Sliding-Scale Tuition

Manhattan Country School is an independent school widely recognized for its commitment to equality and diversity, including a unique sliding-scale tuition program.

Why sliding-scale tuition?

In 1970 MCS began to search for a new way of financing the school, based on the precept that the school is one community of individuals joined in the common task of educating children. The sliding-scale tuition model was the result.
Our commitment to diversity rests firmly upon this tuition system and eliminates the categories of “financial aid” and “full paying” families.
Sliding-scale tuition enables all MCS families to educate their children as equal members of an economically, racially and culturally diverse community.
Diversity provides the basis for exploring multiple perspectives throughout the curriculum.

Racial/Economic Enrollment Analysis 2010-2011

1. White                         82       43%
2. African-American       58       31%
3. Latino                         31      16%
4. Asian                          18       10%

Total 189 100%

How does it work?

Sliding-scale tuition is based on the principle that a family’s financial commitment should be in equitable proportion to its financial resources.
The same financial information is asked of all parents.
The Family Financial Worksheet is used to determine each family’s contracted fee for the coming year.
Approximately 75% of MCS families pay a fee calculated on the sliding scale.

How is each child’s fee calculated?

Families submit a confidential Family Financial Worksheet when they are applying.
Current families submit a new FFW annually in January.
Student fees are set on a sliding scale based on each family’s annual income.

What if I have more than one child enrolled at MCS?

When siblings enroll at MCS, the FFW includes a graduated discount also based on income.

What are full tuition costs?

Maximum fees are set annually by the Board of Trustees and are graduated by age level.
For the 2013-14 school year, maximum tuition is set as follows:

Lower School $35,500

Upper School $38,000

Schools replicating our tuition model

Over the years, many schools have sought information about our tuition model as part of their own efforts to further diversity in mission-consistent and sustainable ways. Founders and board members of schools across the United States, as well as economists and policy makers continue to seek guidance and engage MCS as a thought leader in this area. The range of interest includes:

Harlem Academy in New York City
La Escuelita and Yeshiva of Flatbush in New York City
St. Philip’s Academy in Newark, NJ
New Canaan Country School in New Canaan, CT
Waldorf School in Baltimore, MD
Creative Learning Community in Tallahassee, FL
St. Elizabeth’s School in Denver, CO
Children’s Day School in San Francisco, CA
Friends School of Minnesota in St. Paul, MN