Applications Due December 1, 2024 and thereafter apply at the same time you apply for admission

fit determination timeline for 2025-2026 school year

Applications are reviewed by Clarity and the school’s FIT Committee. FIT determinations take into consideration numerous aspects of a family’s financial picture, such as total household income, assets and expenses.  Following email notification of admissions acceptance, FIT determination amounts are provided in the enrollment contracts issued in February 2025. Families can get a general sense of FIT determinations here.

Enrollment contracts are available in the CWS Community Portal using the same log in ID and password created to complete the admissions application. Please note our Blackbaud school ID is 11718.

deposit at time of contract acceptance

A non-refundable deposit of $500 per student is due at the time of contract submission and will be applied to the balance due for the upcoming year. For re-enrollment contracts the $500 non-refundable deposit is typically due in February at the time of contract renewal.

tuition payment schedule

Chicago Waldorf School uses auto-debit via Blackbaud Tuition Management to assist families in managing their selected tuition payment plan of one-month (July), quarterly (July/October/January/April) or monthly (July through June.)  Tuition payments are due the last business day of the month. Blackbaud processes auto-debits one business day before the actual due date (weekends and holidays are not counted). All balances are expected to fully paid by June.